Julian Castro. Rep. Eric Swalwell. Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand.
One after another, the already-declared and potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates called on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign Friday night.
A decades-old yearbook photo of Northam, a Democrat, wearing either blackface or a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood prompted a wave of calls for the governor to step down.
Northam said he was “deeply sorry” for the offensive and racist photo, but did not identify whether he wore blackface or the KKK costume. In a video statement later Friday, Northam said he’s committed to serving out the remainder of his term.
“This behavior was racist and unconscionable. Governor Northam should resign,” tweeted Castro, a former secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama.
It doesn’t matter if he is a Republican or a Democrat. This behavior was racist and unconscionable. Governor Northam should resign.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) February 2, 2019
“No, you can’t wear a black face or a white hood and lead a state. Not now and not ever. But we are merciful people. Governor Northam should step down, seek forgiveness, and through good deeds earn the respect of the African-American Community,” Swalwell, D-Calif., wrote.
No, you can’t wear a black face or a white hood and lead a state. Not now and not ever. But we are merciful people. Governor Northam should step down, seek forgiveness, and through good deeds earn the respect of the African-American Community.
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) February 2, 2019
Harris, D-Calif., said there’s no place for Northam’s racist behavior in government.
“The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together,” she said.
Leaders are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government. The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 2, 2019
Warren, D-Mass., called the image “deeply disturbing.”
“Hatred and discrimination have no place in our country and must not be tolerated, especially from our leaders— Republican or Democrat. Northam must resign,” she said in a statement.
Gillibrand, D-N.Y., first told reporters at a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Friday night that Northam should apologize, but joined the call for the governor’s resignation after seeing the photo.
“There aren’t two sets of rules for our friends and our foes: Right is right and wrong is wrong. Americans deserve to be respected by their leaders, and racism cannot be excused in our government or anywhere else. Having seen the photo, I believe Governor Northam should resign,” she said.
There aren’t two sets of rules for our friends and our foes: Right is right and wrong is wrong. Americans deserve to be respected by their leaders, and racism cannot be excused in our government or anywhere else. Having seen the photo, I believe Governor Northam should resign.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 2, 2019
Northam, 59, won the Virginia governor race in November 2017, defeating Republican Ed Gillespie. He previously served as the state’s lieutenant governor. He was the first Democrat to be elected to the position since Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in 2001.