Washington, D.C. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Rep. Jen Kiggans after the Virginia Republican appeared to agree with a radio host’s remark widely criticized as racist during a discussion about redistricting.
The controversy began during a Monday interview on Rich Herrera’s radio program, where the host said Jeffries should keep his “cotton-pickin’ hands off” Virginia politics. Kiggans responded, “That’s right, ditto,” before adding, “Yes, yes to that.”
Jeffries’s office later accused Kiggans of endorsing “disgusting, vile, and racist language,” while Democratic leaders, including House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, called for Kiggans to apologize and resign.
Kiggans defended herself in a follow-up statement, saying she did not condone the language and was agreeing only with the broader point that Jeffries should stay out of Virginia’s redistricting fight. She accused Democrats of using the controversy to distract from election disputes in the state.
The remarks come amid a heated legal and political battle over Virginia congressional maps. Democrats recently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Virginia Supreme Court blocked a voter-approved redistricting plan that could have endangered several Republican-held House seats.
The dispute has intensified partisan tensions as both parties compete for control of the House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
