Why John Reid Could Tank the GOP Ticket and Destroy Virginia

As Virginia approaches a pivotal election in 2025, a growing rift within the Republican Party threatens to upend the conservative coalition. At the center of this political and spiritual storm is John Reid—a professing Christian and GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor who is openly homosexual and engaged to his male partner. For many socially conservative Virginians, particularly evangelicals who hold firm to biblical standards of sexuality and marriage, Reid’s lifestyle and public witness are not just controversial—they are disqualifying. With his candidacy stirring moral outrage and disillusionment among core GOP voters, Reid’s presence on the ticket may not only fracture party unity but also put the GOP ticket in jeopardy statewide.

Why John Reid Could Tank the GOP Ticket and Destroy Virginia

Rev. Joshua Daniel Pratt, MDiv.

April 23, 2025 — Lynchburg, VA

As the 2025 election season heats up in Virginia, one name has become a lightning rod within Republican circles: John Reid. A conservative talk radio host from Richmond and former staffer to Senator George Allen, and professing Christian, Reid is running for Lieutenant Governor. On paper, he checks the boxes of a traditional GOP candidate—staunch supporter of tax cuts, pro-police, and tough on crime. But there’s one fact that has exploded into controversy among social conservatives: Reid is openly homosexual and plans to marry his longtime partner, Alonzo.

“I didn’t know he was gay,” Stated Chairwoman of the Lynchburg Republican City Committee, Veronica Bratton, “I grew up in Richmond, I remember John’s dad and I listened to John on the radio for years. He is conservative.” Bratton stated that when she discovered that Reid was homosexual she thought “shoot that’s a problem.”

For a party still deeply rooted in evangelical and socially conservative values, Reid’s candidacy is more than unusual—it’s divisive. And to some insiders, it’s downright dangerous.

Drag Queen Photos Surface of Republican Candidate For Lt Governor

Adding fuel to the fire, a series of recently surfaced photographs have ignited fresh outrage among Virginia’s Christian conservative base. One image shows Reid slipping dollar bills into the outfit of a drag performer during what appears to be a nightclub event. Another captures Reid and his fiancé, Alonzo, smiling in a candid moment—Reid wearing a T-shirt boldly declaring, “Liberal in the Bedroom.” The third and most controversial photo depicts Reid lounging surrounded by flamboyantly dressed drag queens in a scene that critics are calling “spiritually offensive” and “an open mockery of biblical values.” For many Christian voters, especially evangelicals already on edge about Reid’s sexuality, these images confirm their worst fears—not only about lifestyle, but about public witness and moral leadership. For a growing number of churchgoing conservatives, these revelations aren’t just disqualifying—they’re a reason to stay home altogether or actively oppose his nomination.

The Evangelical Base Reacts

Virginia Republicans are already walking a tightrope after losing the House of Delegates majority in 2023 (51-49). In such a precarious political environment, Reid’s homosexuality has sparked major concerns from key factions of the GOP base—particularly evangelicals, who made up about 35% of Republican voters in the 2022 midterms, according to exit polling.

Polling numbers suggest those concerns are not unfounded. Campaign strategist Bob West of Virginia Beach has produced data examining the likelihood of a homosexual Republican candidate for statewide office tanking the entire ticket.

West reports, A March 2025 post from PollTracker2024 revealed that 65% of Republicans still oppose same-sex marriage—up from Gallup’s nationwide 2021 finding that 55% supported it. In Virginia, those numbers are even more stark. In January, 79% of GOP state senators and 71% of Republican delegates voted against the Democrats’ proposed constitutional amendment to recognize same-sex marriage. The conservative grassroots response has been sharp: they view Reid not merely as “neutral” on the issue, but as actively promoting a lifestyle many in their ranks believe contradicts biblical teachings.

A 2021 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) study revealed that 36% of white evangelical Protestants say they would not vote for an LGBTQ+ candidate—no exceptions. If those numbers hold, Reid could be staring down a cold shoulder from up to a third of the GOP’s most consistent voters.

“If the choice is between compromising our values or sitting out the election, many Christians will choose to stay home,” said a local pastor from Roanoke who requested anonymity. “A man who publicly defies biblical teachings on human sexuality and marriage should not be representing our party.”

Turnout Trouble Ahead

Analysts warn that 10–15% of evangelical conservatives may stay home in November if Reid tops or flanks the ticket. That turnout dip could have devastating consequences—not just for Reid, but for down-ballot candidates in competitive House of Delegates districts.

Republicans narrowly won the House in 2021 with a 52-48 edge but lost control in 2023 by just three seats. With every district now a battleground, a drop of even 5% in conservative turnout could flip key rural and exurban races. In counties like Patrick, Lee, and parts of Southwest Virginia, where church attendance and biblical values remain central to daily life, Reid’s candidacy could act like a wet blanket on voter enthusiasm and effect the statewide candidates Winsome Sears and Jason Miyares .

“Youngkin won in 2021 by energizing the grassroots without stepping on cultural landmines,” said West. “Reid is the landmine.”

A 2021 study by political scientists Gabriele Magni and Andrew Reynolds found that Republican candidates perceived as LGBTQ+ suffer an electoral penalty of up to 14.8 percentage points among GOP voters and over 17% among conservatives overall. This so-called “identity penalty” could drag not just Reid down, but any Republican linked to him by proximity on the ballot.

The Amendment Minefield

Reid’s stance on the Democrats’ proposed amendment to enshrine same-sex marriage in Virginia’s Constitution only deepens the divide. While he supports repealing the 2006 constitutional ban on gay marriage, he has voiced hesitation about the Democratic proposal, citing concerns over religious liberty.

