Republican Virginia Representative Jen Kiggans is facing bipartisan calls to resign after she publicly agreed with a racist statement about Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a radio interview.
Kiggans appeared on Rich Herrera’s Richmond-based radio show Monday, May 6 to discuss Virginia’s contested congressional maps. The since-deleted interview escalated when Herrera made a racially charged remark about Jeffries.
Herrera stated:
"If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he … 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."
Kiggans responded:
"That’s right. Ditto. Yes. Yes, to that."
The phrase "cotton-picking hands" is historically tied to slavery, referring to the forced labor of Black men, women, and children in cotton fields.
Herrera also criticized Jeffries for his involvement in Virginia’s redistricting efforts, claiming that House Majority Forward—a nonprofit linked to Jeffries—spent approximately $40 million on the process. Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Outrage and Calls for Resignation
Following the interview’s release, Democratic leaders and opponents swiftly condemned Kiggans’ remarks.
- Elaine Luria, Kiggans’ opponent in the November election, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"The racist comments proudly endorsed today by Jen Kiggans … are disgusting and beneath any elected official. I grew up in the South. I know what these racist dog whistles mean."
- Katherine Clark, House Minority Whip, also demanded Kiggans’ resignation in a statement on X.
Kiggans’ Defense and Backlash
Kiggans later claimed she did not endorse the remark, stating she was responding to Herrera’s broader argument about Jeffries’ involvement in Virginia’s redistricting. In a post on X, she wrote:
"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. Democrats are trying to destroy Virginia’s court because they disagree with it. THAT is the real danger to our country."
The interview was removed from Apple Podcasts and Herrera’s YouTube channel by Tuesday morning.
Context: Voting Rights and Political Tensions
Kiggans’ comments come amid heightened political tensions, including the Supreme Court’s late-April ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act by striking down Louisiana’s congressional maps for including two Black-majority districts.
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