Jen Kiggans, a Republican congresswoman from Virginia, is facing calls from Democrats to resign after she agreed with a radio host who used a racist term to describe House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The incident occurred during an interview on Richmond's Morning News, where host Rich Herrera told Jeffries to get his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia." Kiggans responded, "That's right. Ditto – yes, yes to that."
Controversy Over Racist Language
The term "cotton-picking" is widely recognized as offensive due to its historical association with slavery, during which enslaved Black people were forced to pick cotton. Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is the first Black American to lead a party in Congress. Democrats have condemned Kiggans for not immediately distancing herself from the remark.
Kiggans later issued a statement on X, saying, "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." However, critics argue that her initial response showed a lack of judgment.
Reactions from Democratic Leaders
Christine Stephenson, a spokesperson for Jeffries, said Kiggans had an opportunity to "disavow the vile, racist and dehumanizing comments" but instead "she doubled down." She called it a "stunning failure of judgment and leadership" for someone representing a district with a large African American community.
Katherine Clark, the House minority whip, called for Kiggans's resignation, stating on X, "Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders." California Governor Gavin Newsom also condemned the remark, with his office saying, "Every Republican should be denouncing this racist statement."
Virginia state Senator Aaron Rouse, a Democrat, expressed his dismay, 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."
Political Context
The controversy comes amid a heated political climate in Virginia, where control of Congress is at stake in the November midterm elections. Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers, but the outcome is uncertain. After President Donald Trump's second term began in January 2025, a national redistricting battle has affected Virginia.
In April, voters approved a new Democratic-drawn congressional map in a special election that could have flipped four Republican House seats. However, the state supreme court invalidated the results in May, ruling that Democratic lawmakers did not follow proper procedures. Virginia Democrats have since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive the map.
Kiggans is running for re-election in November, facing Democrat Elaine Luria, who served on the January 6 committee. The race is expected to be closely watched.
