A glaring mistake on a campaign website has thrust a California candidate into hot water.
Esther Kim Varet, a Democratic congressional candidate in California, posted a photo of the wrong Black woman on her campaign site while claiming an endorsement from Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, The New York Post reported.
The image was quietly pulled from the site Thursday afternoon after Fox News Digital raised questions about the mix-up. Such a careless error sparks doubts about the campaign’s attention to detail, especially when representing a figure as prominent as Crockett.
Christian Martinez, national Hispanic press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, didn’t hold back on X, calling out Varet with pointed words. He wrote, “Racist. Arrogant. Totally out of touch,” suggesting this gaffe reveals a deeper disconnect within her campaign.
His critique cuts to the core of a broader concern: how can voters trust a candidate who fumbles something so visible? This isn’t just a clerical slip; it’s a signal of sloppy priorities that could translate into governance.
Varet, who owns Various Small Fires, a chain of art galleries across Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seoul, is vying to unseat Rep. Young Kim in California’s 40th Congressional District. That area spans parts of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, a diverse region demanding cultural sensitivity, not blunders like this one.
Adding to the scrutiny, Varet has a history of sharp-edged comments, including a social media post labeling Rep. Kim, born in South Korea, an “ESL puppet” while slamming Trump-era immigration policies. Such language, aimed at a fellow Korean American, paints Varet as quick to attack rather than build bridges, a risky move in a district craving unity.
Rep. Kim responded with dignity, telling Fox News Digital, “I’m proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations.” Her words stand as a quiet rebuke to Varet’s jab, highlighting a strength rooted in personal story over petty insults.
Varet’s campaign also reportedly took aim at Martinez, challenging him to “prove that you’re a REAL Latino,” according to the NRCC. This pattern of personal digs only deepens the perception of a candidate more focused on provocation than policy.
Meanwhile, Rep. Kim faces her own battle, squaring off against Rep. Ken Calvert in a Republican primary for the reconfigured 40th District. Redistricting, approved by voters in November, aimed to tilt the seat toward Democrats, reshaping the political chessboard in California.
This mirrors moves in Texas, where new maps favor Republican-leaning districts, showing how both parties play hardball with boundaries. For Varet, navigating this altered terrain means overcoming self-inflicted wounds like the photo fiasco if she hopes to challenge Kim’s hold.
The NRCC has already branded Varet “unhinged” after her earlier criticism of Kim’s English skills. That label, paired with this latest misstep, suggests a campaign struggling to find a steady footing amid a barrage of avoidable errors.
Varet’s run to flip a key California seat hinges on trust and competence, yet these early stumbles tell a different story. A wrong photo might seem trivial, but it symbolizes a larger failure to respect the very people she claims to champion.
In a district rich with immigrant stories, like those of Varet and Kim, voters deserve candidates who honor that diversity, not exploit it for cheap shots. This incident, alongside past rhetoric, risks alienating the very coalition needed to win.
Ultimately, Varet’s campaign must pivot from these distractions to focus on substantive issues if it wants a fighting chance. Missteps like these don’t just hurt her image; they hand ammunition to opponents eager to frame her as unfit for the complexities of Congress.