Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam — currently embroiled in a scandal after a racist photo from his medical school yearbook page was unearthed — was accused of racism two years ago.
In 2017, his gubernatorial campaign created a flier that erased the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Justin Fairfax, who is black and had appeared in other versions of the flier.
Now, allies of Fairfax claim Northam advisers have helped circulate allegations of sexual assault against Fairfax, who will become governor if Northam steps down.
Collective PAC, a political action committee dedicated to promoting black candidates, said in a statement: “We’ve … learned through various sources that Governor Northam’s team and advisors have now decided to start attacking Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax by spreading lies to reporters and state leaders in an attempt to quell support for the Lt. Governor as Governor Northam’s impending successor should he resign.”
In October 2017, days before the Virginia gubernatorial election, Collective PAC tweeted: “It is sad, disturbing and disheartening that efforts to elect Democrats led by progressive partners would intentionally exclude the only black candidate on the statewide ticket, esp. when black voters were so critical to Democrats winning statewide four years ago.”
Collective PAC added in a separate tweet: “While we might not be able to stop subtle racism in 20 days, we can surely help Justin win this election.”
It is sad, disturbing and disheartening that efforts to elect democrats led by progressive partners would intentionally exclude…
— Collective PAC (@CollectivePAC) October 18, 2017
The Laborers’ International Union of North America requested the creation of the fliers because Fairfax reportedly didn’t complete the union’s questionnaire and “wasn’t supporting us on the issues,” Brian Petruska, general counsel with the LIUNA Mid-Atlantic Region Organizing Coalition, said at the time.
Northam’s campaign dismissed the criticism and said that the fliers were only a small portion of the literature printed for the campaign.
“Out of over 3 million pieces of literature printed for the campaign, this literature constituted less than roughly 0.5% of the literature printed, and was only for LIUNA to carry on their canvasses,” campaign spokesman David Turner said in a statement. “These doors have also received the regular literature. This means roughly 1.5 million households in Virginia have received the regular literature.”
“You can be rest assured, voters will know who Justin Fairfax is, what he stands for, and why he is the best choice for Lt. Governor in November,” he said.
Northam is facing pressure to step down after his personal page from his 1984 medical school yearbook was published online, depicting a photo of a man in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood.
He apologized for the photo on Friday, but he backtracked on Saturday and told reporters during a press conference he didn’t believe he was one of the two men in the photo. However, he did admit to wearing blackface in 1984 for a Michael Jackson costume at a talent show.
“Right now, I am simply asking for the opportunity to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person I was is not the man I am today. I am asking for the opportunity to earn your forgiveness,” Northam said in a prepared statement on Saturday.
Democrats including Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia have called on Northam to step down. Several 2020 presidential candidates have also called for him to resign, as have the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, the House Democratic Caucus, and Virginia Senate Democrats. Fairfax, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, would replace Northam in the event that he resigns.
