A Candidate’s Social Media Problem: Likes Draw Attention and Outrage

A Long Island candidate running for Congress has a social media history that’s raising eyebrows—and not in a good way. The hopeful, who’s in a tight race for the June primary, has been caught approving posts that mock Jewish communities and spread hateful stereotypes. One of his "likes" even seemed to endorse a post that twisted reality to make a hurtful joke about a Jewish celebrity. The tone of the posts he interacted with is shocking. Some make light of serious issues like antisemitism, while others push exaggerated claims about power and money in politics. Residents in the area have spoken out, calling his actions a betrayal of trust. One local said seeing his support for such posts felt like a personal attack on the Jewish people living in the district he hopes to represent. What makes this situation more complicated is that the candidate has spoken publicly about universal healthcare and wealth inequality. Yet his online activity contradicts messages of unity and progress. Some of the posts he endorsed accuse groups of being greedy or manipulative, using rough humor that many find offensive rather than funny.The candidate’s campaign account doesn’t just "like" hateful posts—it also backs conspiracy theories. Those include wild claims about political influence and money from lobby groups being tied to violence against Muslims. Such posts paint an ugly picture of division, which experts say fuels mistrust rather than solving problems. His main opponent, a military pilot, has also been linked to some of these posts, but the candidate in question has deeper ties to accounts that openly spread antisemitic messages. The person running the account behind some of these posts has made no secret of his hatred for certain groups, calling out Jewish celebrities and politicians in harsh terms. Many voters now wonder: If someone running for office supports or ignores such content, what else are they overlooking? Critics say this behavior shows a lack of judgment and seriousness. They argue that if you’re old enough to seek a high office, you should know better than to endorse hate—even accidentally. Social media isn’t just a side part of politics anymore. It’s a window into how a candidate thinks and what they stand for. And in this case, that window shows something troubling.