CNN published a report examining past online videos and comments by Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee in Texas’s 23rd Congressional District. According to CNN, Herrera—known online as “The AK Guy”—described the remarks as jokes.
What CNN surfaced
Per the report as summarized in a Bearing Arms write-up, CNN reviewed videos and other material in which Herrera compared feminists’ weight to whales and nuclear bombs, joked he was irresistible to “fat b*tches” after rubbing ranch dressing on his body, and described liberal women discussing guns as “both fat and wrong.” The article also said Herrera directed sexually explicit insults at a gun-safety advocate and her children.
The expert warning CNN featured
CNN quoted Cynthia Miller-Idriss, who oversees the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University. “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,” she said, according to CNN. The report said Miller-Idriss pointed to research suggesting that spreading misogynistic statements can fuel extremists willing to commit real-life violence. CNN also quoted her saying that comparing women to animals is a way to “put women in their place, to diminish their power, their authority, to belittle or degrade,” adding, “If you’re referred to as an animal, you’re not actually even fully human, right?”
How CNN framed the race
The CNN piece, as described by Bearing Arms, placed the comments in the context of a district where the former GOP incumbent resigned over sexual misconduct allegations and where the Democratic nominee is a woman, Katy Padilla Stout. CNN reported that Herrera characterized his controversial remarks as jokes.
Why TX‑23 is drawing attention
Bearing Arms wrote that Democrats have added TX‑23 to a list of “Districts in Play” and are publicly optimistic about flipping the seat. The outlet said prediction markets currently favor Herrera but noted there has been no recent public polling it had seen. It also cited the Cook Political Report’s R+15 rating for the district and referenced a VoteHub projection showing a closer race, with Herrera winning by roughly four points.
Bearing Arms argued that Democrats and allied media are focusing on Herrera’s online persona rather than his opponent’s campaign, and it characterized the CNN piece as part of that effort. The outlet said Herrera has been open about years of provocative material and contends voters care more about everyday issues than his jokes.
