'Cowardly' MAGA candidate derided after 'pathetic' campaign move: 'Embarrassing'

Arizona Republican state Rep. Alexander Kolodin sparked ridicule Friday morning after becoming the latest GOP candidate to distance himself from President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings continue to sink to new lows.

“How embarrassing, pathetic, and cowardly,” wrote Arizona Democratic state Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, who represents the Phoenix area, in a social media post on X.

Kolodin, who’s running to become Arizona’s secretary of state, prominently showcased Trump’s endorsement on his campaign website, as flagged by journalist Brahm Resnik. As recently as July 19, the front page of Kolodin’s campaign website featured a quote from Trump: “A hell of an attorney [and] a patriot.”

By Sept. 22, however, the Trump quote had vanished from Kolodin’s campaign website and was replaced with the quote: “Protect every vote.”

“Tough talking MAGA guy but changes his tune when it’s time to face the voters. Maybe he needs a few cans of Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Raspberry Rose for courage,” De Los Santos continued, referencing a 2020 incident in which Kolodin was detained by police after a traffic stop in which officers located a can of “Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Raspberry Rosé” near the scene.

Kolodin is just the latest Republican candidate discovered to have scrubbed references to Trump from their campaign materials. Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was accused of scrubbing his campaign website of references to Trump, and The Washington Post has identified several others.

“The AZ GOP’s statewide candidates are almost as embarrassing as they are dangerous for Arizona families,” wrote Democratic operative Justin Jenkins in a social media post on X. “It’s honestly baffling. But then again, this is the same party who nominated Kari Lake and Blake Masters.”

Crissy Perham, a former U.S. Olympic swimmer and three-time Olympic medalist, gave her own blunt take on what Kolodin was trying to accomplish.

“Trying to wash off that trump stank,” she wrote in a social media post on X.