John Reid is taking aim at Democrat state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi after video surfaced showing her brushing aside parental concerns about transgender ideology and sexually explicit material in schools, and refusing a face-to-face debate. Reid paints Hashmi as out of touch with Virginia families, saying she “doesn’t really care” about what children see in classrooms while he promises to give parents a seat at the table. When Hashmi skipped a scheduled debate, Reid even debated an AI stand-in to make the point that voters deserve answers.
The controversy began with video clips where Hashmi appears to minimize worries parents have raised about certain books and classroom materials. In one clip she tells reporters, “One of my concerns is violence. We seem to focus on sexually explicit material,” and follows with, “I don’t really care about that.” Those exact lines set off alarm bells among conservatives who argue our schools should protect children from inappropriate content.
Another short clip shows Hashmi saying plainly, “We teach the books that other people try to ban,” signaling a willingness to push back against parental pressure and local decision-making. That line landed hard with activists and many parents who feel shut out when curriculum choices become political. The tension here is about who gets to decide what children read and who speaks for families in the classroom.
John Reid responded quickly and loudly, putting his stance on record in his campaign video: “I’m John Reid. I’m running for lieutenant governor because I do care,” and later, “It’s time to stand up, clean up our schools, and move Virginia forward.” He frames his candidacy as a defense of parental rights and common-sense standards in education, drawing a bright line between his approach and Hashmi’s dismissal. For the Republican base, that message lands as a promise to restore local control and accountability.
‘Any public official who says they ‘don’t really care’ if children are exposed to sexually explicit material in schools is completely out of touch with Virginia parents.’ That quote was repeated by Reid’s campaign as a way to crystallize the argument: officials who shrug off parental concerns aren’t representing the community. It’s a blunt political line meant to force a choice at the ballot box.
When Hashmi declined to meet Reid on a debate stage, the campaign turned to unconventional tactics to keep the conversation alive. Rather than let silence stand, Reid debated an AI-generated stand-in of his Democratic opponent, a move meant to spotlight the refusal and still press her on the record. The stunt was aimed at giving voters the confrontation they were denied and keeping the focus on classroom content and parental input.
Campaign messaging from Reid’s team insists parents deserve more than explanations and excuses; they deserve access and oversight. He’s pushing the idea that parents should know what’s in their kids’ classrooms and have a direct role in shaping school policies. That line of attack is simple and clear: if elected, Reid says he will make sure families get a voice.
The fallout has turned into a broader culture fight about education, with conservatives arguing that school boards and lawmakers have drifted from community standards. Reid’s position ties into long-standing GOP themes about local control, protecting minors, and restoring decency in public institutions. For voters worried about rapid cultural change in schools, Reid’s pitch is meant to be straightforward and reassuring.
Hashmi’s defenders say she’s defending diverse perspectives and pushing back on censorship, but that defense hasn’t blunted the political damage among skeptical parents. The video clips and the debate incident are now central talking points in Reid’s campaign speeches and ads, and they’re likely to follow Hashmi through the election cycle. For the Republican campaign, the issue is framed as a test of priorities: whose judgment will prevail in Virginia classrooms?
The dispute is likely to stay front and center as both sides dig in and mobilize voters who care deeply about education. Reid wants to make parental authority a defining issue of the campaign, while Hashmi will have to decide whether to engage publicly and defend her remarks in more detail. Either way, this episode has sharpened the stakes for the lieutenant governor’s race and given voters a clear contrast to consider.
https://x.com/JohnReid4VA/status/1981077276620898534
