SCOOP: Democrat’s longstanding ties to propagandist for Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Russia, complicates party’s House map

THE LOWDOWN:

• Before Jackson Hinkle became notorious for allying with “Russia, Pakistan and Houthi rebels,” he was a failed candidate for a 2019 special election in California.

• At his side, according to contemporaneous reports from the Los Angeles Times, was Perry Meade.

• Since then, Hinkle has shilled for Hamas, the Pakistani intelligence service, Russia, and more. He posted a picture from the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and even received an award from Yemen’s Houthi-run government officials, according to the New York Post.

• Meade’s campaign did not respond to request for comment, but other Democrats in the race are already taking aim at him.

A newly-announced Democratic candidate in a potentially competitive House race has longstanding ties to a self-described “MAGA Communist” who is best known for siding with enemies of America in recent conflicts.

Before Jackson Hinkle became notorious for allying with “Russia, Pakistan and Houthi rebels,” he was a failed candidate for a 2019 special election in California.

At his side, according to contemporaneous reports from the Los Angeles Times, was Perry Meade.

“Jackson Hinkle started the coalition in April with friends Jake Rybczyk and Perry Meade,” the Times noted at the time.

Since then, Hinkle has shilled for Hamas, the Pakistani intelligence service, Russia, and more. He posted a picture from the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and even received an award from Yemen’s Houthi-run government officials, according to the New York Post.

Now, Meade is challenging Rep. Young Kim (R., Calif.) — and his history with Hinkle may haunt him.

“Can’t think of an up and coming candidate who better represents the mainstream of the Democrat Party than an ally of Hamas and the Houthis,” one veteran of California politics told the Washington Reporter.

While Democrats have a crowded field against Kim — a GOP fundraising juggernaut — there are signs that Meade is being taken credibly, both locally and nationally. He has already rolled out several endorsements from local officials, and both Gov. Tim Walz (D., Minn.) and former Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee David Hogg specifically thanked Meade for helping to elevate Walz during the Democrats’ 2024 veepstakes.

Meade’s campaign told the Reporter that “Perry hasn't spoken to Hinkle in over half a decade and has stated his opinions on Hinkle in this New York Times article.”

In the article, Meade simply states that his “overarching understanding of Jackson was that he always wanted to be famous,” adding, “Sure, he cared about things, but he came first.”

There was notably no condemnation of Hinkle’s pro-terrorist activism.

Other Democrats in the race are already taking aim at him.

Another California politico flagged for the Reporter that Esther Kim Varet's campaign manager mocked Meade for living at home with his parents while trying to talk to voters about their property taxes, but the tweet has been deleted.