Jen Kiggans Said “That’s Right. Ditto. Yes. Yes To That” In Response To A Radio Host Saying Hakeem Jeffries Should Keep His “Cotton Picking-Hands” Out Of Virginia

VIDEO: Kiggans Said “That’s Right. Ditto. Yes. Yes To That” In Response To A Radio Host Saying Hakeem Jeffries Should Keep His “Cotton Picking-Hands” Out Of Virginia. HOST RICH HERRERA: “Representative Kiggans, I appreciate you joining us. 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 Wittman are going to get peppered and they're going to throw in so much dark money from out of state. 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. KIGGANS: “That's right, ditto, yes. Yes to that.” [Jen Kiggans, Richmond’s Morning News, 5/11/26] (VIDEO)

New York Times Headline: “A Racist Remark About Jeffries Sets Off Democratic Anger In Virginia” [New York Times, 5/12/26]

New York Times: Kiggans “Set Off An Uproar” After She Agreed With Remarks From A Local Radio Host Who Said Hakeem Jeffries Should Keep His “Cotton-Picking Hands Off Of Virginia.” “A vulnerable Republican congresswoman in Virginia set off an uproar from Democrats after she agreed with remarks by a local radio host who said that Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House minority leader and a Black man, should keep his ‘cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.’ The dust-up surrounding the congresswoman, Representative Jen Kiggans, who is facing one of the country’s toughest re-election battles, is the latest chapter in Virginia’s redistricting saga. Ms. Kiggans was speaking with Rich Herrera, the host of a conservative morning talk show in Richmond, to discuss the fallout from the State Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated a new congressional map that Virginia voters had approved in an April referendum. During their conversation, Mr. Herrera lamented a discussion that Mr. Jeffries and Democratic members of the Virginia congressional delegation had on Saturday in which lawmakers discussed the idea of having the entire Virginia Supreme Court replaced in a long-shot effort to restore the voter-approved map. ‘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, and run for office down here,’ Mr. Herrera said. ‘If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.’ Ms. Kiggans replied: ‘That’s right. I, ditto. Yes, yes to that.’” [New York Times, 5/12/26]

• New York Times Described The Interaction: Radio Host: “‘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, And Run For Office Down Here,’ Mr. Herrera Said. ‘If Not, Get Your Cotton-Picking Hands Off Of Virginia.’ Ms. Kiggans Replied: ‘That’s Right. I, Ditto. Yes, Yes To That.’” “A vulnerable Republican congresswoman in Virginia set off an uproar from Democrats after she agreed with remarks by a local radio host who said that Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House minority leader and a Black man, should keep his ‘cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.’ The dust-up surrounding the congresswoman, Representative Jen Kiggans, who is facing one of the country’s toughest re-election battles, is the latest chapter in Virginia’s redistricting saga. Ms. Kiggans was speaking with Rich Herrera, the host of a conservative morning talk show in Richmond, to discuss the fallout from the State Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated a new congressional map that Virginia voters had approved in an April referendum. During their conversation, Mr. Herrera lamented a discussion that Mr. Jeffries and Democratic members of the Virginia congressional delegation had on Saturday in which lawmakers discussed the idea of having the entire Virginia Supreme Court replaced in a long-shot effort to restore the voter-approved map. ‘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, and run for office down here,’ Mr. Herrera said. ‘If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.’ Ms. Kiggans replied: ‘That’s right. I, ditto. Yes, yes to that.’” [New York Times, 5/12/26]