Brandon Herrera, a YouTuber and Republican candidate for Congress, campaigned in El Paso on Monday alongside Kyle Rittenhouse, the gun rights activist best known for being acquitted after shooting and killing two men at a Kenosha, Wisconsin, protest in 2020.
Herrera is running against incumbent Republican Tony Gonzales in the party’s May 28 primary runoff election to represent Congressional District 23, which stretches from San Antonio to Far East El Paso and includes much of the Texas-Mexico border. In the March 5 primary, Gonzales won about 46% of the district vote to Herrera’s 23% in a five-candidate race. The runoff winner will face Democratic candidate Santos Limon in November.
Journalists were barred from entering Herrera’s campaign event in a back room of the Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q on Joe Battle Boulevard. There was little standing room available after dozens of people packed the room – which had a 66-person capacity – to listen to Herrera and Rittenhouse.
The campaign event was initially set to be held at the American Legion post off Montana Avenue near McRae Boulevard, but was changed just hours before it was set to start after El Paso Matters asked the national American Legion about its policy on political events.
The American Legion national press office didn’t respond to a request for comment. The nonpartisan organization’s website says it cannot “help or endorse” any political candidate.
“When using post facilities to host any candidates, the post must remove American Legion emblems and American Legion flags to avoid any impression of endorsements,” according to the American Legion website. “Candidates for all parties must be presented equal opportunity to use the facilities on the same terms and conditions as other competing candidates.”
Herrera, 28, is a YouTube personality with a large following who goes by the name “The AK Guy” and typically posts videos related to firearms. He grew up in North Carolina and moved to Texas in 2021.
In El Paso County, Gonzales won 43% of the vote and Herrera 30%. Just under 1,500 El Paso County residents cast ballots in the race.
Gonzales has been criticized by many Republican organizations in his district as insufficiently conservative on issues such as guns, border enforcement and same-sex marriage. He was censured last year by the Texas Republican Party.
However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both endorsed Gonzales, along with the El Paso Municipal Police Officers’ Association. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz endorsed Herrera.
Rittenhouse was acquitted in November 2021 after he shot and killed two protesters and injured a third using an AR-15-style assault rifle at a Black Lives Matter-related protest when he was 17 years old. He testified that he acted in self-defense. Rittenhouse is currently listed as an outreach director with the Texas Gun Rights organization.
Since last April, Gonzales has raised $3.7 million and spent $2.5 million, campaign finance reports show. Herrera has brought in $1.2 million and spent over $900,000 on the campaign, reports show.
As of the end of March, Gonzales held $1.5 million while Herrera had $302,000 on hand.
