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GOP Candidate Mocked for Allegedly Using Fake Family In Campaign Photos: ‘Dude Faked A Family’

This is wild

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In politics, honesty is something people expect from their leaders. But recently, Republican candidate Derrick Anderson made headlines for pretending to have a family in his campaign photos. Anderson, who is running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District, posed with a woman and three children, giving the impression they were his family. However, as The New York Times reported, Anderson is engaged but has no children. The family in the photos belongs to a longtime friend, not him.

The news quickly went viral, and people on social media were quick to mock Anderson for his actions. Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) summed up the shock and confusion with his tweet: “Dude faked a family… Wtf is wrong with these candidates i mean just wut.”

Many others echoed this disbelief, as voters wondered why a candidate would go to such lengths to mislead people. Anderson’s campaign had posted these fake family photos on YouTube and a National Republican Campaign Committee website, showing him as a family man with a wife and children. But after the truth came out, the backlash was swift. Fred Wellman, host of the On Democracy podcast, tweeted, “Y’all [Anderson] has fake family pictures. Amazing.” It was clear that people were not buying Anderson’s story.

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) also joined the conversation, using this moment to point out the hypocrisy within the Republican Party. Lieu tweeted, “Do you think that applies to GOP candidate Derrick Anderson, who doesn’t have children but is trying to mislead voters by renting a family in his pictures? Asking for a friend.”

Ted was referring to Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, who often claims that childless Americans don’t care about the future of the country. The irony of Anderson pretending to have a family, while others in his party criticize those without children, was not lost on anyone.

The incident has raised questions about the lengths some politicians will go to in order to win votes. Anderson’s team tried to downplay the situation by saying that the photos simply showed Anderson with “female supporters and their kids.” But many people aren’t convinced. Abortion rights activist Olivia Julianna tweeted, “New levels of weird and creepy… THESE ARE NOT HIS CHILDREN AND THAT AIN’T HIS WIFE.”

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Over the years, there have been multiple cases of Republican politicians bending the truth. Back in 2010, Carl Paladino, a Republican running for governor of New York, was exposed for sending racist and inappropriate emails. More recently, in 2020, Madison Cawthorn, a Republican running for Congress, was accused of lying about his personal life during his campaign. These stories make it hard for people to trust politicians, especially when the truth is constantly being twisted.

What Anderson did isn’t just a small mistake. It shows a bigger problem within the Republican Party—candidates feel they can say or do anything, even if it’s not true. From Donald Trump’s repeated lies about the 2020 election being stolen to Anderson’s fake family photos, honesty seems to be taking a backseat for some GOP members.

For voters, this is a reminder to be cautious. Politicians like Derrick Anderson are willing to manipulate their image to gain support. In politics, trust is everything, and once it’s broken, it’s hard to get back. CJ Warnke, from the Democratic group House Majority PAC, tweeted a comparison between Anderson and the 2013 movie We’re the Millers, where a fake family is assembled for a drug-smuggling operation: “We’re The Andersons.”

This was a funny take on a serious issue—one that shows just how far some candidates will go to deceive voters. As voters, it’s important to question what we see and make sure the people we support are honest, transparent, and worthy of our trust.

Featured image via Screengrab

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Terry Lawson

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I’m Terry Lawson, a writer and editor based in Alabama with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. For the past four years, I’ve worked as a ghostwriter for various companies, delivering content that meets clients' needs. I currently work as an editor and political writer for Political Tribune, creating engaging articles. I enjoy writing and have developed strong skills in writing & editing, critical thinking, and project management. My work is fueled by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to quality.

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