Brandon Herrera, a gun shop owner and YouTuber, is the presumptive GOP nominee in Texas' 23rd Congressional District despite past controversies.
He faced criticism for videos mimicking Nazi marches, joking about the Holocaust, and owning 'Mein Kampf,' leading groups like RJC and AIPAC to spend heavily against him in 2024.
After his opponent dropped out due to a scandal, Herrera became the nominee in a GOP-leaning district, and former opponents are not actively opposing his current campaign.
Pro-Israel and Jewish groups, including AIPAC and RJC, are choosing not to endorse or spend against him, opting to stay neutral in the race.
📖 Full Retelling
When Brandon Herrera ran for Congress in 2024, the Republican Jewish Coalition called him “a goose-stepping extremist” and spent big to take him down. Two years later, he’s the presumptive GOP nominee — and his former foes are staying home as the GOP establishment moves to embrace him.
Herrera, a gun shop owner and popular YouTuber known as “The AKGuy” running in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, has faced widespread criticism for past videos in which he mimics a Nazi march to Nazi music , jokes about the Holocaust and boasts about his 1939 edition of “Mein Kampf.” His 2024 opponent, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) called him a “known neo-Nazi,” a characterization Herrera disputes. Concern over Herrera’s comments were so severe that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project spent more than $1 million two years ago and the Republican Jewish Coalition spent close to $400,000 to sink his campaign.
But now, a scandal forced Gonzales to drop out of the runoff , and Herrera is the GOP nominee in the sprawling, GOP-leaning Texas border district, which President Donald Trump carried by a 17-point margin in 2024.
And faced with the choice of a candidate they’ve long accused of antisemitism and a Democrat, these pro-Israel and Jewish groups are thus far choosing to sit on their hands.
AIPAC, which backs both Democratic and Republican pro-Israel candidates and usually focuses its efforts in primaries, has not endorsed in the race. AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa said in a statement only that the group would “continue to assess where candidates across the country stand on issues that affect the U.S.-Israel partnership.”
And the RJC, which only supports Republican candidates, won’t get involved. “The RJC has a longstanding policy of speaking out against those who traffic in Nazi ideology, and this is another case,” said RJC political director and spokesperson Sam Markstein. “The RJC opposed Mr. Herrera
🏷️ Themes
Political Controversy, Campaign Strategy
Entity Intersection Graph
No entity connections available yet for this article.
Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This news matters because it reveals how political expediency can override moral objections within party politics, potentially normalizing extremist rhetoric in mainstream discourse. It affects Jewish advocacy groups who must choose between their principles and party loyalty, Texas voters who will be represented by someone with controversial views, and the broader Republican Party's identity as it navigates internal divisions. The situation also impacts democratic norms about what constitutes acceptable political behavior and raises questions about accountability for past statements.
Context & Background
Brandon Herrera is a gun shop owner and popular YouTube personality known as 'The AKGuy' with over 3 million subscribers
Texas' 23rd Congressional District is a GOP-leaning border district that Donald Trump carried by 17 points in 2024
In 2024, major Jewish organizations spent over $1.4 million opposing Herrera's campaign due to concerns about antisemitic content
The Republican Jewish Coalition has historically been a significant force in Republican politics, advocating for pro-Israel policies
Herrera's opponent Tony Gonzales dropped out of the runoff due to a scandal, clearing Herrera's path to the nomination
What Happens Next
Herrera will face Democratic nominee Santos Limon in the November general election, with the GOP establishment likely to provide support despite earlier objections. Jewish advocacy groups will face continued pressure to either maintain their boycott or reluctantly endorse Herrera if he makes pro-Israel commitments. Herrera's election could test whether controversial online content becomes a permanent liability or fades as a political issue once candidates secure party nominations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific actions led Jewish groups to oppose Herrera initially?
Jewish organizations objected to videos where Herrera mimicked Nazi marches to Nazi music, made jokes about the Holocaust, and boasted about owning a 1939 edition of 'Mein Kampf.' These actions were viewed as normalizing Nazi ideology and trivializing antisemitism.
Why are these groups not opposing Herrera now despite their previous stance?
With Herrera becoming the presumptive GOP nominee in a Republican-leaning district, these groups face a choice between him and a Democrat. Their silence suggests political calculation may be outweighing moral objections, possibly to maintain influence within the Republican Party.
What district is Herrera running in and why is it significant?
Herrera is running in Texas' 23rd Congressional District, a sprawling border district that leans Republican. Its significance lies in its likely GOP victory margin, making Herrera's nomination essentially a ticket to Congress despite the controversy.
How has Herrera responded to accusations of being a neo-Nazi?
Herrera disputes the characterization as a 'known neo-Nazi,' though he hasn't fully addressed the specific content that prompted the accusations. His defense appears to focus on rejecting labels rather than explaining or apologizing for the controversial content.
What role did AIPAC play in the 2024 race against Herrera?
AIPAC's United Democracy Project spent over $1 million in 2024 to defeat Herrera, representing a significant investment against a primary candidate. Their current neutrality marks a dramatic shift from their previous active opposition.
}
Original Source
When Brandon Herrera ran for Congress in 2024, the Republican Jewish Coalition called him “a goose-stepping extremist” and spent big to take him down. Two years later, he’s the presumptive GOP nominee — and his former foes are staying home as the GOP establishment moves to embrace him.
Herrera, a gun shop owner and popular YouTuber known as “The AKGuy” running in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, has faced widespread criticism for past videos in which he mimics a Nazi march to Nazi music , jokes about the Holocaust and boasts about his 1939 edition of “Mein Kampf.” His 2024 opponent, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) called him a “known neo-Nazi,” a characterization Herrera disputes. Concern over Herrera’s comments were so severe that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project spent more than $1 million two years ago and the Republican Jewish Coalition spent close to $400,000 to sink his campaign.
But now, a scandal forced Gonzales to drop out of the runoff , and Herrera is the GOP nominee in the sprawling, GOP-leaning Texas border district, which President Donald Trump carried by a 17-point margin in 2024.
And faced with the choice of a candidate they’ve long accused of antisemitism and a Democrat, these pro-Israel and Jewish groups are thus far choosing to sit on their hands.
AIPAC, which backs both Democratic and Republican pro-Israel candidates and usually focuses its efforts in primaries, has not endorsed in the race. AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa said in a statement only that the group would “continue to assess where candidates across the country stand on issues that affect the U.S.-Israel partnership.”
And the RJC, which only supports Republican candidates, won’t get involved. “The RJC has a longstanding policy of speaking out against those who traffic in Nazi ideology, and this is another case,” said RJC political director and spokesperson Sam Markstein. “The RJC opposed Mr. Herrera
