A 2025 podcast clip of Republican Brandon Herrera suggesting an animal shelter work with a Chinese restaurant has resurfaced during his campaign for Texas’ 23rd District seat in the U.S. House.
Host Josie (The Redheaded Libertarian) told Herrera that a kitten’s siblings were on a shelter’s euthanasia list and that she had arranged for a rescue group to find them homes. Herrera said he hated seeing animals “put down for no reason,” suggested working with “the local Chinese restaurant,” then added, “Don’t let it go to waste.” The exchange does not explicitly say the kittens would be used as food; that reading is implied by the restaurant reference and his closing remark.
The podcast listing dates the episode to Oct. 21, 2025, and gives it the title “YouTube Star vs. DC Swamp: Brandon Herrera’s 2026 Crusade.” PatriotTakes later posted the clip on X.
The Texas Secretary of State certified three candidates for U.S. Representative District 23: Herrera, Democrat Katy Padilla Stout and independent Ben Mendoza. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Herrera’s Federal Election Commission (FEC) statement of candidacy, filed Aug. 16, 2025, also identifies him as a Republican seeking the seat.
