School board candidate apologizes after calling politicians ‘retards’ and using ‘gay’ as slur

A candidate for a Sacramento-area school board has admitted to calling people ”retards” and using the term ”gay” as a slur in a series of social media posts that have resurfaced on Reddit.

On Monday, a Reddit account posted multiple screenshots of posts on X earlier this year by an account that appeared to belong to Kirk Thomson, who is running for trustee of the Elk Grove Unified School District.

One post, responding to a question asking users if they were comfortable with the use of the slur ‘retard’, saying “only when describing Democrat politicians and their ideas.”

He allegedly uses retard multiple times, claiming using the slur was ”making a comeback”, even using it to describe prominent commentator, Piers Morgan.

The account also used the term ”gay” as a slur and alluded to a racial slur, the Sacramento Bee first reported.

The posts seem to be dated from 2025 and 2026. His account on X appears to have been deleted.

In a statement after the tweets resurfaced, Thomson, in a statement to media outlets, owned up the mistake but hinted he would not step down from the race.

“Old posts from my personal Twitter account surfaced this week, and I used language that is hurtful to people with disabilities. That was wrong. I am genuinely sorry for it. No excuses. I own it,” he said.

“This isn’t abstract for me. My own child has a disability, and my family knows firsthand what it takes to get kids like ours the support they deserve. That’s why I’m running: for stronger special ed programs and real transparency from the EGUSD board.”

Multiple elected officials have denounced the posts and rescinded their endorsements of Thomson.

School board trustee Heidi Moore said in a statement that, “after becoming aware of the comments, I have decided to rescind my previous endorsement of his candidacy.”

Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover also said he was pulling back his support.

“Kirk Thomson’s language and comments are unacceptable, especially for an individual seeking to represent students and families on the school board,” Hoover said.

Multiple law enforcement groups withdrew their endorsements, including the Elk Grove Police Officers Association and the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association.

They said the posted remarks “do not reflect the values or standards” upheld by officers.

Thomson, who is challenging incumbent Michael Vargas, has children who attend the school district and is running on a platform of improving fiscal oversight over the board and increasing transparency with parents.

He has in the past expressed opinions on more controversial topics, such as speaking in support of a ban on transgender students participating in girls’ sports.

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