GOP calls out KS House candidate’s ‘racially charged rant.’ What did she actually say?

Kansas Republicans are condemning a Democratic state House candidate over a 4-year-old social media post she made that includes a racial slur.

Kimberly Zito, who’s running for a Manhattan-area seat, says their outrage is disingenuous and she doesn’t need to apologize.

The Facebook post in question, from Nov. 9, 2020, was Zito’s response to having Trump supporters shout insults and slurs at a group of people celebrating the Biden-Harris electoral victory in a public park, the candidate said.

The 2020 post on her personal Facebook page begins with a middle finger emoji and the all-caps phrase “F*** YOU, (N-word)!!!!!” with both words spelled out.

“I write that because I want you to see that,” it continues. “That’s what we heard [yesterday] while we were cheering for our new President and our first female VP. I held a new friend in my arms yesterday as she cried. ‘Why do they hate us so much? What did I ever do to them? I don’t understand!’ That is the level of hate being hurled at people of color and anyone supporting the end of the 45th regime . . .”

“I think it’s clear from the entire context — those words were not mine,” Zito told The Eagle.

In an email release Wednesday morning, the Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee called Zito’s post a “shocking and racially charged rant.”

“Exposure of Kim Zito’s racism is painful to see and, in my view, disqualifies her for service as a lawmaker,” Joseph Elmore, chair of the Sedgwick County Black Republican Council, is quoted as saying in the GOP release.

“Racist words and racial slurs are hurtful and hateful to our Community,” Elmore said, calling on Kansas and Riley County Democratic leaders and Gov. Laura Kelly to disavow Zito’s “blatant, unabashed racism.”

House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita said using a racial slur is “never okay, no matter the context.”

Carl Reed, chair of the Riley County Democratic Party, declined to comment.

“Since it was the state-level RHCC that made the accusation, it seems appropriate that the state Democratic Party, not the county party, respond,” Reed said in an email.

Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Zito, who is of Korean descent, said she was standing up against racism and in support of her friends who were accosted during the impromptu celebration at Triangle Park in Aggieville.

“Cars were driving by us, giving us the finger. Some were even making like guns with their hands like they were shooting us,” Zito said. “And they were yelling those first three words at us.

“The people here in Manhattan, they know my values and they know I stand up to bullies.”

Zito is running against Angel Roeser for the open District 67 seat after Republican Mike Dodson chose not to seek reelection. Dodson defeated Zito, a former reporter, by 420 votes in 2022.

“The key difference between my opponent and me is that I take responsibility for my mistakes,” Roeser said in a text message. “Kim Zito has yet to own up to the offensive, insulting and downright hostile comments she has made about races of people, groups of worshipers and individuals in our community. Her partisan rhetoric and personal attacks won’t serve Manhattan well and will most definitely ensure we don’t have a seat at the table.”

Roeser is facing controversy of her own in the run-up to the election.

The Manhattan Mercury reported Tuesday that the Republican nominee does not hold a degree from Kansas State University, despite the House GOP campaign website describing her as a “proud K-State grad” and mailers sent out by her campaign stating that she holds a degree from the university. Records show Roeser is currently a senior studying human development and family science at K-State.

“There was never any ill intention to withhold information about my degree attainment and I will continue to be transparent with voters at their doorstep,” Roeser said.

Her campaign website, which previously stated that she held a bachelor’s degree from K-State, was changed in recent weeks to say that she “worked on” her degree, The Mercury found.

This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 3:52 PM.