The echoes of Top Gun are unmistakable as the former Black Hawk pilot rides a giant motorbike onto an airfield, biceps bulging through a tight T-shirt.
asserted
biceps → rid → shirt
Then, he barbecues some steaks.
asserted
he → barbecue → steaks
It's the opening to an ad for congressional candidate Chris Gallant – and Democrats couldn't believe their luck.
asserted
Democrats → believe → luck
There could, it seemed, be no better nominee in the quest to win back New York's first district on Long Island in the November midterms.
uncertain
it → seem → midterms
Gallant, 37, who has voted for both parties in the past, joined the New York National Guard, aged 17, after 9/11, infused with a passion to serve his country.
asserted
who → vote → country
He flew Black Hawks in the Middle East.
asserted
He → fly → East
He led missions to protect the President.
asserted
He → lead → President
He's also a volunteer firefighter and worked as an air traffic controller at JFK.
asserted
He → work → JFK
In his ad, standing next to a helicopter in mirrored sunglasses, he reveals why he's running.
asserted
he → stand → sunglasses
When he came back from his last deployment he found prices had doubled and housing was unaffordable.
asserted
housing → come → deployment
The people of Long Island deserved better.
asserted
people → deserve → better
'What pisses me off is how politicians in Washington are too scared to do the right thing,' he says, going on to accuse his Republican opponent of 'cowardice' for backing tax cuts for billionaires.
asserted
he → piss → billionaires
So far, so good, as far as the Democratic high command was concerned.
asserted
command → concern → ?
But then came the bondage photographs.
asserted
photographs → come → ?
Christopher Gallant modeling a black leather posture collar with a chain and padlock
Chris Gallant is the Democratic candidate in New York's first district on Long Island
It transpired that Gallant was once a model for a fetish business.
asserted
Gallant → model → business
And there he was in a metal cage performing X-rated acts not usually associated with the Members' Congressional Handbook, both of them naked apart from leather masks and blindfolds.
asserted
both → perform → masks
The graphic photographs were part of a modeling shoot for California-based Mr S Leather, which advertises itself as 'Your San Francisco Kink Location Since 1979.'
asserted
which → base → 1979
Elsewhere images surfaced of Gallant appearing to engage in sexual acts.
asserted
Gallant → surface → acts
When the photos emerged, Republicans on Long Island spluttered into their Blue Point oysters.
asserted
Republicans → emerge → oysters
It was, it seemed, the end of another nascent political career, torpedoed by a sex scandal.
asserted
it → seem → scandal
As one commentator put it: 'Long Island Republicans just got a gift wrapped in leather.
asserted
Republicans → put → leather
Only one required a safe word.'
However, the tale does not end there, and it may engender a reassessment of what counts as terminal for a campaign in 2026.
uncertain
what → require → 2026
Indeed, it seems voters didn't actually care that much and there is even some evidence the episode galvanized Gallant's campaign.
asserted
episode → seem → campaign
It certainly brought him more name recognition.
asserted
It → bring → recognition
He leaned into it, making no attempt to deny it was him in the BDSM photographs, and then put out an ad on X saying: 'MAKE POLITICS SEXY AGAIN.'
'You know what's sexy?' it said.
asserted
it → lean → X
A plan that actually delivers for Long Island.'
asserted
that → deliver → Island
Then, he trained his guns on his opponents.
asserted
he → train → opponents
'Let's be clear about what this is: a coordinated political hit meant to drive me out of this race,' Gallant said in an X video, in which he was more conventionally attired.
asserted
he → mean → which
'This represents everything that is wrong with our politics today.
asserted
that → represent → politics
The establishment clinging to power, mudslinging as a means of skirting accountability at the ballot box.
asserted
establishment → cling → box
I won't be shamed into silence – and I won't allow my private life to be distorted and weaponized against me.'
asserted
life → sham → me
In a text message to supporters, he said: 'I'm not embarrassed or ashamed - I have always been unapologetically me.'
asserted
I → say → supporters
He said that the photos 'don't make me less qualified to pilot a Black Hawk helicopter' and 'don't affect my ability to safely traffic commercial airliners.'
asserted
me → say → airliners
Gallant added: 'I'm proud to announce that I've earned the endorsement of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.'
asserted
I → add → Fund
Republican opponents have targeted Gallant for once modeling a posture collar that was on sale for $89.95
Gallant at Independence Day & The Invasion of the Pines at Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines on July 4, 2010 in Brookhaven, New York
asserted
that → target → Brookhaven
The Suffolk County Conservative Party sought to capitalize on the photographs, posting one of them on Facebook showing Gallant bare-chested and wearing a leather harness.
asserted
Gallant → seek → harness
'This is the Democratic congressional candidate,' the caption said.
asserted
caption → say → ?
'Is this who you want to represent us in Washington DC?'
asserted
you → want → DC
However, the Suffolk County Democratic Committee hit back, suggesting the pictures showed what good shape their candidate is in as he takes on Republican incumbent Nick LaLota, who has held the seat since 2022.
asserted
who → hit → 2022
'There is now documented proof that Chris Gallant has a six-pack,' the Democrats said.
asserted
Democrats → be → pack
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
