Cosmopolitan could not wait to interview 29-year-old Sara Jacobs, a Democrat running to take outgoing Rep. Darrell Issa's (R) seat in Congress.
"Sara Jacobs Could Be the Youngest Congresswoman Ever," the profile declared. The editors proceed to paint her as a likable and relatable Millennial who enjoys using emojis and watching "America’s Next Top Model."
Her youth may now be showing itself in an unflattering way, however, after she already finds herself dealing with backlash over a gaffe.
One of Jacobs' Democratic opponents is Doug Applegate, a 64-year-old retired Marine colonel. At a recent campaign event, she appeared to insult him. Cosmo reported the awkward exchange.
At another event, when she’s asked about how she’ll fare with the district’s large military population — especially given that one of her opponents, Doug Applegate, is a retired Marine colonel — her candor makes for an awkward moment. "It's true," she says, "I'm not a crusty old Marine." The group is mostly silent.
Lawmakers on both sides of the political reacted strongly to Jacobs's comment.
"I believe that no candidate for public office should attack our service members,” Air Force veteran and Democratic candidate Christina Prejean said.
Jacobs tried to explain herself Thursday. Insulting Applegate, or any veteran for that matter, was "never" her intention, she claimed on her Facebook page. Her remarks, she said, were taken out of context.
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Although Jacobs says that Cosmo omitted some key context, a representative for the outlet reportedly told Fox News that the author of the profile stands by her reporting.
Before running for Congress, Jacobs worked at the United Nations and UNICEF, as well as a foreign policy advisor for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She has an endorsement from EMILY's List.
The California primary is June 5. The two candidates who get the most votes will proceed to the general election.
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