Democratic congressional hopeful Shelby Campbell of Michigan has acknowledged that her decision to seek a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives was driven in part out of spite toward an ex-boyfriend who ended their relationship a decade ago.
In a TikTok video posted on Feb. 6 and later circulated on X, Campbell recounted that the former partner blocked her and broke up with her on that exact date 10 years earlier. According to WND, she proceeded to list what she described as her achievements since the breakup, explicitly thanking her former partner whose full first, middle and last name she disclosed and attributing her congressional run to the resentment she still harbors toward him.
Everything I do is out of spite, Campbell declared in the video, adding, Instead of being an evil spiteful b*tch, I just level up on you hoes. Addressing her ex directly, she continued, Im still bitter about it but Im so thankful, because without you, I have done so much and went on, The only aspiration I had when I was with you at that age was just to get to Texas and save you from doing drugs maybe be a hair stylist, but now baby, Im running for Congress.
Campbell later attempted to reframe the viral clip, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation in a written statement that her intent was to highlight how unresolved trauma and addiction can shape a persons life. I share this story because it reflects a broader reality: when trauma is ignored, it often leads to cycles of addiction, incarceration, and instability; when it is confronted, it can lead to growth, accountability, and purpose, she wrote, insisting that her campaign is grounded in personal experience with such struggles.
She further asserted that the painful end of the relationship became a pivotal moment that pushed her toward independence, education, and long-term stability. Seeking to clarify her language, Campbell added, In the video, when I say that everything I do is out of spite, I explicitly mean spite for good, not evil, explaining that she was describing determination the refusal to internalize limitations placed on me at a young age.
The candidate is no stranger to controversy on social media, having previously drawn significant backlash for a TikTok posted in September that mocked the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Hey, MAGA. How bad does it hurt that Jimmy Kimmel is back, but you guys cant get your person back? Campbell said in that video, before emitting what appeared to be a scream of joy, later defending the remarks as dark humor and claiming she was highlighting what she saw as irony between Kirks free-speech advocacy and conservative calls to cancel Kimmels show.
Campbell has also faced legal trouble over her campaign branding, after Campbell Soup Company sued her in October for using political materials that closely resembled the iconic Campbells soup can design, according to a report from Michigan Public NPR. The dispute ended in a settlement the following month, with the Democrat agreeing to stop using the trademarked Campbells logo in her campaign imagery.
The court, however, allowed Campbell to continue using the word soup in connection with her political messaging, the outlet noted. Her campaign website currently operates under the URL soup4change.com, a branding choice that underscores her willingness to push legal and cultural boundaries for attention.
Campbell is competing in the Democratic primary for Michigans 13th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Rep. Donavan McKinney, a left-wing lawmaker backed by Democratic Michigan Rep. and Independent Vermont Senator whose names were cited in the original report. For voters who favor seriousness, restraint, and respect for political opponents, Campbells record of spite-driven rhetoric, dark humor about an assassination, and trademark skirmishes may raise questions about whether her candidacy reflects the maturity and judgment expected of a member of Congress.
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