CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As President Donald Trump's vote total in Nueces County rose above 55,000 on Election Night on Tuesday, the county's Democratic Party chairperson lashed out at Trump voters on her personal Facebook page.
"Early vote totals. Not good," Coretta Graham's post read. "55k racists in Nueces county."
At least one person shared a screenshot of the post on their Facebook page, calling it "unprofessional" and divisive.
When asked about it over the phone Wednesday, Graham defended her post.
“I am county chair of the Democratic Party, and I can make whatever statement I feel is factual,” she said.
Her counterpart on the other side of the political aisle condemned the post.
"It absolutely is probably the most shameful thing that I have seen come out of Nueces County in an election in a long time," said Nueces County Republican Party Chairman Jim Kaelin.
In June, Kaelin received criticism for a Facebook maneuver of his own. He shared a post containing a theory that George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis (Minn.) Police was staged to create racial tension.
The backlash to the post led to Gov. Greg Abbott calling for Kaelin's resignation, which he did not do after consulting with his colleagues.
Kaelin did not suggest that Graham resign, but he left the door open for those who would criticize her post.
“In this country, Coretta Graham has the right to free speech just as anyone else," he said. "But, certainly, often, your free speech has consequences."
Calls to the Texas Democratic Party to see if they are aware of Graham's post were not returned.
