HENRICO, Va. — In a scene reminiscent of Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid addressed hundreds of supporters in Western Henrico on Wednesday night, delivering a defiant, high-energy speech as he faces a swirl of controversy.
Reid, the first openly gay statewide candidate in Virginia history, stood before a cheering crowd at Atlas 42 just days after being accused of operating a Tumblr account that shared nude images of men — an allegation that has roiled Republican politics across the commonwealth.
With a tone of open defiance toward his party’s leader, Gov. Glenn Youngkin — who last week called on him to withdraw from the race — Reid used the moment to reaffirm his candidacy and urge unity within the fractured GOP ticket.
Supporters lined up at the entrance to the event more than an hour before it began, waving Reid signs and wearing campaign gear bearing his name. Notably absent from the venue was any visible campaign material for Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the party’s nominee for governor, or Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for a second term.
Loud music played as guests filed in, grabbing drinks from the bar and food from a table in the back.
When Reid took the stage, with his partner Alonzo and former Gov. Jim Gilmore standing behind him, he wasted no time addressing the controversy that has dominated headlines in recent days.
“I’d say this is a pretty big, good distraction,” Reid said. “In this new ugly era, I’m what we call a conservative fighter.”
“I’m really angry to be betrayed by people I personally supported, and I’m really saddened for what is happening to our party right now,” he continued.
Reid acknowledged that, as a gay man, he had long anticipated personal attacks on his candidacy and had intentionally shared parts of his private life in advance to shield himself.
“I get messages from people who say, ‘You’re sharing too much about your feelings. You’re sharing too much about your past. You’re sharing too much about your relationship,’” Reid said. “Well, now you see why that was necessary, because we knew this was coming.”
He cast blame on what he described as a political machine targeting him, referring pointedly to “the swamp” — a likely swipe at Youngkin and his political adviser, Matt Moran.
“The Richmond swamp does not like it when they encounter a different type of person who they cannot control,” Reid said, prompting one audience member to shout, “Moran has got to go.”
Moran and Reid are currently entangled in an escalating standoff, with both sides exchanging communications through their lawyers.
Reid framed the controversy as not only a personal attack on him, but as an attack on his supporters.
“This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about us,” he said. “It’s bigger than just one person. It is bigger than who’s white or Black, who’s old or young, who’s evangelically strict or not, who’s married or single, who’s gay or straight. Bigger than all of that. This is about the good men and women of Virginia standing up and saying, no more.”
As the crowd erupted in applause, Reid pivoted toward a message of party unity.
“It is time for us to come together as a party because a real battle is coming in November,” he said.
Despite Earle-Sears issuing a recent statement neither supporting nor opposing his candidacy, Reid made clear he still plans to vote for her and Miyares in the general election.
The room, which holds about 500 people, was nearly full of people excited for Reid’s candidacy.
“We heard a new voice tonight clearly lay out an issue set of importance to the Republican Party of Virginia with passion and conviction,” said David Botkins, who was at the event and considers Reid a personal friend who he has known for 30 years.
Botkins serves on the Republican State Central Committee.
“John called for unity with great humility and grace,” Botkins continued. “I hope he gets it. The folks I’m talking to support him — and the 600 people in the room tonight certainly do.”