John Reid’s endorsement by Joe Morrissey won’t fool voters into thinking he’s a political moderate. 

by Paul Goldman  

Radio show host John Reid got nominated by accident when the likely GOP Lt. Governor primary winner dropped out. Soon Reid, now the GOP LG nominee by law, chose to engage in a public feud with GOP Gov. Youngkin. In that regard, Reid seemed to suggest Youngkin was anti-gay when apparently the Governor’s political folks tried to get Reid — openly gay — to drop off the GOP ticket. This instantly made Reid the poster boy for the anti-Youngkin MAGA GOP folks loyal to President Trump. He eagerly embraced them despite the basic anti-equality bias of the MAGA movement

I wrote about these events months ago, predicting they showed that John Reid wasn’t ready for prime time as a statewide political candidate. Before he got embroiled in the statewide politics at the candidate level, John had been perhaps the most successful political radio host in Virginia. 

But there’s a world of difference between radio show host politics, and politics at the statewide candidate level.

As I wrote, John had been used by Trump‘s people who knew Trump was an albatross this year in Virginia. They used John to help the Trump people lay the groundwork to blame Youngkin should the GOP ticket get crushed this November.

In my articles, I point out history says the GOP will likely suffer it’s worse defeat since 1985 indeed their looming wipeout may be the worst ever for a GOP ticket in the two party Virginia era. Current polling agrees. In my experience, any hope for the GOP defying history is rapidly fading. GOP consultants brag their AG candidate will somehow defy the odds and win. Incumbent Democratic LG Don Beyer did it in 1993 by surviving a huge win by GOP gubernatorial candidate George Allen. So it’s possible. But ticket splitting is far less common today. 

It’s the reason I wrote: if John really wanted a career in statewide politics, the  smart move would be to have used Youngkin’s arm-twisting as an excuse to jump off the Titanic. 

But he preferred his proverbial 15 minutes of fame with the clapping by the MAGA crowd. I believe Mr. Reid now realizes the MAGA crowd is a huge negative for him this year. 

Trump lost Virginia three straight times. It wasn’t even a close once.

Accordingly, I understand why Mr. Reid recently announced Democrats for Reid. He’s desperately trying to pretend he’s not a true red Trump guy.

This effort confirms my original analysis of his being completely over his head as a statewide candidate. Firstly, in Virginia, the historically successful approach would have been to  create “Virginia’s for Reid” as the vehicle for any non-republican endorsers. Not a partisan group.

Secondly, trumpeting an endorsement by former Democratic State  Senator Joe Morrissey shows Reid’s misreads political inexperience

Joe was recently defeated in a Democratic Party primary. History teaches the public will see Morrissey’s endorsement as more sour grapes against the Democratic Party than pro-Reid. That Reid doesn’t  understand this instinctively demonstrates he really isn’t ready to be a statewide candidate.

Reid seems to feel he’s demonstrated being more open-minded than his Democratic LG opponent. Morrissey likewise takes that line from what I could read from reported public comments.

With all due respect, the average voter in Virginia sees the GOP as the most intolerant party in modern times. A few Democrats endorsing Reid isn’t gonna change that one wait. 

If Reid wants to show his open mindedness, then why doesn’t he criticize President Trump for saying -– at Charlie Kirk’s funeral no less after his grieving widow expressed exactly opposite sentiments — that Trump wants the worst for all his enemies. How disrespectful could you be to a grieving family of a friend. In all honesty, I can’t imagine anyone saying that at a funeral of a friend. No way. 

John Reid chose to associate himself with MAGA when it was in his political interest. Now, realizing this was a huge mistake, he wants to now use Joe Morrissey and others to pretend he’s an open-minded non-partisan guy.

At this rate, I suspect Reid will blame Democrats for being homophobic when they vote against him this November.

My sense is that Reid has finally realized he’s going to lose and likely lose badly this November. It’s hard to get up every morning in an election, whether you’re the candidate or the campaign staff, in such situations. 

I’ve been there. So let me give John some friendly advice. Find some issue -– serving the greater good not your own political or personal interest — and spend the rest of your campaign being an advocate for it. Not some partisan issue. 

Right now, I can’t think of one issue John is championing which fits this profile. Pretending you’re some paragon of bipartisan politics is simply an absurdity for a MAGA radio host personality

Anyone with political experience in statewide politics can think of several key issues which demand attention yet the politicians in Richmond have refused to address it.

For my experiences with John Reid, he’s a decent fellow who decided he was ready to be a statewide candidate. Had he run in 2021 he might’ve won. But 2025 figures to be the worst time for him to have chosen to run. Bob Dylan said that the losers now will later to win because the times they are changing. That isn’t happening this November.

It’s unlikely John Reid will ever get a statewide nomination again.

So he has about six weeks when the statewide public will listen to what he has to say. He would be well advised to use this time wisely. Because as JFK said, victory has 1000 fathers, but defeat is an orphan. 

November is looming as a very cruel awakening for Mr. Reid about the true nature of American politics.