John Reid to Release The Debate That Should Have Happened

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2025

HENRICO, Va. — After 125 days of refusals from Senator Ghazala Hashmi to participate in a single joint forum or debate, Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate John Reid today is releasing The 2025 Virginia Lieutenant Governor "Debate" — a fully cited and sourced, one-take debate video responding directly to his opponent’s publicly stated positions.

“This is the only time this debate occurred. There were no rehearsals, no second takes, and no advance prep beyond my own notes,” said Reid. “I was shown the final structure and format just minutes before we taped. Every answer from Senator Hashmi is taken directly from her own words, cited and publicly available through her website and interviews. Virginians deserve to see a side-by-side contrast, and since my opponent won’t show up, I had to force the issue myself.”

In the video, questions are asked by a recorded moderator. Reid’s answers are spontaneous and unscripted, while Hashmi’s responses are represented using her own verified quotes, voiced through basic artificial intelligence.

Reid emphasized that the project was created in the spirit of fairness and transparency: “Unlike even the real debates where every candidate gets days of preparation, this tape was my one and only take. Virginians can see exactly how I respond when I don’t get to hide behind consultants or scripts. My opponent has had months to prepare; she’s simply chosen silence.”

He added: “It’s unfortunate that a sitting State Senator is either too afraid of her own record or too calculating to face the voters directly. But I will always stand on my own two feet, and in an unscripted format, answer questions from the media and the public. That’s what leadership looks like.”

The full video, “The 2025 Virginia Lieutenant Governor "Debate",” will be released on John Reid’s campaign website and social media platforms at 6:00pm ET tonight.

It will be viewable at: www.JohnReidForVirginia.com/Debate

Contact: noah@rubymountainstrategies.com

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