Group tied to Emily Gregory sends race-baiting text; Dems should condemn it

On Thursday night, voters in Palm Beach County-based House District 87 received a troubling text message showing Republican candidate Jon Maples sitting in a chair altered to look like he was hanging out at a rundown motel.

The image is a nod to questions about Maples’ residency. In another part of the text clearly meant to portray Maples as a RINO — Republican In Name Only — the sender wrote that Maples “owns a home outside the district but is registered to vote from a cheap motel.”

The address listed as Maples’ Palm Beach County residence, within the district, is an apartment complex, not a motel. But more concerning is the imagery itself. Depicting a Black man in that setting leans on a racial trope that should draw swift condemnation from Democrats, including Maples’ opponent.

A response from Emily Gregory is especially warranted given the apparent overlap between her campaign and the group behind the message. The disclaimer shows the text was paid for by the Lift-Off Florida political committee, which has also paid Blue Velocity Consulting — the same firm used by Gregory’s campaign — raising serious questions about coordination or, at minimum, awareness.

The problems with the message extend beyond its imagery.

The text also includes claims that Maples “voted to raise taxes in 2023, 2024 and 2025,” which is false. It raises residency questions that Maples has consistently disputed, maintaining he complies with state law. He also has longstanding ties to the district, including owning a business there and attending Palm Beach Atlantic University. Sources close to Maples say he also recently closed on a home in Jupiter’s Abacoa community.

Further, the text notes that Maples used to be a Democrat, which is true but not a secret. Maples has acknowledged that he registered as a Democrat when he was a young voter. He later switched parties and became involved in GOP politics, leading to him being elected as a Donald Trump delegate at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Moreover, Maples has an endorsement from Trump himself along with support from Attorney General James Uthmeier, a staunch conservative. The icing on the cake: Maples will be a guest at Mar-A-Lago Friday night to attend the Palm Beach Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner.

Maples and Gergory are running to succeed former Rep. Mike Caruso, who resigned his seat to become the county’s Clerk and Comptroller. The seat has been vacant since he left office in August.

The district has been trending Republican, with Caruso winning his most recent re-election campaign by 19 points in 2024, an over-performance even compared to Trump, who carried the district by just 9 points.

That dynamic may help explain the tone of the message — but it does not excuse it.

Maples has a significant edge both in cash and support. The most recent data available shows his campaign and affiliated political committee have collectively raised $290,000, and added another $14,000 in self-loans. He recently told POLITICO that haul has since grown to $440,000.

And he’s amassed plenty of outside support, including $184,000 worth of in-kind support from the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee.

Gregory, meanwhile, has raised just $176,000, with another $82,000 in in-kind support. She has said with political committee funds, her total fundraising was more in the ballpark of $325,000, making her financially competitive with Maples, though still trailing in the money game.

But no matter where the race stands on paper, campaigns can draw contrasts without resorting to racially charged imagery or false claims.

Think of it this way — some Democratic strategist decided that if they leaned into racist tropes, they could convince some Republican voters to sit out the election. But by attempting to capitalize on racism, they’ve simply made themselves look racist.

An apology could help contain the fallout, but with Election Day around the corner the damage may already be done.