Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring acknowledges wearing ‘brown makeup’ at a 1980 party

The top three elected officials in the state of Virginia, all Democrats, are mired in controversy Wednesday, as a chaotic situation has cast serious uncertainty over who will lead the state in the coming weeks.

Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring, who is white and is third in line for the governorship, is now apologizing for attending a 1980 party dressed as rapper Kurtis Blow and wearing brown makeup on his face.

Alex Wong/Getty Images, FILE

“In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song,” Herring wrote in a statement, “It sounds ridiculous even now writing it. But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes – and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others – we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup.”

“That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt,” Herring added, “In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general, but no matter where we go from here, I will say that from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this revelation.”

When asked about the Herring controversy by ABC News on Wednesday afternoon, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said he was “shocked,” and “incredibly disappointed.”

Virginia’s sitting Governor Ralph Northam has not resigned despite widespread calls to step down over a racist photo in his 1984 medical school yearbook surfaced.

Northam, after initially saying he did appear in a photo that showed one man wearing blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe, changed course in a Saturday news conference where he said he does not believe he was either person in the photo.

Steve Helber/AP

Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators, all major Democratic presidential candidates, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, and the Democratic caucuses in both the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate have called for Northam’s resignation.

Northam has not made any public comments about the controversy or his political future since his Saturday news conference.

Deepening the chaos is the situation facing Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, the man who would succeed Northam if he steps down, and who is continuing to face questions over after an unconfirmed report surfaced about an alleged sexual misconduct incident from 2004, an allegation he vehemently denies.

Steve Helber/AP, FILE

Fairfax also released a new statement Wednesday saying that he takes the situation “very seriously.”

“Regarding the allegation that has been made against me – while this allegation has been both surprising and hurtful, I also recognize that no one makes charges of this kind lightly, and I take it and this situation very seriously,” Fairfax wrote, “This has been an emotional couple of days for me and my family. And in my remarks on Monday, I think you could hear how emotional dealing with an allegation that I know is not true has been for me.”

ABC News is not reporting the name of Fairfax’s accuser, but has confirmed that she has retained the legal service of Katz, Marshall and Banks, the same law firm that was retained by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who accused Brett Kavanaugh, then-President Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh denied the claims and was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

If neither Northam, Fairfax or Herring is able to assume the position of governor, the fourth in line for the job would be the Republican Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, Kirk Cox.

Cox, who has served in the House of Delegates since 1990, was elevated to the position of Speaker in 2018 after the GOP barely retained control of the chamber in the state’s 2017 state legislative elections.

AP

The party officially gained control when now-GOP Delegate David Yancey drew his own name of a bowl, which made him the victor in his race against Democrat Shelly Simonds.

That result enabled Republicans to maintain control of the House of Delegates, and make Cox the speaker.

ABC News’ Soo Yoon and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.