Candidate recruitment from a secretive political organization threatens to undermine Virginia's competitive congressional election and return the state's 2nd Congressional District to the Democrats.
The Patriots Run Project, a group with ties to Democratic campaign offices, has recruited third-party candidate Robert Reed to run against Republican Rep. Jennifer Kiggans and Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal. The Associated Press reported. Monday.
Reed, described as a “widowed retiree,” told The Associated Press that the recruiters seemed like “good people” but acknowledged that “they want me to run to take votes away” from the Republican incumbent.
“Democrats know they have no election promises, so they are resorting to shady tactics in a desperate attempt to win Virginia's 2nd Congressional District,” Kiggans said after the news broke. “I will not be intimidated, and I will never give up on my mission to protect this country and ensure the future success of America.”
The Post has reached out to Cotter-Smasal's campaign for comment, as they have yet to issue a statement on the AP's shocking revelations.
Reid isn't the only candidate being scouted: “Over the past year, the group has been recruiting Trump supporters to run as independents in key battleground districts where they could steal votes from Republicans in elections that will determine which party prevails in next year's House elections,” the Associated Press reported.
Kiggans is seeking a second term in the House of Representatives, defeating two-term incumbent Democrat Elaine Luria in 2022. The latest Christopher Newport University poll shows Kiggans leading Cotter Smasal by five points, but Kiggans insiders say Reed could pull support away from Republicans, tipping the ball in favor of Democrats.
As of the end of June, Mr Kiggans' $4,233,404 was more than three times the $1,282,860 that Ms Cotter Smasal had on hand.
The latter's website boasts that her race is one of 20 that the House Democrats' campaign organization is targeting on the ballot this year.
Reed reported no campaign contributions as of the end of June. He has no campaign website and a reporter's review found no address or phone number listed for his campaign.
Early voting in Virginia begins Friday, but it appears too late to remove Reed's name from the ballot, according to a voting schedule released by the state's elections department.
In Virginia, “conspiracy against the rights of citizens” is considered a felony, according to the news agency.
Asked for comment, Sean Kenney, a spokesman for Attorney General Jason Miyares, said on behalf of his office that “we have nothing to say on this matter.”
