GOP candidate who torched LGBTQ-inclusive books finishes 6th in Missouri primary

A political hopeful who made national headlines this year with viral anti-LGBTQ campaign videos lost her bid to become Missouri’s Republican candidate for secretary of state.

Valentina Gomez, a self-described “America First-Maga” Republican, came in sixth in Tuesday’s eight-person primary, with 7.4% of the vote. Missouri state Sen. Denny Hoskins won with 24.4% and will face Missouri state Rep. Barbara Phifer, a Democrat, and Carl Herman Freese, a Libertarian, in November.

When asked Wednesday about the results, Gomez said she “made history in the name of Jesus Christ.”

“I was a nobody and God transformed me into one of the most feared, respected, and loved women in American Politics. I put the fear of God in pedophiles, groomers, and corrupt politicians. I never sold out, spoke the truth, and did the right thing for the American people,” she wrote in an email, using language that has become popular among the anti-LGBTQ movement.

Gomez first made national headlines in February when she set LGBTQ-inclusive books on fire with a flamethrower, pledging to ban such books if she were elected Missouri’s secretary of state.

In the video, Gomez said, “these books come from a Missouri public library; when I’m in office they will burn.” The torched books included “Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens,” which includes advice for queer teens navigating coming out and homophobia.

Then, in May, she addressed voters in a video posted on X, saying, in part, “In America, you can be anything you want, so don’t be weak and gay.”

When asked whether she thinks these videos may have affected the outcome of her primary, Gomez said, “I stand by my words, and every one of my videos as they will endure the test of time.” She then doubled