Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) took some backlash on Wednesday after he attempted to define the “cultural identity” of Republicans during a campaign event at a church in Gilbert, Arizona.
Gallego, who has announced a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), claimed that Republican “culture” could ultimately be boiled down to firearms and “jacked up” trucks “with some cow nuts hanging in the back.”
WATCH:
AZ Senate candidate Rep. Ruben Gallego: “If you are a Republican, you have to have a bunch of guns, a jacked up truck with some cow nuts hanging in the back. That’s your cultural identity now.” pic.twitter.com/spNYL383Qv
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 17, 2023
According to a report from Fox News Digital, Gallego was initially responding to a question from the audience about school shootings.
“School shooting-level casualties happen every day in the streets of America,” Gallego claimed, adding, “We don’t focus on trying to stop everyday gun violence because a lot of politicians are afraid of the NRA and the gun lobby.”
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“And also, even beyond the gun lobby, there is now weapons — and I don’t really call them guns. As a Marine, I call them weapons,” Gallego continued. “Weapons have now become more of a cultural thing. It’s like, if you’re a Republican, you have to have a bunch of guns, some, you know, jacked-up truck with some of those little cow nuts hanging in the back. That’s your cultural identity now.”
Critics quickly pointed out a few things wrong with Gallego’s blanket assessment — namely that cows, being female, did not *have* nuts.
Arizona State Rep. Austin Smith, a Republican, responded, “Cows don’t have nuts… but I guess this is his worldview outside Phoenix, very narrow minded and ignorant. DC will do that to ya!”
Guns ✅
Jacked up truck ✅
Cow nuts on my truck ⭕️I’m failing on my Republican credentials.
Cc: @JenWEsqCows don’t have nuts… but I guess this is his worldview outside Phoenix, very narrow minded and ignorant. DC will do that to ya! https://t.co/TkqOwXKBFm
— Rep. Austin Smith (@azaustinsmith) August 17, 2023
“If you’re gonna try to trash talk half the people of your state at least get the anatomy about nuts right,” GOP strategist Andrew Clark added.
If you’re gonna try to trash talk half the people of your state at least get the anatomy about nuts right. https://t.co/BWz1RKC4mF
— Andrew Clark (@AndrewHClark) August 17, 2023
“And if you’re a democrat you have to have a sex change, mental illness, and drive a Prius with your own nuts hanging in the back. That’s your cultural identity now,” OutKick host Tomi Lahren shot back.
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, also a Republican, added, “Look at how @RubenGallego mocks hard-working Arizonans. He thinks we’re dumb hicks for owning trucks. He wants to take away our 2nd Amendment rights. He’s weirdly obsessed with testicles. Just call us deplorables & get it over with, Ruben. And stay in the swamp. It suits you.”
Look at how @RubenGallego mocks hard-working Arizonans
He thinks we’re dumb hicks for owning trucks
He wants to take away our 2nd Amendment rights
He’s weirdly obsessed with testicles
Just call us deplorables & get it over with, Ruben
And stay in the swamp. It suits you. https://t.co/Ap23z4SPEA
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) August 17, 2023
Gallego could be headed for a tough race in 2024, however, since incumbent Sen. Sinema is likely to remain on the general election ballot as an independent. If Gallego and Sinema split the Democratic vote, they could leave a wide opening for any solid Republican candidate.