But to many social conservatives, this feels like a half-measure. “He’s trying to have it both ways,” said Donna Shepard, a conservative activist from Shenandoah Valley. “Either you believe in protecting religious freedom and traditional marriage, or you don’t. This middle ground is just political pandering.”

In January, Virginia Republicans in the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted against the Democrats’ amendment proposal, signaling strong party alignment on the issue. Reid’s perceived compromise could be read by voters as a betrayal—not only of the party platform but of deeply held convictions.

Independents: Not the Cavalry

Some argue that Reid could make up lost ground by attracting independents. After all, VCU’s 2022 survey found 55–60% of Virginia independents support same-sex marriage, and Reid’s “conservative first” messaging could appeal to fiscally-minded centrists.

But experts warn this optimism is misplaced. Youngkin’s success with independents (54–45 in 2021) was built on avoiding cultural controversies—not igniting them. And while urban independents might shrug at Reid’s sexuality, rural swing voters (especially along I-81 and Southside) are more ambivalent. A 2019 AP-NORC poll found 20–30% of rural independents held reservations about LGBTQ+ candidates.

In essence, any moderate gains are likely to be canceled out by lost evangelical support and rural ambivalence. The net result: a weakened ticket that fails to excite either end of the spectrum.

The Coattail Effect—Or Lack Thereof

In statewide elections, the top of the ticket matters. A charismatic candidate can lift down-ballot races. But a polarizing one can sink them.

The Brookings Institution has documented the “coattail effect,” where strong gubernatorial or senatorial candidates boost turnout and win margins for their party’s lower-tier contenders. The opposite is also true: a controversial figure drags the whole slate down.

North Carolina’s 2024 governor’s race offers a cautionary tale. Republican Mark Robinson’s divisive remarks caused severe blowback, leading to down-ballot losses that cost the GOP several legislative seats. Virginia Republicans fear history could repeat.

Christians’ Concerns: Morality, Representation, and Witness

Beyond electoral calculus, many Christians are expressing spiritual concerns about Reid’s candidacy. Some view it not just as a political misstep, but a moral and theological compromise.

“To elevate someone who openly lives in contradiction to Scripture—especially on marriage and sexuality—is to tell the world that Christian witness no longer matters in public life,” said Rev. Travis Witt of Bedford County. “It’s not about hate or exclusion. It’s about truth and spiritual integrity.”

Others question what message the party sends to young believers and families. “How do I explain this to my kids? That we’re voting for a man to lead Virginia while he promotes something the Bible calls sin?” asked a mother of four in Goochland. “It’s confusing and discouraging.”

Concern for John Reid’s Soul

While political disagreements abound, many within Virginia’s Christian community are expressing a deeper, more personal concern for John Reid—one rooted not in condemnation, but in love and eternal hope. On numerous occasions, John has made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. As recently as this past Holy Week, he wrote on Facebook: “We begin Holy Week today and begin the story of my Savior’s celebration, betrayal, murder, resurrection and final placement as the Light of our world.” These words resonated with many who have known him since childhood, and who remember a young man raised in the faith.

For them, the current controversy is not just about politics or public policy—it is about the condition of a soul they care deeply for. Friends very close to John have approached him in love and compassion to step down for the good of the party and the good of the Commonwealth, but to no avail. John’s friends and believers across the Commonwealth are lifting John up in prayer, not out of spite, but out of genuine love. They earnestly desire to see him walk in the fullness of his profession, embracing the call of Christ not only as Savior but as Lord in every area of life. With heavy hearts, they look to Scripture, including passages like Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, which solemnly warn against behaviors that separate individuals from God but also proclaim the hope of transformation: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

The prayer isn’t merely for John’s political direction, but for his restoration and renewal in the truth and love of the gospel—a gospel that welcomes all who repent and believe, no matter their past. Their hope is not to shame, but to call, not to cancel, but to invite—to a life reconciled to God in Christ Jesus and guided by His Word and Holy Spirit.

It is like the story in the Bible of the woman caught in the act of adultery: “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

The Verdict

John Reid may be a competent candidate with a solid conservative resume, but for many in the GOP—especially its evangelical base—his candidacy represents a bridge too far. The numbers suggest a 5–10% turnout drop is realistic, particularly in red zones where culture and faith drive voting habits. That drag (pun intended) could cost Republicans not just the Lieutenant Governor’s office and flip 3–5 House of Delegates seats, turning a razor-thin margin into a Democratic advantage, but also the Governor and Attorney General races.

While openly homosexual Republicans have served in office before, few have done so in statewide contests in socially conservative regions. For many grassroots Christians, it’s not just politics; It’s about principle. A Republican loss in November would result in a Democrat House, Democrat Senate, and Democrat Governorship, the trifecta of runaway leftist ideology antithetical to Christian principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

A Plan to Save the Party and the Commonwealth

John can resign his nomination and step down for the good of the party and the commonwealth. Then in turn the Republican State Central Committee could nominate a Republican candidate for Lt. Governor that would unite Republicans, Conservatives, and Evangelicals. A perfect nominee would be Senator Mark Peake, the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, he is conservative and a uniter.

The author, Rev. Joshua Daniel Pratt, MDiv. is the Founder of Action Mission, A Faith Based Organization committed to “Equipping the Saints to Retake America.” Josh is the Pastor of Discipleship and Education at All Nations Community Church in Lynchburg, VA. He has written for the Virginia Star, The Arizona State Press and he is a published author of the political guide book to conservative Christian campaigns, “How to Win Friends and Influence Elections.”