In 2024, when Brandon Herrera sought a congressional seat, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) labeled him “a goose-stepping extremist” and invested heavily to thwart his campaign. Fast forward two years, and Herrera is the likely GOP candidate, with his previous adversaries now on the sidelines as the GOP establishment begins to support him.
Herrera, who owns a gun shop and is a well-known YouTuber called “The AKGuy,” is running in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District. He has been criticized for past videos where he mimics a Nazi march, jokes about the Holocaust, and discusses his 1939 edition of “Mein Kampf.” His 2024 opponent, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), called him a “known neo-Nazi,” a claim Herrera denies. The concerns about Herrera were significant enough that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project spent over $1 million and the RJC nearly $400,000 to hinder his campaign.
However, after a scandal led Gonzales to withdraw from the runoff, Herrera emerged as the GOP nominee in the predominantly Republican Texas border district, which Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Facing the choice of supporting a candidate they’ve long criticized for antisemitism or a Democrat, pro-Israel and Jewish organizations have opted not to participate. AIPAC, which supports both Democratic and Republican pro-Israel candidates, has not endorsed anyone in this race. AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa stated the group would “continue to assess where candidates across the country stand on issues that affect the U.S.-Israel partnership.”
The RJC, which exclusively backs Republican candidates, also chose not to engage. RJC political director Sam Markstein stated, “The RJC has a longstanding policy of speaking out against those who traffic in Nazi ideology, and this is another case.” He further clarified that while the RJC opposed Herrera in 2024, they will not endorse him now, adding they likely won’t oppose him in the general election. “We’ve never supported a Democrat, so that should tell you everything you need to know,” Markstein said.
Since Herrera topped the vote in Texas’ March 4 primary and Gonzales stepped down, the GOP establishment has mostly rallied around Herrera.
Recently, during a luxurious Mar-a-Lago fundraiser for the House Freedom Caucus, which supported him in the primary, Herrera made a notable appearance. According to an attendee who shared details anonymously and another’s social media post, Trump endorsed him on social media that same evening.
Trump wrote, “Brandon is strongly supported by many Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Texas, and Republicans in the US House,” adding, “HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
A week later, Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leadership also endorsed Herrera, calling him an “America First grassroots leader” in a joint statement.
Trump’s support provides “a little bit of comfort” to pro-Israel GOP donors who view Trump as a steadfast ally, according to Gabriel Groisman, a GOP donor from Florida active in pro-Israel circles. “We trust the president and his team in their vetting of congressional candidates,” Groisman said, though he noted that they still question and investigate further. He described the challenge Jewish Republican donors face: choosing between Herrera or a Democrat rather than another Republican. “So the question is whether it’s better to have him in [office], or not. That’s a very, very difficult question to answer.”
Herrera criticized AIPAC’s 2024 spending against him, labeling it “Israel first bullshit.” He stated on social media, “I’m not anti-Israel, I’m anti Israel buying American elections.”
He has opposed U.S. policy towards Israel, arguing against using American taxpayer money for military aid to Israel. “We shouldn’t be spending a cent of taxpayer dollars on anything that is not either an investment or right here in the United States,” he said in a speech, reported by Israel National News. “I don’t hate my neighbor just because I don’t want to pay his power bill. If they want to buy rockets from us, let’s sell to them.”
The GOP’s support of Herrera highlights their determination to maintain control of the House, even as some Republicans warn of rising antisemitism in their ranks.
Herrera’s campaign continues to counter criticisms of his social media history, arguing these are taken out of context from his “work as a historical firearms educator” and omit sections where he “condemns Hitler’s book.”
“The accusations against Brandon were bizarre and false, manufactured by a desperate political opponent who misleadingly cut and pasted together disparate video clips,” Herrera’s campaign manager Kimmie Gonzalez said.
Groisman noted that Herrera’s allies are working to address concerns about his past statements through outreach to Jewish and pro-Israel donors in Texas and beyond.
“They’re trying to send them what he has actually said, versus what people say he said, which they seem to claim that there’s a big delta there,” Groisman said. “The concern is, are we, as a Republican Party, allowing in another potential Thomas Massie-type figure? Nobody knows the answer to that question.” Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has been a vocal critic of Trump and Israel.
Herrera’s campaign confirmed he is seeking dialogue with groups that have targeted him for years, including the RJC.
Katie Padilla Stout, the Democratic nominee in the district, asserts that Herrera has “consistently been on the wrong side of history,” citing his YouTube videos mocking veterans and testing Nazi weaponry. Padilla Stout has made antisemitism allegations central to her campaign against Herrera, with Democratic groups like the House Majority PAC using his videos in their attacks.
“Given his documented history of apparent anti-semitism, it’s no surprise our campaign has received an outpouring of support from people from all across the district and from both sides of the aisle, including support from the Jewish community,” said Padilla Stout’s campaign manager, Yolitzma Aguirre.
Some Republican leaders, who have been vocal about increasing antisemitism within their party, avoided discussing Herrera.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has pledged to challenge any Republican congressional candidate promoting antisemitism, but when asked about Herrera, he responded, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, in terms of what he said.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who recently criticized podcaster Nick Fuentes as a “goose-stepping Nazi,” steered clear of the primary, despite endorsing other U.S. House races in Texas. He suggested directing questions about Herrera’s statements or actions to Herrera himself.
“I haven’t seen the video you’re discussing, and so you’re welcome to ask him those questions,” Cruz said in a recent interview. When asked about advising Texas voters on Herrera’s candidacy, Cruz declined to comment further, saying, “Those are the exact same questions a Democrat tracker would ask,” before exiting. His office did not provide additional details.
While Republicans either rally around or sidestep the issue, a Jewish Democratic group that typically avoids districts like this is contemplating involvement in efforts to defeat Herrera.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America is considering engagement in the predominantly Republican district, a departure from their usual focus on districts with larger Jewish populations.
“If there was ever a chance that a Democrat could win a seat like this, maybe it’s in these midterms,” said JDCA president Hailie Soifer. “So it is something we’re looking at. Certainly it is a priority for us to defeat Trump-endorsed neo-Nazis, like this candidate.”
