Manufactured Outrage? The Truth Behind the Valimont and Weil Campaigns’ So-Called “Scandal”

Gay Valimont and Josh Weil are Democratic candidates in the April 1 special elections for Congress in Florida

In today’s political climate, minor campaign missteps are often blown out of proportion, and the recent coverage of congressional candidates Gay Valimont and Josh Weil is a textbook example.

At the heart of this so-called controversy is a routine issue with a vendor mistakenly using materials associated with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) without explicit permission. Valimont’s campaign quickly addressed the situation, with Communications Director Katherine Jackson stating, “This was a very minor issue with a vendor, and it’s being handled.” Weil’s campaign similarly acknowledged and moved on from the matter. Yet, despite these simple explanations, certain media outlets have spun the story into something much larger than it actually is.

This isn’t a scandal—it’s an administrative hiccup. Candidates and campaigns, particularly those running grassroots operations, rely on third-party vendors for everything from digital ads to direct mail. Mistakes happen, they get corrected, and the campaign moves forward. But in an era where political drama drives engagement, even the most mundane incidents are sensationalized.

Meanwhile, Valimont and Weil remain focused on the real issues affecting their districts. For Valimont, that means tackling skyrocketing insurance rates, veterans’ healthcare, and the rising cost of living in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Weil is running in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, where he is prioritizing economic relief for working families, and expanding access to healthcare. These are the topics that voters actually care about—not the inner workings of a campaign’s vendor oversight.

The media’s fixation on stories like this is a distraction from the real stakes of these races. Both candidates are running against entrenched Republican power in red districts, working to bring attention to policies that impact working families, yet the headlines focus on a paperwork mishap rather than their policy platforms.

Instead of fixating on the mechanics of campaign materials, the conversation should be about why Valimont’s and Weil’s candidacies matter—why national figures, including AOC, are taking notice of these races in the first place. These campaigns have significant implications not just for Florida, but for national politics as a whole.

At the end of the day, this “controversy” is nothing more than a minor procedural matter that was swiftly addressed. What actually matters is ensuring voters hear about the real issues facing Florida families—and making sure those issues aren’t drowned out by unnecessary political noise.