House Democrats are attacking Virginia GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans after she agreed with a radio host who said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries should get his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.”
Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, is Black and the Southern colloquialism — a euphamism for “damned” — is seen by some as a racial insult.
Ms. Kiggans said she did not condone the host’s language but agreed that Mr. Jeffries needs to stay out of Virginia.
“Jen Kiggans must immediately apologize for agreeing with openly racist and vile remarks,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Cousin said. “By refusing to unequivocally apologize for her comments, Kiggans is demonstrating that she is unfit to represent Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.”
Democratic lawmakers also called out Ms. Kiggans.
“The hood is off. Apologize and get out or you will be shown the door in November,” Rep. Grace Meng, New York Democrat, posted on social media.
Ms. Kiggans is a top Democratic target in the 2026 midterms, regardless of what congressional map the state uses. She is being challenged by former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, the lawmaker she ousted in 2022.
“The racist comments proudly endorsed today by Jen Kiggans … are disgusting and beneath any elected official,” Ms. Luria said. “I grew up in the South. I know what these racist dog whistles mean.”
Ms. Kiggans did not directly use the racist language but agreed with Richmond’s Morning News host Rich Herrera and did not object to his language during the interview.
The two were discussing the Jeffries-backed Virginia redistricting effort that the state Supreme Court overturned and a Democratic proposal to force out the justices and restack the court with judges who might rule in their favor.
Mr. Herrera concluded the interview with his attack on Mr. Jeffries.
“If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he does what a bunch of New Yorkers are doing: Leave New York, move down here to Virginia, run for office down here, you can represent us,” he said. “If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.”
Kiggans responded with light laughter and said: “That’s right. Ditto. Yes. Yes to that.”
She addressed the matter in a social media post, saying she did not condone the language but Democrats were trying to distort it as if she did.
“This is precisely what’s wrong with Democrats,” Ms. Kiggans said. “Every lie and distortion is intended to distract from getting their hats handed to them and the Virginia Supreme Court’s clear message: stop trying to rig our elections.”
“The radio host should not have used that language and I do not — and did not — condone it,” she added. “It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem Jefferies should stay out of Virginia. Democrats are trying to destroy Virginia’s court because they disagree with it. THAT is the real danger to our country.”
