Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans Refuses to Address Endorsement of Racist Remarks About Hakeem Jeffries

Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia refused to clarify her stance on racist comments she endorsed about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a Tuesday interview with MeidasTouch.

The Republican congresswoman remained silent when asked, "Representative, do you have anything more to say after agreeing with racist comments made by a radio host?" In a follow-up question, the reporter asked if Kiggans would resign for endorsing the remarks. Kiggans abruptly walked away without responding.

The exchange was captured in a video shared by journalist Acyn on May 13, 2026:

Reporter: Do you have any more to say after agreeing with racist comments made by a radio host?
Kiggans: [silence]
Reporter: Will you resign for agreeing with those comments?
Kiggans: [walks away]

Kiggans faced significant backlash after appearing on a May 12, 2026, interview on Richmond-based radio host Rich Herrera’s show, where she agreed with his racist remarks about Jeffries. The since-deleted interview included Herrera stating:

"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 the oppression of enslaved Black Americans forced to labor in cotton fields. Herrera also claimed that Jeffries had spent "$20 million-plus" on Virginia’s redistricting efforts, a figure House Majority Forward, a nonprofit associated with Jeffries, disputed as approximately $40 million.

Kiggans is running for reelection in November 2026. Her opponent, former Rep. Elaine Luria, condemned her endorsement of the remarks, stating:

"The racist comments proudly endorsed today by Jen Kiggans ... are disgusting and beneath any elected official."

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) the same day, Kiggans denied agreeing with the host’s remark, claiming she was responding to broader criticism of Jeffries’ involvement in redistricting. She added:

"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."

Christie Stephenson, a spokesperson for Jeffries, criticized Kiggans in a Tuesday statement, calling her an extremist who endorses "disgusting, vile and racist language" and "pretends to be a centrist."

"The voters of Virginia will hold her accountable at the ballot box in November," Stephenson said.