Controversial two-time Republican congressional candidate Brandon “AK Guy” Herrera will face off against Democratic rival Katy Padilla Stout in a televised debate this Tuesday.
The high-stakes live debate between the pair running to represent Texas’ 23rd Congressional District will take place at 6:30 p.m. and last an hour. It will be broadcast and streamed live on News 4 WOAI and KABB Fox 29 in San Antonio.
Herrera and Padilla Stout are in a heated race to represent a South Texas district that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. As one of the country’s largest border districts, it also includes Big Bend National Park and Uvalde.
Herrera, a MAGA influencer with more than 4 million followers on his gun-focused YouTube channel, took the stage last week at Donald Trump’s San Antonio rally. Democrat Padilla Stout is a San Antonio attorney and former schoolteacher.
Both candidates are seeking to replace former Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, who resigned earlier this year after admitting to an affair with a staffer who committed suicide by lighting herself on fire.
Herrera secured the Republican nomination after Gonzales dropped out of the primary. The firearms influencer lost his previous runoff battle against Gonzales even though he was narrowly outspent by the incumbent.
Herrera has drawn criticism — including from his opponent — for making remarks online about fat people, women, COVID casualties and veteran suicides.
He’s also drawn ire for referring to children as “cum trophies” and making jokes about the Holocaust.
Padilla Stout told the Current she’s received death threats from Herrera’s followers. Comments on Herrera’s post regarding the debate poked fun at Padilla Stout’s weight, with one commenter advising the Republican candidate to “walk out with a scale.”
It remains to be seen whether Herrera’s history of provocative online remarks means he’ll resort to similar verbal jabs during the debate.
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