John Reid vs Virginia’s GOP establishment: Unmasking the party’s self-destructing elites

During his 1966 campaign for Governor in California, Ronald Reagan famously spoke of the so-called 11th Commandment, “Thou shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

Some of us that are still lingering within the establishment circles seem to have forgotten about that. 

The Republican Party in Virginia is at a crossroads, and the controversy surrounding John Reid, the GOP nominee for Lieutenant Governor, is a glaring example of how establishment Republicans are undermining their own party’s progress. Reid, an openly gay conservative radio host and staunch Trump supporter, has become the target of a coordinated attack from within his own party, led by Governor Glenn Youngkin and his political operatives. This internal sabotage mirrors the foot-dragging we’ve seen from establishment Republicans in Congress, who repeatedly stall President Trump’s agenda while claiming to champion conservative values. If Virginia’s GOP wants to win in November and beyond, party leaders must wake up, unify behind their nominees, and embrace the new direction of the Republican Party—or risk handing Democrats a sweeping victory.

John Reid’s candidacy should be a point of pride for Virginia Republicans. As the first openly gay Republican nominee for statewide office, Reid represents a historic opportunity to broaden the party’s appeal while staying true to conservative principles. His platform—fiscal conservatism, support for law enforcement, and opposition to progressive overreach—aligns with the priorities of the GOP base. Yet, instead of rallying behind him, establishment figures like Youngkin have called for Reid to withdraw from the race over a fabricated social media scandal involving a Tumblr account that allegedly shared explicit photos. Reid has vehemently denied ownership of the account, calling it a “coordinated assassination attempt” and even accusing Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC of extortion, claiming they offered to “purchase” damaging opposition research if he dropped out.

This isn’t about explicit photos or Reid’s personal life—it’s about establishment Republicans clutching their pearls over a candidate who doesn’t fit their outdated mold. Reid’s refusal to bow out has only escalated the drama, with Youngkin doubling down, insisting the controversy is a “distraction” from critical issues like fentanyl and public safety. But the real distraction is Youngkin’s willingness to throw his party’s nominee under the bus rather than confront the smear campaign head-on. Reid’s supporters, including grassroots activists and prominent figures like former Governor George Allen, have rallied to his side, comparing the attacks to those endured by Trump himself. Reid’s defiance—“I’m not going anywhere except to get back on the campaign trail, win this election, and take these people to court”—is a clarion call for the GOP to stop eating its own.

The Reid saga is a microcosm of a broader problem: establishment Republicans, both in Virginia and in Congress, are holding the party back. Just as GOP congressional leaders like Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan (during his tenure) slow-walked Trump’s agenda—whether on border security, infrastructure, or draining the swamp—Virginia’s establishment is undermining its own ticket by alienating its base. Youngkin’s political operatives, led by consultants like Matt Moran, seem more concerned with maintaining a sanitized, pre-Trump GOP image than winning elections. Their attempts to oust Reid echo the same elitist mindset that led congressional Republicans to balk at Trump’s outsider approach, prioritizing their own power over the will of the voters.

The new Republican Party, shaped by Trump’s populist surge, is one of bold ideas, inclusivity, and unrelenting focus on results. It’s a party that embraces candidates like Reid, who proudly wears his identity as a gay conservative while championing policies that resonate with working-class Virginians. But establishment consultants, stuck in the 1990s, haven’t gotten the memo. They’re out of touch with the energy driving the GOP base—energy that propelled Trump to victory in 2024 and carried Youngkin himself to the governor’s mansion in 2021. By targeting Reid, these consultants are signaling that they’d rather lose with a “safe” candidate than win with someone who challenges their status quo. This is the same mentality that led congressional Republicans to water down Trump’s legislative priorities, leaving voters frustrated and disillusioned.

Perhaps no moment better illustrates the establishment’s go-along-to-get-along mentality than Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears’ tepid statement on the Reid controversy. Just the other day, after days of silence, Sears finally addressed the issue, saying, “This week, focus on the lieutenant governor nominee distracted from that mission and cannot continue. John Reid is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. It is his race, and his decision alone to move forward.” This statement is a masterclass in saying nothing—a carefully crafted dodge that avoids taking a stand while paying lip service to party unity. It’s the kind of milquetoast rhetoric you’d expect from a consultant terrified of offending anyone, not from a bold leader like Sears, who’s running to become Virginia’s first Black female governor.

Sears’ refusal to explicitly back Reid or condemn Youngkin’s pressure campaign reeks of establishment influence. Her campaign’s silence in the days leading up to the statement, coupled with the cancellation of a unity rally featuring Reid, Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares, suggests her team is more interested in avoiding controversy than leading with conviction. This is a missed opportunity for Sears to assert herself as the head of the GOP ticket and rally the party around its nominees. Instead, her statement plays into the hands of consultants who want the GOP to remain a “safe” party of bland platitudes, not a dynamic force for change. If Sears wants to win in November, she needs to ditch the consultant-driven caution and lead with the same fire she showed when challenging MSNBC’s Joy Reid in 2021.

Virginia Republicans are staring down a critical election in November, with Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading Sears in early polls. A divided GOP, distracted by self-inflicted scandals, is a gift to Democrats who are eager to paint Republicans as out-of-touch and hypocritical. The Reid controversy isn’t just about one candidate—it’s about whether the GOP will embrace its future or cling to its past. Party leaders, from Youngkin to Sears to the consultants pulling the strings, need to get with the program. That means:

1. Unifying Behind Reid: Stop the attacks and rally around the nominee chosen by the party’s process. Reid’s conservative credentials and outsider energy make him a powerful asset, not a liability.

2. Embracing the New GOP: The Republican Party is no longer the country club of old. It’s a diverse, populist movement that welcomes candidates like Reid, Sears, and Miyares, who reflect the changing face of America.

3. Focusing on the Real Enemy: Democrats like Spanberger want to undo Youngkin’s successes and impose progressive policies on Virginia. Infighting only makes their job easier.

The establishment’s obsession with control is setting the GOP back, just as it has in Congress. It’s time for Youngkin, Sears, and the entire GOP to stand with Reid, unify the ticket, and show Democrats what a reinvigorated Republican Party can do. Anything less is a betrayal of the voters who put them in power.