Republican Campaign Aide Is Fired Over Photo of Nazis

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 14, 2026

Senator Jon Husted's campaign fired its political director, Stephen B. Woytek, after it was revealed he had used a Nazi SS photograph as a Facebook profile picture and was linked to controversial social media activity. The dismissal comes amid a closely contested Senate race in Ohio, with opponents using the incident to question Husted’s judgment and campaign values.

The campaign of Senator Jon Husted, a Republican from Ohio, announced on Friday that it had dismissed its political director, Stephen B. Woytek, following revelations that he had once used a photograph of Nazi soldiers as his Facebook profile picture. Woytek, 25, was appointed to the position in August and played a key role in Husted’s campaign during a critical race that could influence control of the Senate in the upcoming November elections.

Amy Natoce, a spokeswoman for the Husted campaign, stated that Woytek’s social media activity demonstrated a “complete lack” of judgment and showed disregard for its potential impact on others. Upon becoming aware of the posts, Husted made an immediate decision to sever ties with Woytek, she added. The initial report, published by a major newspaper on Friday, identified a 2018 Facebook profile picture featuring members of the SS, the paramilitary organization of Nazi Germany. Natoce later confirmed her statement referred to this image.

Additional reports indicated that Woytek had recently contributed songs to a public Spotify playlist celebrating Rhodesia, the former white-minority-ruled African colony that has often been praised by white-supremacist groups. The Husted campaign has not independently verified these claims, and Woytek has not responded to direct requests for comment.

In a statement released earlier, Woytek acknowledged participating in historical reenactments and said he regretted not exercising better judgment when sharing related content online. He insisted that he rejected the racist and antisemitic ideologies associated with the SS and Nazi Germany. Following the controversy, several of his social media accounts appeared to have been set to private or removed.

Natoce emphasized that Woytek, a Citadel graduate and current U.S. Army lieutenant, serves his country honorably and routinely engages in military history reenactments, including Civil War battles where he portrays a Union soldier. She also noted that he denies any negative intent behind his social media postings. When asked about the campaign’s vetting process concerning Woytek’s background, Natoce declined to provide further details.

The race in Ohio pits Husted against former Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who lost his seat earlier in 2024. Brown’s campaign criticized Husted in light of the controversy, with spokeswoman Lauren Chou stating, “They say you are the company you keep,” and asserting that Ohio voters deserve leadership that reflects their values.

Husted was appointed in early 2025 to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. Both candidates are competing to complete the remainder of Vance’s term, which runs through 2028.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.