A congressional candidate from California has come under fire and issued an apology after some explicit posts from Reddit resurfaced. These include remarks about women’s bodies and allusions to something dubbed “Fresno Freaks.”
Lauryn Hubbard, a progressive union activist aiming to oust Democratic Representative Jim Costa, had a history of making inappropriate comments on social media. These were made from the same account he used to announce his run for Congress, as shown in screenshots obtained by media outlets.
“The posts were intended for adults and discussed other consenting adults. While they reflect my past opinions and don’t represent who I am now, I recognize how they might come off as offensive or inappropriate. I apologize for that,” Hubbard stated in an email.
Hubbard is competing in California’s 21st Congressional District, which includes parts of Tulare and Fresno counties, and mentioned that he has matured since he made those inappropriate posts under the username LoHubb56.
Back in 2021, he made a comment about a now-deleted post concerning what he called a “chunky Fresno wife,” saying, “What a big deal—there’s a Fresno freak in the house.”
“That’s amazing! By the way, Reddit has tons of nurses…” he remarked on a forum dedicated to adult content.
In earlier posts, which date back five to eight years before his account was suspended for inappropriate content, Hubbard expressed admiration for women’s “mommy cleavage” and made comments that could be considered derogatory.
He was also frequent on Roast Me, a forum where users invite others to humorously insult them. For instance, he made a jarring remark referencing the 2018 Parkland shooting, saying, “It’s like we were in Parkland, but instead of pulling out your AR-15, Mr. Cruz shot you with an ugly bullet.”
Another post he made had an offensive term for mentally challenged individuals.
Hubbard expressed to the Post that he felt threatened by political opponents in the wake of these posts and even considered stepping back from the race.
“My frustrations with both Trump and the Democrats led me to run for office. But feeling intimidated was unhelpful,” he explained.
California’s 21st Congressional District is a deeply agricultural area in the San Joaquin Valley and is influenced by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50, which initiated redistricting efforts meant to bolster Democratic chances in elections.
This district is viewed as favoring Democrats, especially after Prop. 50 shifted conservative voters out of the competition, according to analysts.
Other candidates in the race include Republicans Kyle Kirkland and Lorenzo Rios.
Incumbent Jim Costa has served in Congress for more than two decades and has his own past controversies, including pleading no contest to soliciting prostitutes during his time as a state representative.
Hubbard aims to focus his campaign on issues like Medicare for All, affordable childcare, education, and promoting a sustainable economy.
“If we genuinely want to provide a future filled with opportunities for our children, the Valley deserves new representation and a strong push for progressive changes,” Hubbard emphasized.
This is Hubbard’s second attempt at Congress; he previously finished second in the special election for CA-22 after the resignation of former Congressman Devin Nunes. He announced his candidacy again on Reddit, indicating his desire to push for change.
