See below for a press release from former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02)’s campaign, demanding a public apology after Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) heartily agreed with the racist, noxious comments about House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, “Get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia!” (audio, below) Note that VA02 is one of the marquee US House races in the entire country, with former Rep. Luria – a national hero in many ways, including her service on the January 6 select committee and her long service to our country in the U.S. Navy – attempting to win back the seat she held for two terms starting in 2019, and with the district having gone for Abigail Spanberger last November, and basically being a tie in the 2024 presidential election. Something tells me these comments are going to come back to haunt Kiggans during this coming fall’s campaign.
Rep. Luria Calls on Jen Kiggans to Publicly Apologize for Racist Remarks Targeting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
In interview, Kiggans agrees with racist “get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia” comment;
1 in 4 Constituents in VA-02 are Black
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Former small business owner, 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, and two-term member of Congress Rep. Elaine Luria released the following statement calling on Jen Kiggans to publicly apologize after she agreed with racist comments made about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries:
“The racist comments proudly endorsed today by Jen Kiggans warning House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to ‘Get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia’ are disgusting and beneath any elected official. I grew up in the South. I know what these racist dog whistles mean,” Rep. Luria said. “These comments come at a time when the Supreme Court and Republican controlled state legislatures are disenfranchising Black voters and wiping out Black representation across southern states, which Jen Kiggans applauds. She should immediately and publicly apologize and denounce these racist remarks that have no place in our Commonwealth or our politics.”
