GOP Candidate For Lt. Governor In VA Is Conservative Radio Show Host

Updated at 5:02 p.m.

VIRGINIA — The Republican Party officially cancelled the primary in the Virginia lieutenant governor's race on Tuesday, making John J. Reid II the unopposed Republican candidate in that race. This means the conservative radio host will be the GOP candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot.

This decision came a day after Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) announced he was dropping out of the race for health reasons, according to a post on his official X account.

Reid released a statement praising Herrity for being a gentleman during the campaign and for his years of service to Fairfax County and the state.

"With Pat's selfless decision today, our party now has an early opportunity to unify behind a historic, solidly conservative, reasonable, and responsible GOP ticket led by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares that will continue to build on Governor Youngkin's success."

“It is with a very heavy heart that today I am announcing the end of my 2025 race for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia,” Herrity said Monday. “Since my heart surgery on March 13th and the subsequent complications, I have been working hard to regain my strength and return to the campaign trail. As I learned and was enjoying prior to my surgery, a statewide campaign requires significant travel, multiple appearances per evening, being “on” all of the time and incredible stamina.”

Herrity first announced on Jan. 3 that he was running to be the Republican Party’s lieutenant governor candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot.

“I’ll focus education resources on students and quality teachers — not on political agendas,” he said in January. “I’ll stand up to the progressive prosecutors releasing repeat violent offenders into our neighborhoods, and I’ll penalize localities that refuse to cooperate with ICE to keep our communities safe.”

Herrity said in his X post that it was critical to elect Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears — the current lieutenant governor — and re-elect Attorney General Jason Miyares, also a Republican, in order to continue the legacy of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and avoid one-party rule.

“If not, Virginia will lose its competitive edge with forced unionization, our neighborhoods will be less safe, education standards will again be lowered, California will determine what cars we drive and electricity will continue to be both more expensive and less reliable,” he said.

John Curran, who had announced his intention to enter the GOP race, failed to qualify for the ballot, according to the nonprofit Virginia Public Information Project.

Republican Marlow A Jones Sr., who represents Ward 1 on the Petersburg City Council, is running as an independent candidate in the lieutenant governor’s race.

Democratic voters will have six candidates to choose from in the June 17 primary: attorney Alex Bastani, State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef, State Sen. Aaron Rouse, Arlington attorney Victor Salgado, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.

The full statement Herrity posted on X:

It is with a very heavy heart that today I am announcing the end of my 2025 race for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Since my heart surgery on March 13th and the subsequent complications, I have been working hard to regain my strength and return to the campaign trail. As I learned and was enjoying prior to my surgery, a statewide campaign requires significant travel, multiple appearances per evening, being “on” all of the time and incredible stamina. I have come to the realization that my ability to get back to the 150 percent that I was giving to run a statewide race and that will be necessary to win in November is not possible at the near future. Realizing that I can’t give it my all for the ticket, my supporters and donors is already causing me great stress. I believe making this decision now is in the best interest of both my health and the ticket.

I have heard greatly exaggerated stories from across the Commonwealth about my health. I can assure you that I did not have a stroke or heart attack and I am walking over three miles a day and climbing stairs. As we reported on March 14th, I had heart surgery to repair a genetic defect. Unfortunately, in the weeks since the surgery I have had several complications that have impacted my recovery time. My doctors are still predicting a full recovery but I have come to realize it will be much slower than anticipated. Unfortunately, the 150 percent effort required for a statewide campaign would also significantly delay my recovery, put undue stress on my health and come with some risk, hence my decision to end the 2025 campaign now.

As you heard me say repeatedly on the campaign trail, my campaign was less about me and the Lieutenant Governor position and more about doing well in Northern Virginia so we could elect Winsome Sears as our Governor and reelect Attorney General Jason Miyares. It remains critical that we elect Winsome as Governor so we can continue Governor Youngkin’s legacy of accomplishments and avoid a return to one party rule. If not, Virginia will lose its competitive edge with forced unionization, our neighborhoods will be less safe, education standards will again be lowered, California will determine what cars we drive and electricity will continue to be both more expensive and less reliable. Attorney General Miyares has made great strides in keeping Virginians safe - a direction we must continue. I remain committed to the mission of making sure Winsome and Jason do better in Northern Virginia so we can keep Virginia on the right path.

It has been an extreme pleasure and honor to meet so many great people and leaders as I traveled the Commonwealth early in the campaign. I have learned so much about Virginia and its very different challenges. I have been extremely humbled by the generous welcome and the support I received on the campaign trail. It is an experience I will not forget and will put to good use in my continued public service. I remain committed to serving the residents of Fairfax County as the voice of balance and common sense on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Very truly yours,
Pat Herrity