Virginia Republican John Reid Faces Backlash Over Alleged Racist and Fetish Tumblr Blog

John Reid, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Virginia and the first openly gay nominee on a statewide ticket, has been engulfed in controversy following revelations about a Tumblr blog allegedly linked to his online persona. The blog, operating under the handle “JRDeux”—a username Reid uses on Instagram and TikTok—reportedly shared and engaged with content featuring racist, Nazi fetish, and slave-themed pornography, according to multiple independent investigations and archived posts.

The blog was deleted shortly after the allegations became public, but investigative outlets recovered several disturbing posts via the Internet Archive. These included shared images from Tumblr accounts with bios referencing racial subjugation and “white power,” as well as imagery of men with white supremacist tattoos.

The revelations precipitated immediate responses across the political spectrum. Governor Glenn Youngkin, who had previously called for Reid to drop out of the race over earlier, less severe allegations about sexually explicit online posts, renewed his call for withdrawal after the racist and Nazi fetish themes in the blog were exposed. However, party divisions soon emerged, with some Republican leaders remaining silent as Reid refused to drop his candidacy and instead accused political opponents of extortion.

Democratic Delegate Mike Jones and State Senator Adam Ebbin publicly condemned Reid’s alleged engagement with accounts promoting “white supremacy,” “antisemitism,” and “sexualized violence.” Ebbin described the blog’s content as “appalling and shameless,” stating, “There is no place for white supremacist extremism or sexualized violence in any situation, especially in our government. Virginians do not want a lieutenant governor who is associated with such vile online content”.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Reid’s Democratic opponent, also issued a statement: “I am truly appalled by the vile and disturbing content described in this article. This content and engagement with it reflect an appalling acceptance of hate and dehumanization. We all have a responsibility to call out racism and extremism when we see it—not only to protect our communities, but to build a future rooted in compassion, equity, and shared humanity”.

Reid has categorically denied any association with the blog, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated attacks on both him and his family. In a video statement released in July, Reid called the controversy “extortion” and said he had retained legal counsel to pursue action against those propagating the claims. “This is extortion, and it is illegal in Virginia, and I am more outraged now,” Reid said. “I’ve engaged legal counsel to pursue all options against these people.”

Despite his rebuttals, the controversy has overshadowed major campaign issues and diverted attention from policy debates. A Republican strategist commented, “This is the dirty politics. This is the benefit, if you will or not, of opposition research. I believe that the Democratic Party is now seeing that, because this race seems to be tightening, that they have to pull out all of the stops”.

As the first openly gay candidate for statewide office in Virginia, Reid’s campaign has been watched closely by both LGBTQ+ advocates and opponents. While some had initially seen his candidacy as a potential sign of progress within the Republican Party, the allegations have reignited concerns about the party’s history of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric.

The incident has also exposed the persistent vulnerability of LGBTQ+ candidates to targeted harassment and smear campaigns, especially those involving sexually explicit or stigmatizing material. Advocates warn that such tactics risk perpetuating harmful stereotypes and further marginalizing transgender people, people of color, and other communities who are disproportionately affected by hate speech and online abuse.

LGBTQ+ organizations and leaders have called for a transparent investigation and reiterated the need for candidates and elected officials to uphold values of equity, dignity, and respect for all individuals. “Regardless of political party, we must reject racism, extremism, and sexualized violence in all forms,” said a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign (Instagram: @humanrightscampaign, statement issued October 3, 2025). “Our community deserves leaders who represent the best of our shared humanity.”

The controversy has thrown the Republican Party of Virginia into internal conflict, with some leaders distancing themselves from Reid while others maintain support. The party’s fractured response has dominated media coverage in the lead-up to the election, overshadowing policy discussions and intensifying scrutiny of candidates’ backgrounds.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has used the episode to highlight the stakes of extremist rhetoric and the importance of holding public officials accountable for their online behavior.

As Virginia voters prepare to cast ballots in a closely watched statewide election, the allegations against John Reid remain unresolved. The incident has fueled broader debates about online accountability, hate speech, and the challenges facing LGBTQ+ representation in politics. Regardless of the outcome, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for inclusive, respectful leadership and the ongoing struggle against racism and extremism in public life.