On October 21, 2026, Brandon Herrera was recorded on The Josie Show, a podcast hosted by Josie Glabach, where he suggested that unadopted kittens be sent to local Chinese restaurants to avoid euthanasia. The clip resurfaced on social media, sparking immediate backlash. Herrera is a firearms YouTuber known as The AK Guy and is running for the U.S. House in Texas' 23rd District.
The joke was not Herrera's first offensive statement. In 2023, he compared gun range dummies to "average Austin feminists," and in 2024 he likened "angry blue‑haired feminists" to orca whales and elephants. Those remarks have drawn criticism from civil‑rights advocates and political opponents alike.
The video trended within hours, and users on Twitter, Reddit and Facebook called for his withdrawal. The incident has prompted calls from Texas civil‑rights groups for a formal ethics complaint. President Donald Trump, who endorsed Herrera, posted a statement on Truth Social reaffirming his support.
Herrera has denied that his comments were racist, saying they were taken out of context. The campaign is preparing to address the controversy ahead of the November election, while the Texas Ethics Commission has not yet opened a formal investigation. The next week, the campaign will host a town‑hall to explain its stance and outline policy priorities.