{"id":2601587,"date":"2026-05-12T08:39:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jen-kiggans-fends-off-calls-to-resign-over-radio-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T08:39:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:39:55","slug":"jen-kiggans-fends-off-calls-to-resign-over-radio-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jen-kiggans-fends-off-calls-to-resign-over-radio-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Jen Kiggans fends off calls to resign over radio interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Fjen-kiggans-fends-off-calls-to-resign-over-radio-interview%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=2601587&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>Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) pushed back after Democrats demanded her resignation over comments she made on a radio show about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). On Rich Herrera\u2019s program, Herrera used racially charged language telling Jeffries to stay out of Virginia; Kiggans responded in agreement, saying \u201cditto\u201d and \u201cyes,\u201d which sparked backlash from Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Rep. Greg meeks (D-NY) urged Kiggans to apologize and resign, arguing her remarks were unacceptable. Kiggans, however, said she does not condone the radio host\u2019s wording and argued that her point was simply that Jeffries should not interfere in Virginia politics. She also claimed Democrats were <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >spreading misinformation amid<\/a> the fight over Virginia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/can-house-dems-sweeping-election-reform-survive-the-senate\/\" title=\"Can House Dems\u2019 Sweeping Election Reform Survive the Senate?\">congressional redistricting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute is tied to Virginia democrats\u2019 redistricting plan that voters approved in April but was later challenged in court. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled last Friday that the measure was not placed on the ballot through the required constitutional process. Democrats\u2019 backers have continued the fight by filing an emergency petition to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to reinstate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proposition-50-sparks-fierce-campaigning-ahead-of-pivotal-vote\/\" title=\"Proposition 50 sparks fierce campaigning ahead of pivotal vote\">voter-approved map<\/a>.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/rep-jen-kiggans\/\" type=\"mediapress_author\" id=\"12823\">Jen Kiggans <\/a>(R-VA) on Tuesday night dismissed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"249\">Democrats<\/a>\u2019 calls for her resignation after she appeared on a radio show, seeming to agree with the host\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/racism\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1199\">racist<\/a> comment about House Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hakeem-jeffries\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"790\">Hakeem Jeffries <\/a>(D-NY).<\/p>\n<p>Kiggans appeared on Rich Herrera\u2019s Richmond-based radio show on Monday to discuss Democrats\u2019 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"241\">redistricting<\/a> moves in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"96\">Virginia<\/a>, particularly how Jeffries has made himself involved in the effort.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4562846\/house-oversight-prepares-for-slew-of-interviews-for-epstein-investigation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House oversight committee prepares for slew of interviews for Epstein investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4563529\/california-republican-house-resolution-erase-trump-impeachments\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California Republican pushes House resolution to erase Trump impeachments<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4563467\/house-ethics-committee-20-subpoenas-cory-mills-investigation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House Ethics Committee has issued 20 subpoenas in Cory Mills investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cIf Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he does what a bunch of New Yorkers are doing: Leave New York, move down here to Virginia, run for office down here \u2026 if not, get your cotton-pickin\u2019 hands off of Virginia,\u201d Herrera said during the broadcast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s right, ditto,\u201d Kiggans responded. \u201cYes, yes to that.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>House Minority Whip <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/katherine-clark\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"7005\">Katherine Clark<\/a> (D-MA) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TeamKClark\/status\/2053971504237269320?s=20\">responded to the clip<\/a> of Kiggans\u2019s and Herrera\u2019s comments, saying the congresswoman from Virginia should \u201cimmediately apologize and resign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), the chair of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congressional-black-caucus\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1872\">Congressional Black Caucus<\/a>, agreed with Clark in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/05\/12\/jen-kiggans-hakeem-jeffries-cotton-picking-radio\">statement to <em>Axios<\/em><\/a>, also calling for Kiggans\u2019 resignation.<\/p>\n<p>Kiggans, however, did not apologize for what appeared to be her agreement, and rather framed the situation as Democrats spreading lies while also condemning Herrera\u2019s words. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is precisely what\u2019s wrong with Democrats,\u201d she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JenKiggans\/status\/2053966060391710752?s=20\">wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cEvery lie and distortion is intended to distract from getting their hats handed to them and the Virginia Supreme Court\u2019s clear message: stop trying to rig our elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe radio host should not have used that language and I do not -and did not \u2013 condone it,\u201d she added. \u201cIt was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem [Jeffries] should stay out of Virginia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4538440\/by-the-numbers-how-many-seats-has-each-party-gained\/\"><strong>BY THE NUMBERS: HOW MANY SEATS HAS EACH PARTY GAINED IN REDISTRICTING?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At the center of the issue is Virginia Democrats\u2019 redistricting efforts, which voters approved in April but have subsequently been challenged by Republicans. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of Virginia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judges-toss-dems-attempt-to-redraw-wisconsins-congressional-maps\/\" title=\"Judges Toss Dems&#039; Attempt To Redraw WI&#039;s ...s\">approved redistricting plan<\/a>, which was struck down by the state Supreme Court after passing in a referendum. Graphic: Grace Hagerman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of Virginia\u2019s former congressional districts. Graphic: Grace Hagerman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4551658\/virginia-supreme-court-blocks-redistricting-referendum\/\">Supreme Court of Virginia<\/a> ruled last Friday that Democrats failed to follow the constitutional process required to place the measure on the ballot. But Old Dominion\u2019s Left hasn\u2019t given up the fight and filed an emergency petition to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> on Monday, urging it to reinstate the voter-approved Democratic gerrymander of the state\u2019s congressional map.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Jen Kiggans denied calls to resign after appearing to back a racist remark about Hakeem Jeffries on a Richmond radio show<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2601588,"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\/2026\/05\/AP24293771379673.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[79513,5894,5468],"class_list":["post-2601587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-jen-kiggans","tag-politics","tag-virginia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP24293771379673.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601587","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\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601587"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601591,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601587\/revisions\/2601591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}