Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) – U.S. Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries should “get out of Virginia” after Democrats called on him to resign over his agreement with a radio host.
Keegans later said she agreed with the host that Jefferies, the House minority leader and the first Black American to lead a political party in Congress, should stay out of Virginia politics and that she did not condone the host’s language.
“If Hakeem Jeffries wants to get involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he do something that New Yorkers are doing. Get out of New York, move to Virginia. Run for office here and you can represent us. If not, get your cotton-picking hands out of Virginia,” conservative radio host Rich Herrera said on “The Richmond Morning News.”
“That’s right. Same as above, yes, yes,” Keegans, who represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, responded in an interview.
Due to the history of slavery in the United States, cotton was picked by slaves, so the term “cotton picking” is considered offensive.
Kiggans subsequently issued a statement regarding X.
“Radio hosts should not use this type of language, and I do not – and do not – condone this type of behavior. It will be obvious to any listener that I agree that Hakeem Jeffries should stay away from the VA,” Keegans’ statement said.
Jeffries had not commented as of late Monday.
U.S. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Republican lawmaker should resign.
“Now they are using blatantly racist language to attack black leaders,” Clark said on X.
Newsom’s office added: “Every Republican should condemn this racist rhetoric.”
“I am deeply appalled by anyone who promotes this kind of rhetoric,” Democratic Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse said in a statement. “We are no longer enslaved by plantations. We now hold positions of power that our ancestors fought for.”
Republicans currently hold slim majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, but control will be up for grabs in midterm elections later this year.
Republican President Donald Trump last year launched a national bipartisan battle over mid-decade redistricting that is also playing out in Virginia.
On April 21, Virginia voters approved new congressional maps drawn by Democrats in a special election that could flip four Republican U.S. House seats.
But the state Supreme Court threw out the results on May 8, ruling in favor of Republicans’ challenge that Democratic lawmakers did not follow proper procedures when passing the proposed referendum and putting it on the ballot.
Virginia Democrats asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reinstate congressional maps designed to boost the party’s chances of winning in November’s midterm elections.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Kate Mayberry)