For the second year running, the chill of autumn has brought with it a political storm—this time swirling around John Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in Virginia. The controversy centers on a now-deleted Tumblr blog, allegedly linked to Reid through the username "JRDeux," which reposted Nazi-themed pornography and violent sexual content. The story, first brought to light by American Journal News and quickly amplified by other outlets, has ignited fierce debate across the state, drawing sharp lines between political factions and raising uncomfortable questions about online accountability and the boundaries of political smear campaigns.
According to The Washington Post and The Advocate, the Tumblr account in question reposted a range of explicit material—from images of male genitalia to racy underwear ads. But it was the resurfacing of one particular post from October 2015 that set off alarm bells: an image of a male college student in underwear, originally published by a Nazi fetish account. That account, disturbingly, included a racial slur in its username and described the user as a "subservient n— who knows his place in society," seeking "superior white men" in the Washington, D.C. area. The Nazi fetish account also trafficked in sexual images festooned with swastikas and white supremacist slogans, though the "JRDeux" profile shared only the one underwear post from this source. Additionally, "JRDeux" reposted content from an account called "slaveandy," which focused on themes of sexual slavery.
Reid, who is openly gay and a former radio host, has categorically denied owning the Tumblr account. He insists the allegations are nothing more than a "coordinated smear" designed to undermine his campaign and, more pointedly, his identity. "That extortion and smear attempt was ridiculous, and I refused to back down," Reid said in an April 25, 2025 video posted to social media, referring to an earlier attempt by religious activists to force him out of the race by publicizing photos from a drag show he attended years prior. In the same video, he described the latest allegations as his "worst fear, a total fabricated internet lie, so basic that a middle schooler could have constructed it." Reid maintains that "anyone on the internet can open accounts with the same or similar names," and that the account in question is not his.
Despite his denials, the scandal has only gathered steam. On October 2, 2025, Democratic state lawmakers held a press conference to publicly condemn Reid. Delegate Mike Jones did not mince words: "The accounts that Reid appears to have promoted and engaged with are full of hateful, racist, bigoted imagery. John Reid's track record shows he is comfortable with white supremacy. Now, it looks like he's fine with it showing up on his social media feed." Jones went further, describing the alleged activity as "sick" and "disgusting, too disgusting to even put into words," and argued that Reid "owes Virginians answers and an apology."
Senator Adam Ebbin echoed these sentiments, declaring, "The news of the racist, antisemitic online content linked to John Reid on a social media account is appalling and shameless. They reveal John Reid has a disturbing level of comfort with disgusting, dehumanizing ideologies." Ebbin warned that such behavior "is dangerous" and undermines public trust in leadership, concluding that Reid is "clearly not fit to be our lieutenant governor." Both lawmakers called for Reid to suspend his campaign immediately.
The episode has drawn comparisons to a similar scandal that rocked North Carolina politics just a year earlier. In September 2024, former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson's gubernatorial campaign unraveled after CNN reported that an account linked to Robinson had boasted about being a "Black Nazi" and posted other shocking content on a pornographic forum. The repetition of such scandals in neighboring states has left many observers wondering about the broader implications for the Republican Party and its vetting processes.
Reid's response has been to double down, characterizing the attacks as part of a broader effort to purge him from the race because of his sexual orientation. "What happened today is another coordinated assassination attempt against me to force the first openly gay candidate off of a Virginia statewide ticket," he said. "It's shameful, and I won't back down." Yet, his campaign has been marked by tension from the start. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin previously called for Reid to withdraw, while other Republican leaders have largely remained silent.
The silence from within his own party is particularly notable given the context of Reid's running mate. He is campaigning alongside gubernatorial nominee and current lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, who has described homosexuality as an "immoral lifestyle choice." This ideological divide within the Republican ticket has only added fuel to the fire, with some seeing it as evidence of deeper fractures over LGBTQ+ rights and representation in the party.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups have weighed in decisively. Equality Virginia, the state's most prominent LGBTQ+ rights organization, has endorsed Reid's Democratic opponent, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, citing what it calls Reid's inconsistent support for LGBTQ+ issues. The group has pointed to archived Tumblr posts dating back to 2014, which included gay erotica and images of Austin Wolf, a former adult star who was sentenced this week to 19 years in prison for enticing a minor for sex. These details, while salacious, have further complicated the public's understanding of the scandal and its relevance to Reid's fitness for office.
Reid's defenders argue that the allegations are a political hit job, exploiting the ease with which online identities can be faked or manipulated. They point to the fact that the "JRDeux" username, while matching Reid's Instagram handle, could have been appropriated by anyone, and that the internet is rife with impersonation and dirty tricks. Reid himself has repeatedly stated, "That's not my account," and maintained that the entire episode is a fabrication designed to discredit him as the first openly gay Republican to seek statewide office in Virginia.
Yet for his critics, the issue is not just about ownership of a social media account, but about the broader pattern of behavior and associations it suggests. As Delegate Jones put it, "To seek pleasure from themes of slavery and bondage is sick." Senator Ebbin added, "They reveal John Reid has a disturbing level of comfort with disgusting, dehumanizing ideologies." The pressure on Reid to withdraw is mounting, and with the election fast approaching, the scandal shows no sign of abating.
As the dust settles, the voters of Virginia are left to weigh the competing claims—smear campaign or genuine cause for concern? Whatever the outcome, the episode has cast a long shadow over the state's political landscape, raising urgent questions about digital footprints, accountability, and the limits of political discourse in the internet age.
