GOP’s Texas Congressional Nominee Brandon Herrera Faces Scrutiny Over Nazi Memorabilia and Past Behavior
Brandon Herrera, the presumptive Republican nominee for Texas’s 23rd congressional district, is facing intense criticism following the emergence of videos showing him displaying Nazi memorabilia and engaging in behavior reminiscent of Nazi ideology. The controversy erupted after incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales dropped his reelection bid amid a scandal involving an affair with a staffer and a subsequent ethics investigation.
From Ethics Investigation to Nazi Allegations: A Shifting Political Landscape
The race for Texas’s 23rd congressional district took a dramatic turn when Rep. Tony Gonzales conceded to Herrera after trailing him in the primary. Gonzales’s decision came after facing calls for his resignation from within his own party, fueled by the scandal and an ethics inquiry. JTA News reported on Gonzales’s withdrawal on March 6, 2026.
“The AK Guy” and His Troubling Collection
Herrera, known online as “The AK Guy” for his popular firearms YouTube channel with over 4 million followers, has arrive under fire for openly discussing his possession of Nazi artifacts. In a recently surfaced video, Herrera boasted about owning a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, stating, “That’s my copy at my house next to a bunch of the German stick grenades.” He further noted he acquired a 1939 English edition because it was unavailable on Amazon, contrasting it with the availability of communist texts. Rolling Stone and The New Republic both reported on this incident on March 6, 2026.
Goose-Stepping and Confederate Flags: A Pattern of Concerning Behavior
The Mein Kampf revelation is not an isolated incident. Videos have also emerged showing Herrera performing a goose-step to the Nazi marching song “Erika.” He has also been photographed wearing a Confederate flag shirt and made comments referring to the Civil War as the “war of Northern aggression.” Herrera defended the goose-stepping video, stating, “I standby it, this shit was funny as hell.” The New Republic highlighted Herrera’s response on March 6, 2026.
Denials and Deflections
Despite the mounting evidence and accusations of antisemitism, Herrera has denied holding extremist views. In a text message to Hearst Newspapers, he claimed he purchased Mein Kampf for his historical book collection and does not agree with its contents, comparing it to his copy of The Communist Manifesto. He dismissed the backlash as “hilarious” and accused his opponents of taking his comments out of context. Rolling Stone reported on these denials on March 6, 2026.
What’s Next for Texas’s 23rd District?
With Gonzales out of the race, Herrera is now the de facto Republican nominee for the 23rd district. The controversy surrounding his past behavior is likely to dominate the campaign as he heads towards the general election. The House Majority PAC has already begun circulating the videos, signaling a likely focus on Herrera’s controversial statements and associations. Rolling Stone and The New Republic both reported on the House Majority PAC’s actions on March 6, 2026.