A Texas Republican congressional candidate is under fire after a tense confrontation outside a polling place went viral online earlier this week.
Theodis Daniel, who was running in Texas’s 18th Congressional District special election — and is the father of DJ Daniel, the 13-year-old brain cancer survivor once honored by former President Donald Trump — was caught on video in a heated exchange with a Black woman near a polling location on Election Day.
According to eyewitnesses and social media footage, the incident began as a near fender-bender in a parking lot but quickly escalated into an argument. During the exchange, Daniel allegedly accused the woman of being a “Jasmine Crockett type,” a comment many viewers called racially charged and misogynistic. The remark appeared to reference U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a prominent Black Democratic congresswoman from Texas known for her outspoken political views.
The woman, who was reportedly trying to park to vote, pushed back against Daniel’s remarks. Witnesses said the situation intensified when a group of nearby supporters — identified by several onlookers as MAGA-aligned voters — began shouting at her to leave. The woman repeatedly told them she was there to cast her ballot.
The video, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, has sparked widespread criticism of Daniel and his campaign.
Many online commenters condemned Daniel’s behavior, calling it disrespectful and racially insensitive. Critics accused the candidate of using his platform to demean a Black woman and of leveraging his son’s inspirational story for political purposes.
“I feel so bad for this kid,” one commenter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “His dad was spewing sexist, anti-Black rhetoric for no reason. It’s sad to see DJ’s name associated with this.”
Some civil rights advocates have also raised concerns that the confrontation may amount to voter intimidation, which is prohibited under Texas law. Legal experts told local outlets that any effort to discourage or harass voters near polling locations could carry serious consequences.
“This wasn’t just an argument — it happened at a polling place,” one Houston attorney told PEOPLE. “That makes it a lot more serious.”
The controversy unfolded as Daniel competed in the district’s special election earlier this week. Election results show that Daniel received 937 votes — just 1.2% of the total — finishing last among the Republican candidates.
No candidate won a majority, meaning the race will head to a runoff between Democrats Christian Menefee (28.9%) and Amanda Edwards (25.6%).
The confrontation has also drawn attention to the ongoing political tensions that continue to flare across Texas and the country. Many social media users noted the irony of Daniel’s family being associated with DJ Daniel’s inspiring story — a tale of resilience and community support — while his father’s campaign became mired in controversy.
“DJ’s story brought people together,” one Houston resident commented. “This does the opposite.”
As of Friday, Daniel has not publicly responded to the viral video or the criticism surrounding the incident.
