Ohio Senator Jon Husted ended his association with a campaign staffer following reports of controversial social media activity. The aide, Stephen B. Woytek, used an image of Nazi soldiers as his Facebook profile picture, according to The Washington Post.

Woytek’s profile featured a photo of SS soldiers with captured Soviet banners. He also shared a playlist celebrating Rhodesia, which once had a white-minority ruling government. This raised concerns about potential white supremacist influences within the Republican Party, particularly among younger men.

Woytek, who served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, worked on Husted’s reelection campaign. A spokesperson confirmed that Senator Husted decided to end the association due to the staffer’s social media actions. The statement emphasized the need for better judgment from campaign representatives.

Woytek, also a part-time Platoon Leader with the Army National Guard, expressed heartbreak over his departure from the campaign. Despite his denial of having negative intent, his online interactions with military reenactment groups and associations with Rhodesian symbolism were problematic.

Woytek’s LinkedIn profile details his political and military career, including roles as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives. He also held positions related to operational planning in the Ohio Army National Guard and graduated from The Citadel.

This incident is not isolated. Concerns about extremist imagery have affected other Republican campaigns. Previous reports have documented similar issues, including another campaign staffer’s departure due to links with white nationalist figures. Issues of extremist imagery have also appeared in Democratic campaigns, as noted with former Democratic nominee Graham Platner.

Jon Husted’s background includes serving as Ohio’s lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and speaker of the Ohio House before becoming a U.S. senator in 2025. He faces a competitive race against Democrat Sherrod Brown, impacting control of the U.S. Senate. The recent staff controversy acts as an unwanted distraction amid the crucial campaign phase.