Senator Jon Husted Dismisses Political Director Over Controversial Profile Photo

<p>Senator Jon Husted's campaign (R-OH) announced on September 14, 2026, that it was terminating its political director, Stephen Woytek, following reports that he had used a photograph of Nazi SS soldiers as his Facebook profile picture. Woytek, 25, joined Husted's campaign in August as the senator prepared to face former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the upcoming special election.</p><p>The photo in question, which Woytek posted to his account in 2018 when he was 16, depicted German SS soldiers holding captured Soviet banners, according to a report by The Washington Post. The image was publicly accessible as of Friday, although it was unclear how long it had been used as his profile picture.</p><p>After being contacted by The Washington Post, Husted's spokeswoman, Amy Natoce, confirmed that Woytek would be let go. She stated, "Steve serves our country honorably as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is a proud graduate of The Citadel. He studies military history and routinely reenacts historical battles."</p><p>Natoce added, "While he denies negative intent, his social media activity displays a complete lack of judgment and disregard for its impact on others. Senator Husted demands better of those who represent him. Upon learning about the social media posts today, Senator Husted made the immediate decision to part ways."</p><p>The spokeswoman did not clarify whether the photo was related to the historical reenactments Woytek participates in, nor did she indicate if that would have affected the decision. The Washington Post noted that Woytek follows a military reenactment group that portrays a German SS division. The LAH Living History Unit describes itself as a U.S.-based historical reenacting society portraying the 1.SS Panzer Division, stating that it is a non-political group under the National WWII Living History Association.</p><p>Woytek issued a statement regarding the photo, emphasizing that his interest is historical rather than ideological. He stated, "I want to be unequivocal: I reject the racist and antisemitic ideology the SS and Nazi Germany represented. I believe it is important to educate our younger generations, which is why I participate in historical reenactments."</p><p>He acknowledged that he should have "exercised better judgment when posting about my activities online," and expressed his disappointment, saying, "I am utterly heartbroken, but respectfully am parting ways with his campaign."</p><p>Woytek's dismissal occurs amid concerns that the Republican Party may need to address an extreme faction within its ranks, similar to challenges faced by Democrats regarding the rise of Democratic socialists. While Husted's spokeswoman did not express any concern that Woytek is associated with this particular culture, the existence of such groups may have influenced the senator's decision to sever ties immediately.</p>