Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans (Va.) is facing calls to resign after seemingly agreeing with a local radio host who said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) should get his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.”
“If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he does what a bunch of New Yorkers are doing,” WRVA’s “Richmond’s Morning News” host Rich Herrera said Monday. “Leave New York, move down here to Virginia. Run for office down here — you can represent us. If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.”
“That’s right, ditto,” Kiggans replied. “Yes, yes to that.”
Kiggans condemned Herrera’s language on X after the interview, but defended herself by claiming, “It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem Jefferies should stay out of Virginia.”
“This is precisely what’s wrong with Democrats,” 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.”
