Chris Gallant, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 1st Congressional District, has openly acknowledged his involvement in bondage modeling nearly two decades ago, following the resurfacing of related photos during his current campaign. Gallant, 37, who is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, confirmed in a recent interview that he posed for images associated with Mr. S Leather, a San Francisco company specializing in leather and fetish apparel.

Gallant stated he was comfortable with the photographs and did not regret participating in the shoots, which he said reflected a genuine personal interest at the time. “All my friends know I’m kinky,” he remarked, emphasizing his acceptance of that aspect of his past. He expressed pride in how he appeared in the photos and did not shy away from acknowledging them publicly.

The disclosure of Gallant’s modeling history came to light in a news report released last month, prompting his campaign to address the issue proactively. In response, Gallant’s team launched a social media advertisement with the tagline “Make Politics Sexy Again,” signaling an effort to own the narrative and integrate the revelation into his campaign messaging.

Despite the sensitive nature of the images from his past, Gallant’s approach appears to be one of transparency as he seeks to maintain voter trust while focusing on a traditional, grassroots campaign tour across the district. The contest between Gallant and LaLota remains competitive as both candidates work to secure support ahead of the upcoming election.