Republican Lt. Gov. Candidate John Reid spoke in the Rotunda Tuesday in an event co-hosted by the Center for Politics and the Jefferson Council. Reid spoke on his background as a TV anchor and radio commentator, his goals for Virginia’s economy and prioritization of the “Right to Work” law, private school choice and the current “culture war” in the Commonwealth.
While fielding questions from the audience after his speech, Reid also addressed topics including homelessness in Richmond, Youngkin’s initial lack of support of his campaign and his decision to run independently of Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.
“I truly believe if I'm elected, I … can’t be obsessed with settling scores with every person who attacks me or does something wrong. I have to stay focused on the end goal,” Reid said. “For the next four years, if I'm sent to Richmond, it is to do what is right for the people of Virginia and show … bravery.”
The Center for Politics hosts events to encourage political participation, and the Jefferson Council is a conservative alumni group that aims to “preserve Thomas Jefferson’s legacy.”
Third-year Batten student Marie Kenney said she attended the event to become more politically knowledgeable, especially because she finds the media can be misinforming and many issues impact the lives of students.
“Coming to events like this is just a good way to stay informed in your local politics, especially as a student,” Kenney said.
Before shifting to a career in politics, Reid was an intern for former President Ronald Reagan, spent over a decade working as a television news anchor and investigative reporter, served as communications director for U.S. Senator George Allen and has been the host of the WRVA Morning Show — a conservative talk radio program — for the past eight years.
Reid said that the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Richmond inspired him to take a stand for justice when the current leaders were “cowards.” He also said he believed COVID was handled “tyrannically” by those in power in the Commonwealth at the time, and the culmination of these events and more led to his decision in January to run for lieutenant governor.
“I stand up for law and order,” Reid said. “There didn't seem to be much concern about stomping on the individual rights of citizens, about closing businesses, watching it unfold [and] picking and choosing who the winners and losers were.”
Reid listed the economy as one the forefront issues of his campaign, and he said he will prioritize keeping jobs in Virginia through the “Right to Work” law which says that employers cannot mandate union membership for their employees. Reid also said raising the minimum wage comes with economic consequences including businesses firing employees and lowering living conditions across the board.
Reid also spoke on the topic of education, first by addressing the ad that his opponent State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi’s, D-Chesterfield, ran that claims Reid will close all public schools and funnel the money into private schools. Reid said that this assertion is “outrageously” wrong, and he has many relatives who worked in public schools. Reid said he attended St. Christopher’s School — a private Episcopal school in Richmond — and the opportunity to attend a private school with smaller class sizes allowed him to get the extra help he needed.
“Why are we restricting other families from having an opportunity?” Reid said. “If you are stuck in a neighborhood where you go to the public school that's offered to you, and objectively, the public school is not delivering for those students, they're graduating people who can't read and write.”
According to Reid, the Commonwealth should provide an option for students and parents who feel like the school system is not serving them and who seek an alternative. He assured attendees that allowing families this opportunity would not collapse the public education system.
Shifting from the topic of education, Reid addressed the current “culture war” by bringing up his time in the Middle East during the Arab Spring, and he said he does not want that reality to come to Virginia. Reid said that he sometimes wears a bulletproof vest during campaign events, and he believes his leadership can recalibrate this hostility that exists in society.
“If I go to the Capitol, I want to be the person that you look at and are confident that I will be reasonable … and most importantly, that every decision I make, I will put aside those emotions and the hostility that comes from being in this arena,” Reid said.
Kenney said she thought Reid was an honest, off-the-cuff speaker who did not shy from giving his opinion, even when some could find it controversial.
“I think that [candidness is] something very valuable to see within candidates nowadays, and that's not something you do see with many right now,” Kenney said.
Following his prepared speech, Reid fielded questions from the audience. He addressed a rumor of a Tumblr account that has been linked to him and that he claims contains “reckless language” that is not true, and Reid said he will not stand to be bullied. Law student Kirk Wolff stood at the entrance to the event, handing out fliers to attendees with the screenshotted news article linking Reid to the rumored “Nazi porn” blog.
Reid is running independent of Earle-Sears, and he said that although he would have limited authority in his role alongside a Democratic governor, he would utilize his business background to serve as an ambassador to the Commonwealth for issues he finds important.
In a poll released by State Navigate Wednesday, Hashmi led Reid by 11 points, though other polls have shown it closer.. Early voting is currently underway and will run until Nov. 1, and in-person voting will take place on Election Day Nov. 4.
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