Candidate Herrera Made Past Remarks About Obesity

The Republican District 23 candidate faced scrutiny after a 2022 podcast clip resurfaced online.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Weight Loss

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a municipal building silhouette in red and cream, representing political and health policy rhetoric. — Candidate Brandon Herrera is under scrutiny following the resurfacing of 2022 podcast comments in which he disparaged obese individuals and San Antonio residents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Republican candidate Brandon Herrera previously stated he wished COVID-19 had killed more obese individuals during a 2022 podcast interview. The clip from the Slightly Offensive podcast was resurfaced by Meidas Touch on September 25, 2026.

Why it matters

The resurfaced comments have drawn attention to the candidate's rhetoric regarding public health and the local population of San Antonio. Obesity is widely recognized as a significant comorbidity associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Approximately 9% of the San Antonio population is contained within District 23. The total reach of the candidate's remarks within this specific voter demographic remains under investigation.

The players

Brandon Herrera

He is a Republican candidate running for election in District 23.

Katy Padilla Stout

She is the Democratic opponent challenging Brandon Herrera for the District 23 seat.

Meidas Touch

This is a media organization that disseminates political content and investigative clips.

The details

During the July 31, 2022, episode of the Slightly Offensive podcast, Herrera made remarks wishing for higher mortality rates among obese individuals due to COVID-19. He also described residents of San Antonio as ugly during the same interview session.

Brandon Herrera recorded the podcast remarks on July 31, 2022.
Meidas Touch resurfaced the podcast clip on September 25, 2026.

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The Big Picture

The remarks follow a pattern of intense political rhetoric surrounding the 2020 CDC identification of obesity as a high-risk factor for COVID-19. This discourse reflects the ongoing friction between medical guidance and polarized public opinion.

The controversy may influence how local voters evaluate the candidate's views on public health priorities and community representation. Residents are left to consider the candidate's past rhetoric against their current policy platforms.

The takeaway

Voters often evaluate candidates based on their historical public statements and the consistency of their rhetoric over time. Examining past comments is a standard part of the vetting process for those seeking public office.