Northam Official Denies Claim That Governor Was Considering Party Switch

A Ralph Northam official contradicted the claim that the Virginia Democratic governor considered a party switch as prominent Democrats have called for his resignation over a controversial yearbook picture.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Northam “toyed with the idea” of governing the state as an independent for the “past several days.” Northam reportedly expected Democrats to give him the benefit of the doubt over a picture – which showed one person in blackface and the other in a Ku Klux Klan costume- that appeared under Northam’s name in the Eastern Virginia Medical School’s 1984 yearbook.

The Daily Caller News Foundation contacted Northam’s office Wednesday to confirm if the governor had any thoughts about switching parties and whether he felt like the Democratic party threw him under the bus.

“That is false,” Press Secretary for Virginia’s Office of the Goveror Alena Yarmosky said to TheDCNF over email.

Northam apologized in a Friday statement for appearing in the photo, but denied being in the picture on Saturday during a press conference. He revealed in the same press conference, however, that he used shoe polish in a separate instance to darken his face as part of a Michael Jackson costume.

The following are some of the organizations and people who have called on Northam to resign:

Two unnamed sources close to Northam said the governor took the blame because the public was asking for a statement and he felt a sense of responsibility, according to WaPo. Northam allegedly held doubts about being in the picture, however.

State Republican Sen. Richard Stuart is believed to be Northam’s sole defender in the legislatures, WaPo reported.

“I know he is somebody of honor and integrity, and he is going to clear his name on this,” Stuart said, according to WaPo.

Stuart did not respond to TheDCNF’s requests for comment.