{"id":2499584,"date":"2025-10-16T10:55:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T14:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-lieutenant-governor-candidate-hits-rival-for-skipping-debate\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T10:57:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T14:57:56","slug":"virginia-lieutenant-governor-candidate-hits-rival-for-skipping-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-lieutenant-governor-candidate-hits-rival-for-skipping-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia lieutenant governor candidate hits rival for skipping debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvirginia-lieutenant-governor-candidate-hits-rival-for-skipping-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2499584&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>John Reid, the Republican candidate for Virginia <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-state-senator-reported-results-must-be-viewed-as-untrustworthy\/\" title=\"Georgia State ...ator: \u201cReported Results Must Be Viewed As Untrustworthy\u201d\">lieutenant governor<\/a>, is <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >spending important campaign funds<\/a> to pressure his Democratic opponent, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi,into agreeing to debates before the election. ReidS campaign released a 30-second ad accusing Hashmi of avoiding debates and making excuses, emphasizing Virginia&#8217;s tradition of vigorous political debate and portraying himself as the willing candidate ready to defend his ideas. This ad contrasts with Hashmi&#8217;s first general election commercial, which highlights her background as a mother and educator. Hashmi has not committed to any debates so far. The context includes recent controversies affecting Virginia Democrats, such as inflammatory text messages sent by their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-ag-nominee-wont-commit-to-keeping-durham-as-special-counsel\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s AG nominee won\u2019t commit to keeping Durham as special counsel\">attorney general nominee<\/a> jay Jones, which Republicans are using to their advantage. A recent poll shows Hashmi with a slight lead over Reid. Reid, a conservative radio host from Richmond, secured the GOP nomination earlier this year and is positioning himself as a candid and outspoken conservative challenger.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">John Reid presses Democratic rival for &lsquo;ducking&rsquo; debates in Virginia lieutenant governor race<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2374578\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> John Reid, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Virginia<\/a>&lsquo;s GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, is spending six figures to pressure his Democratic opponent to stand behind a podium and debate him before Election Day.<\/p>\n<p>Reid&rsquo;s campaign is running a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cqx84d-Nz3M&amp;t=26s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30-second ad<\/a>, obtained first by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>,&nbsp;that will air statewide during Thursday&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-friendly-licensing-boards-target-gop-attorneys-general\/\" title=\"Democrat-Friendly Licensing Boards Target GOP Attorneys General\">attorney general debate<\/a>, marking his latest attempt to pressure state <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.senate.virginia.gov\/Senator\/memberpage.php?id=S108\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sen. Ghazala Hashmi<\/a>, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, into facing him onstage. Reid&rsquo;s team said the spot highlights &ldquo;an important part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officials-fultons-monitoring-team-cant-fix-election-failure\/\" title=\"Officials: Fulton&#039;s Monitoring Team Can&#039;t Fix ... Failure\">election process&#038;rdquo<\/a>; that voters expect and deserve.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3852949\/obama-spanberger-endorsement-jay-jones-texts\/\">Obama hopes to boost Spanberger with endorsement as campaign bleeds over Jay Jones texts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3852203\/trump-allies-boost-jack-ciattarelli-new-jersey-governor-race\/\">Trump and allies aim to boost Ciattarelli in closing stages of New Jersey governor race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3852131\/mamdani-too-early-credit-trump-gaza-ceasefire\/\">Mamdani says it&#8217;s &#8216;too early&#8217; to credit Trump for Gaza ceasefire<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The ad features Reid staring straight into the camera, hands clasped, as he invokes what he calls Virginia&rsquo;s &ldquo;tradition of vigorous debate,&rdquo; accusing Hashmi of &ldquo;ducking and making excuses&rdquo; and challenging her to face him &ldquo;anytime, anyplace.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3845513\/winsome-earle-sears-debate-shifting-tactics-virginia-gubernatorial-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WINSOME EARLE-SEARS&rsquo;S CONFRONTATIONAL DEBATE SHOWS SHIFTING TACTICS IN VIRGINIA BID<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"cqx84d-Nz3M\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Where&rsquo;s Hashmi\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cqx84d-Nz3M?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As the ad builds, Reid casts himself as the candidate willing to show up, promising to &ldquo;explain and defend&rdquo; his ideas while suggesting Hashmi is hiding from voters. It ends with a symbolic image: an empty podium marked with a sign that reads, &ldquo;Where&rsquo;s Hashmi?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The release of Reid&rsquo;s ad comes just days after Hashmi unveiled her first general election spot, a biographical commercial that highlights her background as a mother and longtime <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BjBl4t99g9k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">educator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The ad battle comes on the heels of a rocky moment for Virginia Democrats, who were forced to confront violent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3837232\/republicans-call-democratic-virginia-ag-candidate-drop-out-violent-texts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">text messages<\/a> their attorney general nominee, Jay Jones, sent in 2022, comments that sparked bipartisan criticism and complicated the party&rsquo;s message heading into November.<\/p>\n<p>The Jones debacle was a key theme of the sole gubernatorial debate between Lt. Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a> and former Democratic Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abigail Spanberger <\/a>last week. Earle-Sears repeatedly pressured Spanberger to call on Jones to exit the attorney general race, but the Democratic candidate only denounced Jones and said voters should use their judgment on who to support.<\/p>\n<p>Hashmi similarly called Jones&rsquo;s comments inexcusable and called for him to take accountability, but she has not publicly said he should step aside.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, including Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, have seized upon the issue, which they think can help blunt Democratic momentum heading into Election Day. <\/p>\n<p>Miyares will face Jones on the debate stage Thursday at the University of Richmond, and the text messages are sure to be a key theme of their matchup.<\/p>\n<p>In the race for lieutenant governor, a new Trafalgar Group poll showed Hashmi leading Reid, 46.8% to 45.9%.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3841900\/spanberger-virginia-debate-earle-sears-jay-jones-endorsement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SPANBERGER SILENT ON JAY JONES ENDORSEMENT UNDER HEAT FROM EARLE-SEARS IN FIERY VIRGINIA DEBATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hashmi, who flipped a suburban Richmond seat in 2019 to become the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate, has not committed to any lieutenant governor debates this cycle. <\/p>\n<p>Reid, a conservative radio host on Richmond&rsquo;s WRVA, secured the GOP nomination earlier this year after Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity withdrew for health reasons. A longtime fixture in Virginia media, Reid has sought to present himself as a straight-talking conservative willing to challenge leaders of both political parties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Reid urges Democrat to debate in Virginia lieutenant governor race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2757,"featured_media":2499585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25263054206170.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[35865,65338,37043,38033],"class_list":["post-2499584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-campaign","tag-lieutenant-governor-race","tag-political-debate","tag-virginia-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25263054206170.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2757"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2499584"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2499588,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499584\/revisions\/2499588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2499585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2499584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2499584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2499584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}