Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Virginia Republican, faced calls to resign after a Richmond radio host said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had “cotton-picking hands” and Kiggans replied, “That’s right. Ditto – yes, yes to that.” [1, 2, 3, 4]
The dispute centers on Virginia redistricting and Jeffries’ role in efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map. Kiggans represents Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, while Jeffries, a New York Democrat, is the top House Democrat. [1, 2, 3]
The phrase “cotton picking” has racist roots tied to slavery and the use of enslaved Black labor on cotton plantations. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and California Gov. Gavin Newsom were among the Democrats who called for Kiggans to resign. Clark said, “Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders,” and Newsom echoed the criticism. [1, 2, 3]
Kiggans later said on X that she did not condone the host’s language and said she meant only that Jeffries should stay out of Virginia politics. “The radio host should not have used that language and I do not – and did not – condone it,” she wrote. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Axios reported that by Tuesday afternoon, more than a dozen House Democrats had joined the resignation calls. The radio exchange took place on Monday, and the backlash widened on Tuesday as Democrats kept pressing Kiggans to leave office. [4]
