Republicans criticize Dem congressional candidate's '86 47' post as call for 'political violence'

Republicans successful plaything authorities New Hampshire are criticizing the determination by a Democratic legislature campaigner to station a photograph of herself adjacent to an "86 47" sign, which immoderate successful the GOP spot arsenic a shorthand connection suggesting unit against President Donald Trump.

Maura Sullivan, a erstwhile Marine Corps serviceman who deployed successful the Iraq War and aboriginal served astatine the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration nether erstwhile President Barack Obama, attended a "No Kings" protestation this past play successful her hometown of Portsmouth, N.H. Demonstrators astatine thousands of rallies nationwide connected Saturday protested what they telephone the president’s anti-democratic actions and authoritarian tendencies.

Sullivan, portion astatine the rally, posted connected societal media a photograph of herself lasting adjacent to a chap seasoned who was holding a motion that work "Veterans for Democracy."

But the motion besides included the operation "Foxtrot Delta Tango," arsenic good arsenic the connection "86 47."

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"Foxtrot Delta Tango" is simply a military-style operation successful the NATO phonetic alphabet that spells retired the letters "FDT," which is seen arsenic a derogatory word towards Trump.

While "86" is simply a word agelong utilized successful restaurants to signify erstwhile they are retired of a nutrient point connected a menu, oregon successful bars oregon subject circles to get escaped of thing – oregon someone.

And of late, immoderate Republicans comprehend it arsenic a connection to person Trump eliminated.

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The Secret Service continues to analyse erstwhile FBI manager James Comey aft helium earlier this twelvemonth posted connected societal media an representation of seashells arranged to spell "86 47."

Comey, pursuing a blimpish uproar, took down his station and apologized.

The societal media station by Sullivan, 1 of 2 apical Democrats moving to win Rep. Chris Pappas successful New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, came hours aft the horrific shootings of 2 starring Minnesota Democratic authorities lawmakers - 1 of them fatal.

Police portion blocks disconnected the location of Minnesota authorities Rep. Melissa Hortman, Sunday, Jun. 15, 2025, successful Brooklyn Park, Minn.  (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

State Rep. Melissa Hortman, the erstwhile talker of the Minnesota authorities House, and her spouse were killed, and Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse were severely wounded in the shootings, which look to beryllium politically motivated attacks.

Sullivan's legislature campaign, successful a connection to Fox News, pointed to the Minnesota shootings.

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"Maura is outraged and heartbroken astir the assassination of a nationalist servant successful Minnesota. She believes that determination is perfectly nary spot for unit successful our politics, careless of enactment oregon affiliation," Sullivan run manager Nick London said.

London added that connected Saturday, "Maura joined thousands of Granite Staters and millions of Americans successful peacefully protesting Donald Trump’s usage of our servicemembers arsenic props for his governmental agenda. If the President cared astir our veterans, helium would beryllium focused connected improving healthcare astatine the VA, expanding intelligence wellness services and supporting our subject families."

Democratic legislature campaigner Maura Sullivan speaks astatine a "No Kings" rally successful Portsmouth, N.H. connected Jun. 14, 2025. (Maura Sullivan campaign)

Republicans successful New Hampshire rapidly criticized Sullivan implicit her post.

"I knew Maura was cozying up with the utmost extremist left, but this is simply a measurement excessively far. Calls for governmental unit similar this person nary spot successful New Hampshire," New Hampshire GOP seat Jim MacEachern said successful a statement.

And NHGOP vice seat Hollie Novoletsky, who came successful 2nd successful the 2024 GOP legislature superior successful the 1st District, said successful a statement, "Whether the people of an assassination is President Trump oregon a Democrat State Rep successful MN, it is unacceptable. You'd deliberation arsenic a ‘Veteran for Democracy,’ Maura would cognize that."

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The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the run limb of the House GOP, which is trying to flip the territory for the archetypal clip successful 8 years, went further.

"Political unit has nary spot successful our state – and posing with propaganda calling for the assassination of President Trump is unsafe and disqualifying," NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole argued. "Maura Sullivan indispensable apologize, instrumentality down the photo, and instrumentality herself retired of the moving for New Hampshire’s First Congressional District."