Socialist tenant organizer who blasted 'sell-out Democrats' loses Midwest primary
Jordan Herrera, an attorney, Air Force veteran and former Missouri assistant attorney general, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday in Missouri’s newly redrawn 4th Congressional District, defeating better-funded democratic socialist Hartzell Gray in a seven-way primary.Herrera prevailed over Gray, the 33-year-old former Kansas City radio host and tenant organizer who drew national attention after appearing on Hasan Piker’s Twitch livestream and blasting "sell-out Democrats."The result puts a more conventional Democrat on the November ballot against Republican Rep.Mark Alford in the GOP-leaning district, rather than Gray, who had framed his campaign as a left-wing challenge to the party establishment.Jordan Herrera is an attorney, Air Force veteran and former Missouri assistant attorney general.
(Jordan J Herrera for Congress)RNC AND NRCC FILE LAWSUIT DEFENDING MISSOURI'S NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AGAINST DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGESThe new 4th District takes in part of Kansas City before extending south through a broad swath of suburban and rural Missouri.While the map made Alford’s district less Republican than it had been, it remains a solidly GOP seat.Gray emerged as the clear financial leader in the Democratic field.
FEC records showed his campaign had raised about $250,000 through mid-July — more than six times the roughly $40,000 raised by Herrera and far more than Cass, the 2024 Democratic nominee who again sought the seat.The Kansas City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America said its backing of Gray marked its first endorsement in a federal race.The group praised Gray’s refusal to take money from corporations, developers and lobbying groups, while pointing to his support for universal health care, tenant protections and more progressive taxation.Then-Sporting Kansas City host Hartzell Gray pumps up the crowd in 2022 during a watch party for the announcement of the FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities at Power & Light District.
(Jay Biggerstaff-US...