The Top Political Trainwrecks Of 2023

The mayor of New York City has been plagued with scandal all of 2023. From fumbling the city’s housing and migrant crisis to standing at the center of a straw donor scheme, Adams’ leadership skills and character were constantly called into question. The home of his fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, was also raided by the FBI and the mayor’s phones were seized.

Tim Scott dropped out of the 2024 presidential race after the GOP candidate said a bunch of anti-Black things. Scott has stated that racism isn’t real and that welfare has been worse for Black people than slavery. The implications of his single status also led Scott to reveal his mystery girlfriend, Mindy Noce, earlier this year.

This racist ass Karen used all of 2023 to say even more vile and despicable things. In addition to fraudulently claiming that Rep. Jamaal Bowman “physically threatened her” when they were just arguing, Greene also said that Bowman calling her a white supremacist was the same as using the N-Word. She also yelled “Liar!” at President Joe Biden during the State of the Union.

The trashy former president was once again embroiled in legal trouble this year. Donald Trump was kicked off the Colorado primary ballot, making him ineligible to run for president. He was also on trial for exaggerating his wealth and inflating the value of his assets to secure loans and complete business deals. Of course, Trump proclaimed his innocence and attacked the Black prosecutors who are holding him accountable.

This year, Gov. Ron DeSantis changed Florida curriculum to teach that slavery had benefits for Black people by providing skills training, called basketball players “freaks of nature,” supported Donald Trump, unsuccessfully challenged VP Kamala Harris in a debate and embarrassed himself at every GOP presidential debate. Wrap it up, DeSantis — for all of our sakes.

Trump-loving Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert inched her way into Republican political circles only to embarrass herself and her constituents. In September, it was reported that Boebert had been escorted out of a local stage performance of “Beetlejuice.” The venue accused her of vaping, recording the show and groping her date. She denied it, but video showed what Boebert did. She apologized, but to no avail.

In 2023, first-term Republican George Santos was expelled from Congress. He is currently facing 23 charges for wire fraud, identity theft, money laundering and other crimes. In addition to being a high-profile scammer, he has also told a slew of lies ranging from his educational background to feigning Jewish heritage. This year, it all finally caught up with him.

Vivek Ramaswamy made a fool of himself by trying to convince the public — and former CNN host Don Lemon — that the Civil War was good for Black people. His gross 2024 presidential campaign has included befriending white supremacists, comparing Black women politicians to KKK members, saying white supremacy isn’t real and backing Donald Trump. 2023 showed us who Ramaswamy really is.

The first woman governor of Arkansas has the lowest approval rating the state has seen in the last 20 years. Trump’s former press secretary signed an executive order to ban “woke” language from government documents, has gone after the teaching of critical race theory in schools and has attacked trans people. Sanders is a flat-out terrible and disgusting human being.

Mike Pence tried his hand at being a 2024 GOP presidential candidate but became the first major candidate to leave the race. He was low on funds throughout his campaign, quoted Ronald Reagan and Scripture along the way; and lost his Evangelical following so profoundly that one of his last campaign stops in Iowa was at a pharmacy. Turning on Trump had consequences, which is something he should have fully anticipated.

Another failed GOP hopeful, Doug Burgum dropped out of the presidential race after his campaign failed to take off. After he failed to qualify for the third Republican debate, he removed himself entirely from the running. Burgum was in last place, polling nationally at just 0.7 percent. Burgum is anti-abortion and against rights for trans people — all we can say to him is good riddance.

Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona found himself in a whirlwind of backlash after using the phrase “colored people” to explain an amendment he pitched for the National Defense Authorization Act. In true racist fashion, he put up border-wall themed Christmas decorations outside of his office to show how terrible he is.