Ex-NFL punter turned California Democrat sparks fury with ‘racist’ banana stunt: ‘Toxic mockery’

California Democrats are facing backlash over a political mailer depicting a Latina Republican candidate as a banana sticker, with the Orange County GOP blasting the image as a racially degrading attack.

The mailer, paid for by the California Democratic Party, targets Gracey Van Der Mark, a Huntington Beach City Council member and Republican candidate for California’s 72nd Assembly District.

The front features a cluster of bananas with Van Der Mark’s face placed on a sticker resembling the Chiquita banana logo, alongside the message: “There’s a word for Gracey Van Der Mark’s Extreme Agenda…”

The reverse side doubles down on the fruit-themed jab, declaring her record is “absolutely bananas.”

The Republican Party of Orange County condemned the mailer as a racist attack, arguing the imagery takes on a more sinister meaning because Van Der Mark is the daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant and also has Mexican heritage.

“The Republican Party of Orange County condemns in the strongest possible terms the racially degrading mailer recently deployed by the California Democratic Party,” the party said in a statement.

“By maliciously substituting the face of a female candidate with Latin American heritage (Ecuadoran and Mexican), Gracey Van Der Mark, onto the Chiquita banana logo, the Democrats have resorted to racist tropes.”

“This toxic brand of identity-based mockery has no place in this campaign,” the statement continued.

The OC GOP demanded Van Der Mark’s Democratic opponent, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, speak out against the mailer and distance himself from what the party described as racial bigotry funded by his political allies.

Van Der Mark, who is seeking to defend the Republican-held seat against Kluwe in the Nov. 3 general election, said she would not allow the controversy to distract her from her campaign.

“As the daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant, I take pride in my heritage and humble, working-class roots. I’ve faced attacks before, and I won’t be distracted by them. My focus remains where it belongs: fighting for California families, safer communities and a more affordable future,” Van Der Mark told the California Post.

But California Democratic Party Executive Director Melanie Ramil rejected the accusations of racism, arguing the mailer was intended to criticize Van Der Mark’s political record.

“The mailer is calling Gracey’s record bananas, but that was the nice way to say it. Her record is bigoted, corrupt and extreme. Gracey’s statements and ties to violent extremist groups have been condemned by civil rights groups,” Ramil said Friday.

She then turned the criticism back on Republicans, accusing them of ignoring immigration enforcement operations that Democrats have condemned.

“If the Republican Party of Orange County actually cared about the Latino American community, they would spend their time condemning the cruel and unconstitutional ICE operation terrorizing communities across the state instead,” Ramil said. “Voters won’t be deceived by this desperate attempt by Republicans when there is real work to be done.”

Kluwe, a former Seattle Seahawks punter who has since become an author and small-business owner, has defended the mailer as a criticism of Van Der Mark’s record rather than her heritage.

He has also accused Republicans of manufacturing outrage over the image because they fear losing a seat that has traditionally been considered safely Republican.

The 72nd Assembly District includes communities across Orange County, including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Lake Forest.

Van Der Mark and Kluwe are competing for the seat in the Nov. 3 election, with the dispute over the mailer adding another flashpoint to an already contentious campaign.

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