The campaign of a Michigan Democratic House candidate darkened the skin color of his black Republican opponent in public requests for donations, earning him a swift denunciation from the House Republican campaign arm.
Carl Marlinga, who is running to flip Michigan’s 10th congressional district, posted a black and white photo of Rep. John James in X that made James’ skin appear darker than it is, alongside a full-color image of Marlinga.
“In 2022, we were less than 2,000 votes away from flipping Michigan’s 10th blue. No one saw it coming,” Marlinga said as part of a submission that linked to her ActBlue page, which features the same dark image of James.
“In 2024 we will finish the work. Michiganders deserve it. Join us,” he added, including a headline from the nonpartisan Cook Political Report calling the race with James “the third closest House race in the country.”
A House Democrat campaigning from Michigan has darkened the skin color of his black Republican opponent in public requests for donations. @MarlingaForMI10/X
The National Republican Congressional Committee criticized the campaign’s decision to alter the photo in a statement to The Post and called on Marlinga to return any donations earned through the effort.
“Carl Marlinga is showing us his true colors and it is abhorrent,” said NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella. “He should apologize and refund the money he raised in this despicable effort.”
Marlinga’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“In 2022, we were less than 2,000 votes away from flipping Michigan’s 10th blue. No one saw it coming,” Marlinga said as part of a fundraising appeal linked to her ActBlue page. Carlos Malinga
Campaign ads and donation pages have generated controversy in the past for their provocative or ethnically charged depictions of candidates.
In November, now-ousted Rep. George Santos (R-NY) accused his Republican colleagues of distributing flyers showing one of his potential Democratic opponents, who is Jewish, with an enlarged nose.
“These images are abominable propaganda like the images used by the Nazis. [sic]” the then-35-year-old congressman said at the time, denouncing the Nassau County Republican Party for approving images of Democratic House candidate Josh Lafazan smiling and clutching fistfuls of cash.
“Carl Marlinga is showing us his true colors and it is abhorrent,” said NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella. “He should apologize and refund the money he raised in this despicable effort.” CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Far-left Bronx and Westchester Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) during his 2022 campaign also accused his Republican opponent of artificially darkening a campaign photo of him.
“Being black in America means dealing with multiple forms of racism consistently. This is one of them,” Bowman said in a statement at the time. “There is an ugly history behind facial distortion to spread hatred and contempt for political purposes.”
Marlinga’s donation page also calls James “too extreme for Michigan,” a reference to the Republican’s comments on abortion during his previous U.S. Senate bids, a key issue for Democrats since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Marlinga’s donation page also calls James “too extreme for Michigan,” a reference to the Republican’s comments on abortion during his previous campaigns for the U.S. Senate, a key issue for Democrats. Getty Images In 2022, James defeated Marlinga by 1,600 votes after failed attempts to unseat Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in 2018 and 2020, respectively. AFP via Getty Images
James defeated Marlinga that year by 1,600 votes after failed attempts to unseat Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
Michigan’s 10th District has not been represented by a Democrat since 2003, when former Rep. David Bonior retired from office, and remains one of several seats the party hopes to recapture in 2024 to regain control of the majority of the Camera.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has amplified comments James made during campaign events in those races, including a claim that the Roe decision had paved the way for “genocide,” MLive.com reported.
James, a non-denominational Christian, has defended his position as “100% pro-life,” but is focusing his 2024 campaign on the success of his first term in Congress in delivering infrastructure funding. fake images
Marlinga has also attacked James for being “out of step” with his constituents on the issue.
Marlinga, a former state judge, was charged with bribery in 2004 for allegedly helping a defendant get a new trial on a rape allegation in exchange for contributions to his 2002 congressional campaign.
A federal grand jury acquitted him in 2006 of all corruption charges.
James, a non-denominational Christian, has defended his position as “100% pro-life,” but is focusing his 2024 campaign on the success of his first term in Congress, providing federal funds for local infrastructure projects.
“This is what happens when you put a combat veteran and a former businessman in Washington,” he said in an October campaign video, “to cut through the nonsense and say ‘no excuses’ because people at home count on me. “
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