A Spanish-language text message sent by the Washington State Republican Party accusing Democratic candidates of supporting "chemical castration of children at school" sparked outrage from the state's Legislative Latino Caucus and candidates named in the message.
The text sent Friday targeted three Democratic candidates running for seats in the Washington state legislature, which Maria Beltran, Democratic candidate to represent Washington State Senate District 14, estimated was sent to thousands of senior voters.
"They're trying to sway our grandparents in Spanish to believe in lies," Beltran said at a press conference hosted on Monday with Legislative Latino Caucus members, State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, State Rep. Sharlett Mena and State Rep. Julio Cortes.
A translation of the text message says "Maria Beltran, Ana Kennedy and Chelsea Dimas support chemical castration of children at school without their knowledge or consent. They reject God's design of two genders and want to confuse your children about whether they are boys or girls."
Chelsea Dimas is a candidate for Washington State House of Representatives District 14, Position 1, and Ana Ruiz Kennedy is a candidate for the Washington State House of Representatives District 14, Position 2.
Dimas told Raw Story that throughout her campaign she has focused on a "positive vision for our community - 'pa la gente - where everyone can afford to live here, have opportunities to succeed, and get a seat at the table."
"That's why I, and so many community members, were shocked and hurt when the recent hateful text message was sent out that spread offensive tropes and tried to stoke fear," Dimas said. "But I know and love the people of the 14th, who I believe share my vision for a better future and will stand up against this hate at the ballot box.
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The text message from the Washington State Republican Party continued, "They are disturbed to the point of wanting to eliminate the Spanish language, that's why the words now are neither feminine no masculine, but non-binary. They call themselves 'Latinx' instead of Latino. They hate you, they hate your family, they hate God, and they hate the truth. Don't let them represent you!"
"If you look at the language, you look at the tone, it goes beyond what we've historically have seen when it comes to attacks," Beltran said the press conference. "They're spreading lies and misinformation, and then they're saying that we hate our communities, which is not true. We love our communities. If we don't love our communities, we wouldn't be in these positions and be running for office to represent our community who has historically been disenfranchised."
Beltran told Raw Story in a phone interview that she, Ruiz Kennedy and Dimas have been repeatedly attacked in bilingual radio and TV ads as well, but Friday's text message "crossed some some pretty bad ethical boundaries, and it's been disappointing to see that my opponent and his supporters are willing to lie just to win an election, and to lie to this extent."
Beltran is running against 17-year incumbent Republican State Sen. Curtis King, who told Raw Story he wasn't made aware of the messages that the Washington State Republican Party planned to send.
"I very strongly disavow the comments made in a text that was recently sent out by the state Republican Party," King told Raw Story in an emailed statement. "I knew nothing about it nor its content before it was sent. My campaign has been conducted in a positive and professional manner. We have used no negative ads."
King continued, "In my 17 year political career, I have never made comments like those about any political opponent, whether on the campaign trail or on the Senate floor. I believe my ability to work across the aisle with Democrat senators is testament to that."
Republican State Rep. Jim Walsh, chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, doubled down on the accusations against Beltran, Ruiz Kennedy and Dimas in a statement emailed to Raw Story.
“WA Democrats, Planned Parenthood, and their endorsed candidates are panicking. They thought a left-wing judge in Seattle had gerrymandered a legislative district in Yakima for them to win," Walsh said. "Now, it looks like their endorsed candidates there are going to lose. Why? Because those candidates do not represent the values of the people and the families that live in that district."
A federal judge set new boundaries for the legislative district in the Yakima Valley in March in order to strengthen the voice of Latino voters, the Washington State Standard reported.
Walsh continued, "Planned Parenthood, affiliates and endorsed politicians support a policy agenda that includes administering chemical castration drugs like Lupron to minor children without notifying the custodial parents and guardians of those children. These chemical castration drugs, given to physically healthy children, can cause permanent life-altering bodily damage to those children. Custodial parents and guardians should be notified in advance when such drug therapies are being considered or discussed with their children."
When asked by Raw Story to clarify her stance on gender-affirming care, Beltran said via email, "I don’t think these are really issues that should be up to politicians. I trust parents and doctors to make the right decisions for kids."
Walsh pointed to the Washington Senate Bill 5599 that passed in May 2023, removing barriers to safe shelter for youths seeking gender-affirming or reproductive health care, KIRO-TV in Seattle reported. The law allows for shelters caring for youth to contact the Department of Children, Youth and Families instead of parents in some instances, including such healthcare needs.
“Now, some Planned Parenthood-endorsed politicians who’ve supported these terrible anti-family policies are trying to run away from their actions. They’re trying to deny or downplay their previous support. Such deceitful behavior, in defense of barbarous practices, is an affront to the Truth. To Washington families. And to God," Walsh said.
Beltran told Raw Story the "fear mongering" messages from the state Republican party have the ability to sway voters from not participating in the election.
Beltran said one voter told her while canvassing, "I was so excited to support three Democratic Latinas, but honestly, they're saying some really bad things about you guys, and we don't know what to think sometimes. And that's why I said, for me, it's so important to be out on doors and talking to people, so you get the chance to meet me. You get the chance to ask me questions."
Ruiz Kennedy was not available for an interview with Raw Story by the time of publication.
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