California Democrats Face Backlash for Mailer Depicting Latina Republican Candidate as Banana
The Orange County GOP decries the mailer as a "racially degrading attack," while Democrats defend it as criticism of the candidate's record.
The California Democratic Party is under fire for a political mailer that features Republican candidate Gracey Van Der Mark superimposed on a cluster of bananas, resembling the Chiquita banana logo. The mailer, which also states her record is "absolutely bananas," has drawn sharp condemnation from the Republican Party of Orange County, which labeled it a "racially degrading" and "toxic mockery."
The controversy stems from the mailer targeting Van Der Mark, a Huntington Beach City Council member and Republican candidate for California's 72nd Assembly District. The Republican Party of Orange County argued that the imagery is particularly offensive given Van Der Mark's heritage as the daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant with Mexican roots.
"By maliciously substituting the face of a female candidate with Latin American heritage (Ecuadoran and Mexican), Gracey Van Der Mark, onto the Chiquita banana logo, the Democrats have resorted to racist tropes," the OC GOP stated. The party urged Van Der Mark's opponent, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, to denounce the mailer.
Van Der Mark addressed the controversy, stating, "As the daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant, I take pride in my heritage and humble, working-class roots. I’ve faced attacks before, and I won’t be distracted by them. My focus remains where it belongs: fighting for California families, safer communities and a more affordable future."
Melanie Ramil, Executive Director of the California Democratic Party, defended the mailer, asserting it was intended to criticize Van Der Mark's political record and not her ethnicity. "The mailer is calling Gracey’s record bananas, but that was the nice way to say it. Her record is bigoted, corrupt and extreme. Gracey’s statements and ties to violent extremist groups have been condemned by civil rights groups," Ramil said.
Ramil shifted the criticism back to Republicans, accusing them of hypocrisy and urging them to focus on issues such as immigration enforcement. "If the Republican Party of Orange County actually cared about the Latino American community, they would spend their time condemning the cruel and unconstitutional ICE operation terrorizing communities across the state instead," she added.
Kluwe also defended the mailer, characterizing it as a critique of Van Der Mark's policy positions rather than her background. He suggested that the Republican Party's outrage was a strategic response driven by the fear of losing a traditionally Republican-held seat. The 72nd Assembly District encompasses several Orange County communities, including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, and Lake Forest. Van Der Mark and Kluwe are competing for this seat in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.