Despite campaigning for gender equality, and the advancement of women’s rights, Democrats seemed to fail to walk the talk as a 19-year-old politician won a seat at the Kansas legislature, despite his long history of disturbing and problematic behavior against underage girls.

On Monday, Democrat Aaron Coleman won by 14 votes against seven-term incumbent Stan Frownfelter for a seat in the Kansas House of representatives. Coleman vowed that he would use his position to advocate for universal healthcare, helping the youth gain access to education by eliminating college tuition, defunding the police, and legalizing marijuana.

However, his advocacy cannot hide his long list of disturbing behavior against women. While he initially denied the allegations, Coleman finally came clean and admitted that he had blackmailed then 13-year-old Kati Hampton. Years after the incident, Hampton claimed that she did not know Coleman and that he had most likely seen her on Snapchat. The Democrat threatened Hampton that he would leak her sexually explicit photos to her family and friends if she failed to give him more nudes. In an interview, Hampton said, “I just don’t think he needs to be in a powerful position considering what he’s done to girls.”

He had also body-shamed a girl online, by telling her that she was fat and that she would be better off if she killed herself. The girl was only in sixth grade had attempted suicide after reading Coleman’s brutal remark. Another woman said on Facebook that the Democrat harassed her to the point where he would incessantly call her until she picked up the phone.

Add to his long list of problematic behaviors, Coleman also wished ill among his opponents. He believed that right-wing politicians dying from the COVID-19 virus would be like laughing when a driver who uses their cellphone, eventually dies in a car accident. In another social media post, Coleman admitted that he would “giggle” when he learned that former Republican lawmaker John Whitmer died. He wrote, “John, I’m going to laugh and giggle when you get COVID and die.”

Coleman’s long list of deeply disturbing behavior raised concerns even with his fellow Democrats. In a report from The New York Times, the media outlet reported that his major opponent was not Republicans, but rather against Democratic leaders. One of those who were not in favor of Coleman’s win was Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly, who had instead endorsed Frownfelter. In a statement, Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the Governor, said that “Aaron Coleman is not fit to serve in the Legislature.”

Moreover, Democratic House minority leader, Tom Sawyer claimed that most voters in the 37th District had no knowledge of Colelman’’s disturbing past.

His opponent, Frownfelter, argued that Coleman’s win should serve as a primary example as to why voters should be well informed when it comes to their elected leaders. He added that Coleman was able to create conversation among voters, without having the need to reveal his past.