NORFOLK, Va. — We continue to analyze the political ads you’re seeing this election. We've already verified an ad from Congresswoman Jen Kiggans. Now we verify claims made in the first attack ad from her challenger, Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal.
In the ad, Smasal claims: "Anti-choice Jen Kiggans is teaming up with MAGA extremists behind our backs: ‘Marjorie Taylor Greene has been very nice to me… they’re on my team, they are my teammates… we all want the same things.'"
Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of Washington’s most controversial politicians. She has embraced conspiracy theories, denied the results of the 2020 election, and most recently, tried to remove fellow Republican Mike Johnson as House Speaker.
But are Kiggans' comments about Greene taken out of context?
Did Jen Kiggans express vocal support for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?
Let’s Verify by going straight to the source: a YouTube video from August 2023 shows Kiggans speaking to the “Tidewater Liberty Partners” breakfast in Virginia Beach. Someone asked what it was like working with four specific House members, including Greene.
Kiggans responded: “Marjorie Taylor Greene, she is so kind, she has been very nice to me. I have nothing bad or different to say about any of these people; they are on my team, they are my teammates, we all want the same things. We are all frustrated with the direction of the country, we just go about it... they represent different districts than I do, my district is purple.”
Kiggans explained that Greene represents a deep red district and has a long leash to be a loud voice. “They have a luxury of representing a super conservative district," she stated. "But they’re on my team, they’re my teammates. I’m proud to have them on my team, I think that all voices should be heard.”
So yes, we can Verify that Kiggans called Greene “kind,” “a teammate,” and that they “want the same things.”
Is Kiggans “teaming up with MAGA extremists behind our backs” as alleged in the ad?
There is no evidence to support that.
The independent nonprofit Lugar Center found that Kiggans votes as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, while Greene votes as one of the most partisan.
Kiggans did not make it a secret about being supportive in her professional relationship with Marjorie Taylor Greene, having publicly spoken into a microphone and on camera about it. Additionally, her voting record has not mirrored the Georgia Congresswoman's.
This claim is therefore false.
Other campaign Verify stories: