In Tampa, Florida, a congressional candidate has sparked controversy with a photograph showing him wearing a hat and displaying a license plate emblazoned with the numbers "86 47," which some interpret as a threat against Donald Trump, the 47th president.
According to WND, Mark Davis, who is running for Congress in Florida, has been the subject of online criticism after the image was shared by LibsofTikTok. The platform described Davis as someone who "proudly posed with an '8647' hat and license plate which signifies killing Trump," and quoted him saying, "it's not just merch, it's a 'mission.'"
The post further questioned, "What does he mean when he says 8647 is a 'mission'?" This has led to a wave of unsympathetic reactions online, with Davis, who has no official party affiliation, facing accusations of criminal behavior. Paul A. Szypula remarked, "Mark Davis has committed a felony and posted it online to make prosecuting him easy," while Brad Deason commented, "Youve been caught and called out. Your political career just ended because you wanted to be a tough guy on the internet."
Davis remains unapologetic about his use of the controversial numbers, even providing a phone number that incorporates them: "You can always call Mark at (866) 212-8647." He defended his actions by stating, "86 47 means Remove Donald Trump, dumbasses. Your GOP is the only party openly threatening political harm."
In response to criticism about his intelligence, Davis noted, "Dude, Ive been posting 8647. My profile name was 8647 for the longest time. Ive been posting it for months. Finally a picture went viral so now Im getting tons and tons more followers so, win."
The "86 47" theme gained national attention last summer when former FBI Director James Comey reportedly found a shell formation in the sand spelling out those numbers, as reported by WorldNetDaily. Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics offered a critical analysis of Davis' campaign, stating, "Every so often, a candidate comes along who blends audacity with incompetence so seamlessly you almost have to admire the craftsmanship."
Schorsch pointed out that Davis is portraying himself as a Democrat, despite being registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA), according to filings with both the Federal Elections Commission and Florida Supervisor of Elections.
Schorsch further criticized Davis for raising funds on ActBlue, a platform restricted to Democrats, noting, "ActBlues rules arent complicated: If youre independent or undeclared, and theres a Democrat in the race, youre not allowed. Davis is an independent. Democrats are in the race." He concluded that Davis's campaign was doomed from the start, likening it to "community theater" rather than a legitimate political effort.
Davis and his wife Sarah relocated from Wisconsin to Florida, driven by a sense of urgency as "the country started shifting faster, louder, darker." They describe their campaign as "a line in the sand," with Mark's voice serving as "a rallying cry: exposing corruption, challenging the machine, and building a movement grounded in truth, justice, and unshakable conviction."
Sarah Davis is portrayed as the "soul of this mission," providing "quiet strength, the sharp mind, the unwavering anchor." The couple emphasizes that their campaign is not about politics but about "defending whats sacred before its lost." They assert, "Were not here to play nice with power," suggesting a commitment to challenging the status quo.
This narrative aligns with a broader conservative perspective that values individual freedom and skepticism of government overreach. As the controversy surrounding Davis continues to unfold, it raises questions about the boundaries of political expression and the responsibilities of those seeking public office.
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