Oklahoma Democratic Leader Suspends Re-election Bid Amid Controversy
The former chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party has put a halt to his re-election campaign due to an incident involving AI-generated kissing images. However, some party members feel his actions have fallen short.
On Monday, Oklahoma Representative John Waldron, aged 57, announced his decision not to pursue re-election, a move he made shortly after filing for it earlier this month. In a Facebook post, he described his choice as “the right thing to do” for his constituents and an attempt to “become a better person.”
“I absolutely think Congressman Waldron should resign, and I’m disappointed that he hasn’t already done so,” one party member stated.
His Facebook message alluded to “doing something wrong and hurting someone” as well as actions that “shouldn’t have happened.” While he didn’t provide specifics regarding the incident, Waldron did confirm that his resignation as state party chairman in December was tied to a fabricated image portraying him kissing a woman.
Reportedly, during a discussion last fall with a potential political candidate, Waldron used AI to create a GIF depicting the two of them “making out.” A witness claimed that this AI tool merged various selfies into a video, complete with added sound effects. Waldron subsequently sent this GIF to the unnamed woman.
“I was under a lot of personal stress. I made a mistake that I immediately regret,” Waldron remarked on Thursday, even as his campaign continued.
In his Facebook post, he reiterated his feelings of remorse, saying, “In an instant, I sacrificed my integrity.” He added, “…I understand that what I did was wrong.” He acknowledged that some might think he only regrets his actions because he got caught, but insisted his feelings were genuine. “I know what I did was wrong and I let a lot of people down,” he expressed.
Waldron also mentioned that he has sought professional help to address personal issues. “I’ve been attending counseling and will continue to do so,” he shared, emphasizing the lessons he’s learning during these sessions to improve himself.
Many female members of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, however, remain dissatisfied despite his apologies. State Representatives Amanda Clinton, Michelle McCain, Cindy Munson, and Suzanne Shriver have all called for Waldron to resign.
“I still believe he should resign because not sexually harassing anyone is the least we can expect from elected officials,” McCain stated in a response.
Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Erin Brewer labeled Waldron’s behavior as “unacceptable.”
With Waldron stepping back, Democratic candidate Christina Gabriel is poised to likely win the District 77 seat, which encompasses part of Tulsa, in the upcoming November elections. Waldron, a former high school history teacher, has been in his role since 2018.
