Kansas Republicans have criticized Kim Zito, a Manhattan-area Democratic candidate for House District 67, for using a racial slur in a 2020 Facebook post. In the post, Zito expressed anger and frustration at witnessing hate speech directed towards people of color and supporters of the Trump administration. Republicans called on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to revoke her endorsement of Zito, labeling the post as a “shocking and racially charged rant.”
Zito defended her post as an attempt to illustrate the hatred faced by marginalized communities and urged friends and family to stand up against violence. Republicans, however, accused her of trying to divert attention from concerns about her opponent, Angel Roeser. The Kansas Black Republican Council brought the post to the attention of the Kansas House Republican Campaign Committee, leading to calls for Democrats to disavow Zito’s comments.
In response, Zito accused Roeser of dishonesty about her education and stance on abortion rights, while Roeser admitted to lying about her college degree. Despite acknowledging her mistake, Roeser criticized Zito for making offensive and hostile comments towards various groups and individuals in the community. She argued that Zito’s divisive rhetoric and personal attacks would not be beneficial for Manhattan.
The controversy surrounding Zito’s post has sparked a heated debate between the two candidates, with Republicans condemning her use of racist language and calling for her disqualification from serving as a lawmaker. Meanwhile, Zito continues to defend her actions, portraying Republicans as attempting to distract voters from real issues. The race for House District 67 remains contentious as both sides trade accusations and criticisms.
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