Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee for a competitive Texas congressional district, is facing intense scrutiny following the emergence of numerous videos and social media posts in which he makes vulgar sexual statements and derogatory remarks regarding the appearance and intelligence of women. Herrera, who gained a following as a right-wing online personality known as “The AK Guy,” has dismissed these controversial comments as mere jokes.
In the material reviewed, Herrera frequently targeted women he disagreed with politically, particularly feminists. His comments included comparing the weight of feminists to nuclear bombs, killer whales, and elephants. In a 2023 video, he claimed a gun range dummy’s head was “full of mush – much like the average Austin feminist.” During a 2024 event with former Representative Matt Gaetz, he suggested the weight of the world’s population was equivalent to roughly two dozen feminists. Furthermore, he made sexually explicit jokes about women’s weight, including a 2021 video where he referenced “manning the harpoons,” a term used to describe sexual encounters with overweight women.
These revelations have placed top Republican leaders in a difficult position as they support Herrera’s campaign. Despite the controversy, House Leader Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump have backed the candidate, with Trump declaring on Truth Social that “HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” and noting that Herrera is supported by various “Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Texas.”
Cynthia Miller-Idriss, an expert in online speech who oversees the Polarization & Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, argued that Herrera’s rhetoric represents a broader trend of internet misogyny. She warned that such language can have real-world consequences, stating, “I think if we want a safer society overall, we should also be worried about candidates like this who help normalize things that we know are reliable predictors of political violence.” Miller-Idriss specifically noted that comparing women to animals serves to dehumanize them.
Herrera has pushed back against these criticisms, characterizing his past content as a comedic persona. Regarding the concerns about violence, he stated, “It’s disappointing that someone would allege that jokes about feminism lead to violence when Stout is fighting to return children to the parent convicted of abusing them.” This was a reference to his opponent, Katy Padilla Stout, whose legal work he criticized for representing a father seeking to restore parental rights in a domestic abuse case. In response, Stout’s campaign clarified that she was court-appointed to the case and maintained an “ethical obligation” to represent her client, noting that her career cannot be compared to Herrera’s rhetoric.
The candidate’s history of controversial statements has previously created political hurdles. During his 2024 primary challenge against incumbent Representative Tony Gonzales, Herrera faced backlash for jokes about Nazis and veteran suicides. He specifically faced criticism for calling a Nazi-era firearm “the original ghetto blaster.” While he insisted he was not a neo-Nazi, the Republican Jewish Coalition labeled him a “goose-stepping extremist” during that race. Herrera eventually defeated Gonzales in the March 2026 primary, shortly before the incumbent withdrew from the race amid a House Ethics investigation.
Democrats are now working to leverage Herrera’s online history as an electoral liability. DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene stated that his “disturbing history of extremism” and “antisemitic rhetoric” have made the district a key target for the party. Gun-safety advocate Shannon Watts, who has frequently clashed with Herrera online, expressed hope that his comments about women would alienate voters, adding, “The idea to me that this would be a man who had the power and control to take away women’s rights… That should be terrifying to all women.” The report also notes that in the videos and other material reviewed by, Herrera compared feminists’ weight to whales and nuclear bombs, joked that he was irresistible to “fat b*tches” after rubbing ranch dressing on his body, and described li. The report also notes that editor’s Note: This story contains offensive language. The report also notes that but the remarks surfaced by underscore the uncomfortable position top Republican leaders face as they embrace Herrera in a district where the incumbent GOP congressman resigned over sexual misconduct allegations – and where Herrera’s Democratic opponent is a woman. The report also notes that a former teacher and attorney who has sought to capitalize on Herrera’s past comments, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently added the seat to its “target” list and sent funding to Stout. The report also notes that miller pointed to research her lab has done suggesting that spreading misogynistic statements can fuel extremists willing to commit real-life violence. The report also notes that though, has dogged him as he’s sought to shift into elected office, the same edge that made Herrera an online conservative star.
