A 19-year-old Democratic candidate running for the Kansas legislature pitched “Medicaid for all” as a healthcare policy that could have prevented him from abusing his ex-girlfriend.
Aaron Coleman, a young Democratic candidate who’s been surrounded by controversy this summer, admitted on Sunday to abusing his ex-girlfriend physically, which was first reported by the Intercept. However, he said government programs to fund education and healthcare properly may have taught both him and his girlfriend not to act “toxic” toward each other.
“While it is true I was abusive to my ex-girlfriend, I do not agree with the characterization being made about our experience in the hot tub the day after Christmas. I did not choke her. I also don’t think she is intentionally lying, as I know large quantities of alcohol could be affecting both our memories. The two months I dated Taylor were mutually abusive, and this is not a justification for what I did but the reason why I must lead by example,” Coleman wrote in a release.
“I believe if we had more early childhood education funding, and taught what healthy interpersonal relationships look like, my ex and I would have been less toxic to each other,” Coleman argued. “Additionally, we must pass Medicaid for All so people can receive counseling and mental health support based on need for treatment and not ability to pay. I believe with some counseling, my ex and I would have had more self-respect and would have treated each other better.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09-06-2020
Statement from Democratic Party nominee Aaron Coleman of Kansas’ 37th District on relationship problems pic.twitter.com/THia6h7TA1
— Aaron Coleman ? (@Aaron4KS37) September 6, 2020
In August, Coleman admitted to threatening to disseminate a nude photograph of a girl who declined to share naked pictures with him when he was in middle school. Immediately following the controversy, he promised to drop out of the race but reneged the pledge after determining withdrawing from the race would give voters an unfair choice.
“My withdrawal would immediately return to power the same corporatist, out-of-touch 7-term incumbent that voters just rejected,” Coleman said in an earlier press release, referring to state Rep. Stan Frownfelter. “We cannot undo democracy because I am a flawed individual who has made mistakes. That is not fair to those voters. They deserve to have a choice this November. So I’m staying on the ballot, and staying in the race as the Democratic nominee.”
Coleman defeated Frownfelter in the Kansas state House primary by 14 votes. GOP candidate Kristina Smith plans to run as a write-in candidate in the district, but the area has no official Republican challenger.
