This year, Virginia Republicans are running an immigrant from Jamaica, an openly gay former talk show host and a Cuban American for statewide offices. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Didn’t they get the memo from the Oval Office that diversity, equity and inclusion are out of style? Has anyone told the president? He might be surprised that our candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are as diverse as the buffet line at the U.N. cafeteria.

One thing that’s not surprising is some Republicans have found fault with a couple of the candidates. gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears endured disparaging remarks from Republican party leaders, who said she was “unelectable” and had “already given up.” One even challenged her to a debate. Since she secured the nomination in early April, much of that sentiment has washed away. That’s the way it usually goes in politics, but as we pointed out, this is a different kind of ticket for the GOP.

For former speechwriter and talk show host John Reid, it was after he secured the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor that the serious pushback began. Reid, the first openly gay Republican nominee for statewide office in Virginia, was asked to withdraw from the race by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, according to reports. The request came after explicit images, allegedly linked to a username similar to his own, were noticed on Instagram and Tumblr accounts. Reid has denied any connection to the images and refuses to drop out of the race.

“I’m the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, and I’m more transparent and I’m more conservative, and I’m tougher than any of my detractors, and I’m not going anywhere except to get back on the campaign trail, win this election and take these people to court,” he said in a video statement.

Reports suggest Reid is considering legal action against the governor and alleges his actions are part of a “coordinated character assassination attempt.”

Sears recently issued a statement that was supportive of Reid’s candidacy and stated recent focus on the nominee distracted from her campaign’s mission to “to unite and inspire Virginians of all backgrounds.”

It’s ironic that while the leader of their party has made a crusade against diversity a cornerstone of his brand, Virginia Republicans are presenting their most diverse statewide ticket yet. So what message does this send?

One could interpret it as a rebuke of the president’s policies, suggesting that people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals can be the best candidates for the job. That’s not something we expected to hear from that side of the aisle — but they don’t need to say it; the truth is in the nominations.

The governor, along with some other Republican groups, also is making the case that some candidates face unique challenges, brought on by their background or lifestyle — by providing a fresh example of one. This is one reason DEI initiatives were deemed necessary: to make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed, no matter their background or situation.

As the party’s national leader rails against diversity and inclusion, Virginia’s GOP is proving change is already happening, whether people want to admit it or not.