'Pathetic': House Minority Leader Jeffries slams swing-state Republican over racist remarks

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) condemned Rep. Jennifer Kiggans’ (R-VA.) apparent condoning of a radio host's racist remarks as a "stunning failure of judgment and leadership," suggesting that "extremists" who endorse such language are "pathetic."

"Jen Kiggans had her chance to disavow the vile, racist, and dehumanizing comments from far-right talk show host Rich Herrera. Instead, she doubled down. Then, Jen Kiggans tripled down and attempted to blame partisanship in a pathetic follow-up statement," Jefferies said in his first statement since the controversy broke out on Monday.

Jefferies further charged Kiggans of wanting a "return to the days of Jim Crow racial oppression in the South" for this is why, in Jefferies' view, MAGA Republicans in legislatures and courts across America have launched a full-scale assault on Black representation. "The voters of Virginia will hold her accountable at the ballot box in November," he concluded.

Several House Democrats are clamoring for Kiggans's resignation after her interview on Richmond's Morning News with Rich Herrera, where she agreed with the eponymous host's call for Jeffries to keep his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia."

Herrera was criticizing Jefferies' involvement in the redistricting of Virginia's congressional maps in Democrats' favor. He set the condition that Jefferies must leave New York and move to Virginia if he wants to be involved in the politics of the state, followed by the racist comment. Kiggans concurred: "That's right. Ditto. Yes. Yes, to that."

Kiggans remained defiant while distancing herself from the comments in an X post. She accused the Democrats of spinning lies in order to "distract from getting their hats handed to them". She said that Herrera "should not have used that language and I do not -and did not - condone it."

Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) wrote on X that Kiggans must apologize and resign or "you will be shown the door in November." Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) wrote that the comments were "disgusting and racist rhetoric," and called for her immediate resignation.

The controversy can lead to potential electoral fallout in one of America's most competitive swing districts. The remarks, with deep-rooted racial connotations, add a significant challenge to Kiggans' reelection bid and may end up shifting the momentum of a crucial race.

Former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA.), who will be running against Kiggans, said the "racist comments" are disgusting and "beneath any elected official." She added that Kiggans should "publicly apologize and denounce the remarks that have no place in politics."

The remarks also bring into focus the Virginia Supreme Court's contentious decision to overturn an elected referendum that would have allowed Democrats to redraw the state's congressional map. The new map, narrowly approved after a statewide vote, would have given Democrats a lead in 10 of the state's 11 districts.