Democratic calls grow for GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans to resign

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) is facing growing calls from Democrats to resign over what they say is her agreement with a radio host's derogatory comments about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Why it matters: The firestorm comes as Kiggans, who has denied any wrongdoing, is running for reelection in one of the most hotly contested battleground districts in the country. More than a dozen House Democrats — including Jeffries' top two lieutenants — had called for Kiggans to resign as of Tuesday afternoon, with others vowing to unseat her in November either way. Kiggans said in a post on X : "The radio host should not have used that language and I do not -and did not - condone it. It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing Hakeem Jefferies [sic] should stay out of Virginia." House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday: "Sometimes people misspeak. ... I'll talk to her about it, but you should not be evaluating the character of Jen Kiggans based on some comment that supposedly she said." Driving the news: The controversy rests on a Monday interview Kiggans did with Richmond-based radio host Rich Herrera on Democrats' thwarted effort to redistrict Virginia's congressional map in their favor. Said Herrera: "If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he ... 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." "That's right. Ditto. Yes. Yes, to that," Kiggans replied. State of play: Jeffries' No. 2 and No. 3 in Democratic leadership, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and House Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), both called for Kiggans to step down on Monday night. They were joined by the Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Black Caucus PAC, who told Axios he agreed with Clark that Kiggans should step down. Other lawmakers cal...

Original source: Axios