Gia Arnold: 24-Year-Old Tea Party Candidate Drops Out Of Race After Admitting Affair

Gia Arnold had a chance to become one of the youngest people ever to serve in the New York state senate, but instead the 24-year-old is bowing out of the race after admitting an extra-marital affair.

The Tea Party backed candidate was running for the Republican nomination in the Western New York district, but this week released a statement saying she would be dropping out of the race. The 24-year-old mother of three said that “personal decisions ultimately resulted in the necessity” to end her campaign.

She also released a full statement admitting that it was an affair that caused her to drop out:

“I have made personal decisions that have ultimately resulted in the necessity of my stepping down from the campaign. I participated in an extramarital affair beginning in August of this year. It was an excuse for an escape from an already declining marriage. I cannot regret the decisions I have made, but I can admit to being happier presently than before. It is for my ex-husband, my children, my family and friends that I must publicly admit to my actions as I believe honesty and integrity are of utmost importance in life. I hope that all I have disappointed will understand that I am only human and imperfect. Thank you again.”

In the wake of the scandal, the Tea Party has distanced itself from Gia Arnold, saying she “showed weakness.”

Tea Party spokesperson Rus Thompson said he believes Arnold could have won the race, after a recent poll showed her tied with her primary opponent. But he also decried her personal decisions, saying:

“It took guts to admit it, but showed weakness — something we do not need in this state full of corruption and all the sexcapades in Albany.”

Gia Arnold put forth a platform that included rolling back the state’s strict gun control measures and decrying Common Core educational standards.

“Many teachers are miserable, as their desire to teach has been destroyed by a curriculum that allows them no room for interpretation and prevents them from using their creativity to make a fun learning experience for our children,” Arnold had noted on her website. “Our children need a positive learning environment where their individual learning styles are recognized and incorporated into their schooling.”

After dropping out of the race, Gia Arnold announced she would be giving all campaign donations to a local charity, and would let people pick which one through a vote on her website.