Progressive internet personality Cenk Uygur wants to take his trash-talking attitude to the halls of Congress, launching a bid for the California seat recently vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA).
But activists in the district say Uygur will be dogged by the many inflammatory remarks he's made in the past about women and minority groups—and they fear his controversial reputation could squander Democrats' chances to retain a hotly contested district.
Uygur has become a hero for some progressive Democrats as a co-founder of The Young Turks, a left-wing video site. But voters in California's 25th District may be less thrilled when they learn about many of Uygur's past remarks, which include calling women genetically "flawed" because not enough women wanted to sleep with him.
"You should know that misogyny and sexism is not OK, especially if he was a grown adult when he said these things," said John Casselberry Jr., a Democratic activist and planning commissioner in the district.
At least seven local or state Democratic groups, including the California National Organization for Women and the LGBT-focused Stonewall Democratic Club, have denounced Uygur's past remarks, with some calling for him to drop out of the race.
"We unequivocally condemn Uygur, and believe he has demonstrated that he is unfit for public office," California Women's List, a PAC, said in a statement.
Big yikes
Support Christy Smith for CA 25