With just days to go before Virginia voters head to the polls, Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate John Reid says Democrats are attempting a move straight out of the California playbook — and it’s threatening the will of the people.

In a recent episode of Breaking Battlegrounds, host Chuck Warren sat down with Reid to discuss what he calls a “nefarious and calculated” attempt by Virginia Democrats to undo a voter-approved constitutional amendment on redistricting — one designed to take partisanship out of the process altogether.

A Bipartisan Reform Under Attack

A few years ago, Virginians made history. By a two-to-one vote, they approved a constitutional amendment establishing an independent redistricting commission, ending decades of politicians drawing their own political boundaries. The reform passed with broad bipartisan support and was hailed as a model for other states.

But now, according to Reid, Democrats in the state legislature are trying to override that reform — and they’re doing it one week before the election.

“They’re calling all the legislators back to the Capitol,” Reid told Warren. “Including the Republican who’s running for governor. She has to leave the campaign trail and come back to preside over the Senate. Tell me that’s not calculated. Tell me that’s not dirty tricks.”

The Stakes for Virginia — and the Country

Reid argues that this is bigger than a procedural fight — it’s a question of whether Virginia will stand by the principle of government by the people or fall into the trap of partisan manipulation.

“The will of the people has been expressed,” he said. “The voice of the people is on record now. And I think people are not going to respond well to having what they intended overturned at the last second before a big election.”

While some voters may not be aware of the technicalities, Reid says he’s working to make sure they understand what’s at stake. “It’s complicated — it’s not an elevator pitch,” Warren admitted. “But at the end of the day, this is about fairness. We did what other states claim to want — we took the politics out of it. And now Democrats are trying to pull a naked power grab.”

Holding Virginia to a Higher Standard

Reid’s message is rooted in pride for the Commonwealth and its legacy.

“I always hold Virginia to a higher standard than any other state,” he said. “We are the birthplace of American liberty. We have a standard to uphold.”

That’s why, he says, this fight isn’t just about maps or districts — it’s about trust in the democratic process and respecting the will of voters who demanded change and got it.

Looking Ahead

While his Democratic opponents may have forced legislators off the campaign trail, Reid plans to turn that disruption into momentum. “The good thing is I’m not in the legislature,” he told Breaking Battlegrounds. “So I’m going to be campaigning three times as hard over the next week on behalf of everybody else.” Reid expreses he will be doing his part to expose this dirty trick so that everybody knows.

As Election Day looms, Reid’s message is clear: Virginia’s integrity is on the ballot.

Transcript

Chuck Warren: Welcome back to Breaking Battlegrounds. I’m your host Chuck Horn, and stood with me is Kylie Campbell. We are honored to have with us Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate from Virginia, John Reed. John is neck to neck with his opponent, liberal progressive Senator Hashmi. And John, something’s happening interesting in Virginia that the Democrats out there have trying to do their best to imitate Gavin Newsom in California and go against the will of the people of Virginia on redistricting. What’s happening? How real is this? How big is the threat?

**John Reid: **Look, if you step back from what team you’re on, team Republican, team Democrat, I get it. People are frustrated that the rules of the game from a redistricting standpoint are changing in other states. What’s happening here at Virginia, though, is that we did what a lot of states wish they could do. We passed a constitutional amendment with a two to one vote in Virginia.

Where we took the partisanship out of the redistricting. At least as best you could, we sent it to an independent commission so that it wouldn’t be decided by the politicians themselves. The same people, you know, don’t want the politicians drawing their own lines. I get it, that makes sense. I agree. So that’s what we did. We took it away from the partisanship. And now the Democrats in Virginia, during the middle of the campaign, right here with one week to go.

They’re calling all the legislators back to the Capitol, guess what? Including the Republican who’s running for governor, so she has to leave the campaign trail. Tell me that’s not calculated. Tell me that’s not dirty tricks. She has to leave the campaign trail and come back to the Capitol to preside over the state Senate while the Democrats attempt to overturn the will of the people. And they’re trying to act like, we’re just responding to what the other states are doing. You know what? This is Virginia. We passed a constitutional amendment.

The will of the people has been expressed. The voice of the people is on record now. And I think people are not going to respond well to having what they intended overturned at the last second before a big election. And with this nefarious plan to take all the Republicans off the campaign trail. The good thing is I’m not in the legislature. So I’m going to be campaigning three times as hard over the next week on behalf of everybody else.

And I’m going to expose this dirty trick so that everybody knows,

**Chuck Warren: **Do you think voters know about this?

John Reid: Well it’s it’s getting out there but it’s a little complicated you know what I this took me two minutes to explain it it’s not a simple.

**Chuck Warren: **It’s not an elevator pitch. It’s not an elevator pitch.

John Reid: I think some people also are mad about Texas and North Carolina and other states so they think, well, what’s good for them we should do here in Virginia. No, a, I always hold Virginia to a higher standard than any other state. We are the birthplace of American liberty. We have a standard to uphold. And we did years ago what these other states say they want, which is take the politics out of it.

So it’s really... disingenuous act like you’re speaking on behalf of the people when what you’re doing is your it’s a naked power grab that’s happening right now and i’d think it’s thanks

Chuck Warren: We’re with John Reid, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia. He is running against Liberal Progressive Democrat Senator Hashmi.

Listen to the full episode of Breaking Battlegrounds anywhere you stream your podcasts —** **Election Day is just 2 days away!