Virginia Republican Representative Jen Kiggans is facing mounting pressure to step down after endorsing comments made by a radio host who used racially offensive language when discussing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The controversy began during Kiggans’ appearance on “Richmond’s Morning News” when conservative radio host Rich Herrera made inflammatory remarks about Jeffries, the first Black American to lead a congressional party.
“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. If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia,” Herrera stated during the broadcast.
Kiggans, who serves Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, responded by saying: “That’s right. Ditto, yes, yes to that.”
The phrase “cotton-picking” carries deeply offensive historical connotations tied to America’s slavery era, when enslaved individuals were forced to harvest cotton on plantations.
Following widespread backlash, Kiggans attempted to clarify her position through a statement posted on X, explaining her intent while distancing herself from the host’s word choice.
“The radio host should not have used that language and I do not – and did not – condone it. It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem Jeffries should stay out of Virginia,” her statement read.
As of Monday evening, Jeffries had not publicly responded to the incident.
Several prominent Democrats have called for Kiggans’ resignation, including House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Clark condemned the incident on social media, stating: “Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders.”
Newsom’s office issued a statement declaring: “Every Republican should be denouncing this racist statement.”
Virginia Democratic state Senator Aaron Rouse expressed his outrage in a formal statement, saying: “I am deeply appalled by anyone who promotes this rhetoric. We are no longer enslaved on plantations. We now hold positions of power our ancestors fought for.”
The incident occurs amid intense political battles in Virginia, where Republicans maintain narrow control of both chambers of Congress heading into this year’s midterm elections.
Virginia has become a key battleground in the ongoing redistricting disputes that began under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
On April 21, Virginia voters initially approved new Democratic-drawn congressional boundaries in a special election that could have shifted four Republican House seats to Democratic control.
However, the state Supreme Court invalidated those results on May 8, siding with Republican challengers who argued that Democratic legislators failed to follow proper procedures when creating and placing the referendum on the ballot.
Virginia Democrats responded Monday by petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to restore the congressional map they believe will improve their prospects in November’s midterm contests.
