Gibson faces Republican David Owen, a retired home builder, on Nov. 7, when all 140 seats in Virginias House and Senate will be on the ballot.
''Me and my team found out about this story today like everyone else,'' Owen said in a written statement Monday afternoon, soon after The Post published an article about Gibson. ''Im sure this is a difficult time for Susanna and her family, and Im remaining focused on my campaign.''
The Republican operative who alerted The Post to the videos denied any connection to the Owen campaign or other groups active in Virginia elections this year. The operative provided the information on the condition of anonymity to avoid being drawn into the controversy.
Corey D. Silverstein, a prominent adult entertainment industry lawyer, said there is nothing illegal about streaming sex acts online as long as the participants and viewers are consenting adults even if they are paid to perform specific acts.
''There is absolutely no law that they are violating none,'' he said. ''In this case, you have two adults who are engaging in consensual sex, and theyve decided they want to broadcast that, and theyre doing so in exchange for tipping. Theres absolutely nothing illegal about it.''
''I think its fantastic you have someone running who has an open sex life. Its actually very refreshing,'' added Silverstein, who is based in Michigan but practices around the country and the world.
Gibson and Owen are both well financed and running with support from their parties senior leaders. They are vying for an open seat in the 57th House District highly competitive territory that covers parts of Henrico and Goochland counties.
Theirs is one of just a handful of contests in each chamber expected to determine control of the legislature and whether Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) can enact a conservative political agenda that includes banning abortion after 15 weeks, with some exceptions. The outcome on Election Day also could boost or dim Youngkins prospects as a potential last-minute candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.
Saddled with a divided Capitol for the first half of his four-year term, Youngkin has been unable to enact the abortion ban, corporate tax cuts or other priorities. Virginia is the only Southern state that has not tightened abortion restrictions since June 2022, when the Supreme Court ruled that states could make their own decisions about the procedure.
Both chambers are up for grabs as Republicans defend their narrow majority in the House (49-46) and Democrats try to retain theirs in the Senate (22-18).
The states newly drawn political maps triggered a wave of retirements and created a host of open seats, including the one Gibson and Owen are seeking in a toss-up district. After Youngkin won it by three points in 2021, the district tilted ever-so-narrowly blue 50 percent to 49 percent in last years congressional midterms, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.
Gibson has outraised Owen $377,000 to $340,000, but Gibson spent nearly $300,000 of her haul battling a fellow Democrat in the June 20 primary. She defeated Bob Shippee by double digits for the nomination but had just $77,000 on hand in the fundraising period that concluded June 30. Owen, who faced no primary opponent, had about $166,000 in cash at the end of that period.
Gibsons two largest donors are the environmental group Clean Virginia Fund ($45,000) and the abortion rights outfit Emilys List ($20,000). Her campaign website lists priorities that include preserving abortion rights, banning assault weapons, lowering the cost of living and protecting the environment.
Gibson appeared alongside other Henrico-area legislative candidates Saturday afternoon at a rally headlined by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
Gibson said alerting the media to the videos is dirty politics aimed at silencing ''women when they speak up.''
''They are trying to silence me because they want to silence you, and I wont let that happen,'' her statement said. ''My opponent and his allies know that the people of this district are on our side on the issues, so theyre stooping to the worst gutter politics. Theres too much at stake in this election and Ill never stop fighting for our community.''
Gibsons campaign website displays pictures of her smiling in a white lab coat and scrubs, a stethoscope over her shoulders. Other photos show her interacting with her husband and children over a meal and a board game.
The site says she has worked in the medical field for nearly 15 years in the greater Richmond area, including in geriatrics, home-based primary care, emergency medicine, internal medicine and obesity medicine. It also identifies Gibson as a graduate of the University of Virginia and Columbia University, a Virginia native and a resident of western Henrico for more than a decade.
https://archive.vn/yVPTN
I don't care, but I also don't have a lot of sympathy for her. This wasn't some leaked sex tape or even something behind a paywall. If this was projected to be a close election, I suspect she'll probably now lose.