RICHMOND, Va. (7News) — Virginia Lieutenant Governor Republican nominee John Reid said he is refusing to exit the race as pressure mounts from within his party. In a video posted on Facebook Sunday afternoon, Reid accused allies of Governor Glenn Youngkin of orchestrating a campaign to force him out using fabricated scandals and political threats.

Reid, a former conservative radio host and the GOP’s declared nominee for lieutenant governor, claims that individuals aligned with Youngkin’s political operation have threatened continued attacks unless he drops out of the race.

“Representatives of my campaign have been told by the leader of Governor Youngkin’s political organization that the attacks on me will continue unless I drop out,” Reid said. “This is extortion, and it is illegal in Virginia.”

The comments come days after Youngkin personally called Reid on Friday to request he withdraw from the race, following nude pictures being shared on a Tumblr account associated with a username tied to Reid’s social media.

In a web archive, the username for the Tumblr profile that shared the sexually explicit pictures was “JRdeux”. That happens to be the username for Reid’s private personal Instagram account. “Jrdeux” is also a user handle on a TikTok account that has no posts, but Reid’s partner follows the account. That TikTok account also follows other local news personalities.

SEE ALSO | Virginia GOP candidate for lieutenant gov. says he won't exit race despite governor's push

The images were reposts, not original content, and did not depict Reid. The Tumblr account was deleted shortly after the story was published. Reid has denied any connection to the posts.

In his latest statement, Reid said representatives of his campaign were again shown the same explicit images, which he insists are unrelated to him, and told the attacks would stop if he withdrew. He said he has hired legal counsel and is considering action.

“I am sickened and outraged at the weeks of veiled accusations and attacks on my family,” Reid said. “It’s unfair. No one else has to deal with this type of hyper-scrutiny of their past before they were married or engaged — and I won’t either.”

Reid, who is openly gay, suggested the effort to remove him from the GOP ticket stems from bias within his party.

“The insiders in Virginia politics made a big miscalculation. If they thought that I would bow down or run away scared. I’m a conservative Trump supporter, and I’m gay, and everybody knows it.”

ALSO READ | Mark Robinson refuses to drop after CNN reports he called himself a 'Black Nazi,' 'perv'

Reid became the presumptive GOP nominee earlier this month after his only opponent, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, exited the race for health reasons. Herrity had previously been seen as the favorite in a head-to-head match-up. Reid’s continued presence on the ticket complicates what had appeared to be a unified Republican slate, with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears running for governor and Attorney General Jason Miyares seeking re-election.

Youngkin had initially backed Reid in an Easter Monday post on X after Herrity withdrew from the race.

Youngkin’s PAC, Spirit of Virginia, confirmed Friday it had asked Reid to step aside after being made aware of what it described as “disturbing online content.” Reid's attorney sent Youngkin's PAC a cease-and-desist letter. Reid was scheduled to appear with the governor, Earle-Sears, and Miyares at an event in Henrico County this Wednesday.

In a call between Reid and Youngkin on Friday, the governor's office said a decision to step down would be up to Reid, but that the buzz on social media would become a distraction.

“It’s a distraction for campaigns. For people paying attention to the most important issues and here we are today talking about fentanyl and saving livesand the distraction is present," Youngkin said in a statement to 7News. "The decision is John’s and up to John’s and that’s what I wanted him to understand. At a time when we need to be speaking about really important topics, it’s a distraction and I don’t think that’s the best way to get a message out to Virginians.”

On Wednesday, April 30, Youngkin's consultant Matthew Moran also released a statement on X in response to the claims, saying "I've known John Reid for years and consider him a friend. Over the last nine days, I was actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee of the Republican Party. Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded." The claims Moran is referring to were allegedly made in a legal letter, discussing a meeting Moran had with John's long-time partner Alonzo and his campaign manager.

The “Ever Forward” event appears to no longer be happening. The Eventbrite link for tickets to the rally goes to a broken page, and the link and QR code on the flyer default to the “Winsome For Governor” homepage. On Tuesday morning, Reid shared an event on his campaign’s Facebook page for an event in Henrico County for the same time and place.

According to sources and direct communication with the Virginia Department of Elections, the legal mechanics behind Reid’s potential withdrawal are complex and time-sensitive.

The department told 7News that:

• If one candidate in a two-person primary withdraws after ballots are printed or mailed, the primary is canceled, and voters are notified.
• If all candidates withdraw under the same conditions, the party may select a new nominee using its own process.

If Reid were to exit, party officials would need to identify a replacement ahead of the June 17 primary, where early voting begins May 2. For now, Reid said he’s staying in the race.

“I’m the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor,” Reid said in the video. “I’m more transparent, I’m more conservative, and I’m tougher than any of my detractors. I’m not going anywhere except to get back on the campaign trail, win this election, and take these people to court.”

Reid has drawn vocal support from key corners of the GOP. Both the Arlington and Loudoun County Republican committees have publicly backed him, rejecting the allegations and criticizing the governor’s political team. The Loudoun GOP posted sarcastically online, mocking the idea of scandal with photos of Reid posing with voters and declaring, “Too hot to even look at! Stay in the fight, John! We support you!”

Arlington GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt wrote that “scurrilous accusations have no place in the Republican Party,” and said more than two-thirds of local committee members want Reid to stay in the race. “If this is how the Governor’s political operation wants to close out his term in Richmond, by tossing a grenade into the statewide Republican ticket, it’s truly a shame.”

The GOP’s internal turmoil couldn’t come at a worse time. The escalating controversy threatens to fracture GOP unity at a time when Republicans face a tough, high-stakes election cycle in Virginia. In November, voters will elect a new governor, lieutenant governor, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. The GOP must perform well across the board to regain or maintain influence in Richmond.

ALSO READ | Several Virginia state seats are up for grabs as some delegates propose a 'purple caucus'

Control of the House could come down to three swing districts in Northern Virginia — including the one held by Republican Del. Ian Lovejoy, who’s running against former Democratic Delegate Elizabeth Guzman. Lovejoy and fellow swing-district Republicans have formed a "purple caucus" focused on issues like cost of living and data center reform.

“We wanted a space to share ideas that appeal to people in the middle,” Lovejoy told 7News.

Meanwhile, GOP candidates Gregory Gorham, Xanthe Larsen, and Shar Smith are vying for the nomination to take on Prince William Democrat Del. Josh Thomas. In Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, Republican Del. Geary Higgins is fending off a challenge from Democrat John Chilton McAuliff.

University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said Republicans are fighting a national tide, and party infighting may cost them.

“Four years ago, angry voters gave Republicans an edge. This time, that anger is on the Democrats' side, especially in Northern Virginia,” Farnsworth said.

Although lieutenant governors and governors are elected on the same day, Virginia law does not bind them as a ticket, meaning voters could elect a Democrat in one office and a Republican in the other. That separation adds another layer of unpredictability, especially if Reid remains on the ballot while tensions with Youngkin persist.

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears issued the following statement on Reid's nominee:

“President Lincoln said, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ Those biblical words from Matthew 12:25 embody the positive mission of our campaign — to unite and inspire Virginians of all backgrounds. 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. We all have our own race to run. I am going to continue to make the case to the people of Virginia that Abigail Spanberger will tear down all the successes we’ve made in Virginia. We cannot let that happen. Our campaign is focused on results, unity, and winning in November.”

7News reached out to Gov. Youngkin's office, which deferred our questions to Spirit of Virginia, Youngkin's political action committee (PAC). We also reached out Reid. We will update this story with their responses when and if we get them.