Pro-Israel and Jewish Republican groups that previously opposed Brandon Herrera are sitting out his bid for Texas' 23rd congressional district. Herrera, a YouTuber and gun shop owner criticized for past videos, has gained endorsements from Trump and GOP leaders after his 2024 opponent dropped out. The groups cite his history but decline to back the Democratic nominee.
Brandon Herrera, known online as “The AKGuy,” is the presumptive Republican nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, a GOP-leaning area along the border that Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. In 2024, he faced heavy opposition: the Republican Jewish Coalition labeled him “a goose-stepping extremist” and spent nearly $400,000 against him, while AIPAC’s United Democracy Project spent over $1 million. Critics pointed to videos where he mimicked a Nazi march, joked about the Holocaust, and referenced his 1939 edition of “Mein Kampf.” Rep. Tony Gonzales, his opponent then, called him a “known neo-Nazi,” a claim Herrera disputes as taken out of context from his firearms education content. A scandal forced Gonzales from the runoff after Herrera topped the March 4 primary, paving his path forward. GOP leaders have embraced him: Trump endorsed Herrera on social media, writing, “Brandon is strongly supported by many Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Texas... HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leadership called him an “America First grassroots leader.” Pro-Israel groups are staying neutral. AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa said they would “continue to assess where candidates across the country stand on issues that affect the U.S.-Israel partnership.” RJC spokesperson Sam Markstein affirmed, “The RJC opposed Mr. Herrera in 2024, and he will not get our support now,” adding they do not back Democrats. Herrera has criticized AIPAC, calling its 2024 spending “Israel first bullshit” and opposing U.S. taxpayer aid to Israel, saying, “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.” His campaign pushes back, with manager Kimmie Gonzalez stating accusations were “bizarre and false, manufactured by a desperate political opponent.” Democratic nominee Katie Padilla Stout highlights his “documented history of apparent anti-semitism,” gaining support from Jewish community members. Some Republicans, like Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, have avoided commenting directly on Herrera. The Jewish Democratic Council of America is considering involvement, with CEO Halie Soifer noting it as a priority to defeat “Trump-endorsed neo-Nazis.”
