News/Commentary

Congresswoman in trouble for agreeing Jeffries ‘should get cotton-picking hands off of Virginia’

May 12, 2026 | | Print Article

Assent to a questionable turn of phrase prompted outrage against a Virginia congresswoman, who responded with her own call out of the “real danger to our country.”

Much like their opposition to legislatively reinforcing election integrity and ensuring illegal aliens can’t vote, congressional Democrats have thrown a fit over a ruling from the Virginia Supreme Court — one of their recent losses on redistricting that swatted down absurd gerrymanders.

Monday, amid talks, where leftists are considering measures to force out the current bench, Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans (R) opened a clear path for a narrative shift when she agreed that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) should keep his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.”

During a discussion with Rich Herrera on “Richmond’s Morning News,” the lawmaker said, “That’s right. Ditto. Yes. Yes to that,” in response to the host expressing, “And again, if 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.”

“You can represent us. If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia,” he added in a clip that went on to be widely shared by Democrat accounts, including former Vice President Kamala Harris’ repurposed campaign account.

Herrera also said, “You’re going to be in for the fight of your life over this. Like you said, it’s a revenge seat. You and Rob Whitman are going to get peppered, and they’re going to throw in so much dark money from out of state.”

ADVERTISEMENT

However, talking heads among the chronically outraged were only concerned with alleging a racial slant to the comment and demanding a resignation. Punch Bowl News founder Jake Sherman shared a response from Congressional Black Caucus political action committee spokesman Chris Taylor, who insisted, among others, “Jen Kiggans heard a vile racist slur and agreed out loud — that’s who she is. We’re going to make sure her constituents know she condones this racist crap.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Worth noting, the outrage comes from the same party that held fast to the endorsement of now-Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) despite his envisioning then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R) taking “two bullets to the head” and allegedly hoping the man’s children would die. Likewise, the Powhatan County Democratic Committee was itself accused of “Open racism, open hatred, and endorsed violent fantasies” after sharing a political cartoon of then-Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) seemingly ranting to her gubernatorial debate opponent, now-Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Responding to the displays of outrage, Kiggans took to social media to post, “This is precisely what’s wrong with Democrats. Every lie and distortion is intended to distract from getting their hats handed to them and the Virginia Supreme Court’s clear message: stop trying to rig our elections.”

“The radio host should not have used that language and I do not — and did not — condone it,” she went on. “It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem Jeffries should stay out of Virginia. Democrats are trying to destroy Virginia’s court because they disagree with it. THAT is the real danger to our country.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Kevin Haggerty
Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles