“Sounds So Hot And So Fun!” – Sen. Thom Tillis’s Democratic Rival Admits To Sexting With Veteran’s Wife
Tyler Durden
Sat, 10/03/2020 – 10:58
One North Carolina political blogger opined in a column published back in September that Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is facing a tough re-election bid against Democratic contender Cal Cunningham, who has led Tillis in most polls all year. The race is one of a handful of key “tossups” that Wall Street analysts fear could turn the Senate blue.
And that was before Tillis got COVID-19.
Now, the political ramifications of Tillis’s diagnosis aren’t yet clear, though the virus will likely take him out of action for at least 10-14 days. But in a huge gift to Republicans, the Raleigh, Cunningham has become embroiled in a sexting scandal involving a woman who is not his wife. Cunningham is a married father of two, yet he confessed to sending “text messages of a sexual nature” to Arlene Guzman, a public relations strategist from California.
The text messages were first reported Thursday night by a conservative website called National File, which revealed that the Democratic Candidate and retired military officer had exchanged “sexts” with another veteran’s wife. Reporter Patrick Howley – the same reporter who broke the Gov. Ralph Northam blackface scandal – even labeled the PR professional as Cunningham’s “paramour”, suggesting that the two were in the process of planning a romantic tryst.
Cal Cunningham, who is a married father of two, has focused his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican Thom Tillis on Cunningham’s service as a veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Cunningham is evidently engaged in extramarital activity with the wife of a fellow veteran.
Cunningham refers to Guzman Todd in the text messages below as “historically sexy,” imagines kissing her, says he has been dreaming “of our time together,” and the two plan for Cunningham to make up an excuse for his family and ditch a staffer so the two can meet and, in Guzman Todd’s words, “kiss a lot.” Guzman Todd says she wants “a night with you” and Cunningham agrees that he wants that too. Guzman Todd says that “the only thing I want on my to do list is you” and Cunningham says that “Sounds so hot and so fun!”
The news took a day to hit the mainstream political news channels, but Twitter users came together to mock Cunningham over his laughably childish sexts. When Cunningham’s “paramour” texted that the only thing she wanted on her to-do list was “you”, Cunningham replied “that sounds so hot and fun!”
Judging by the contact name in the heading, the texts appear to have been taken from Guzman’s phone.
Also the sexts in question are just… what? https://t.co/zTyuRwkJ2w pic.twitter.com/cCisiKqVdi
— Claire Perry (@sclaire_perry) October 3, 2020
Cal Cunningham sexting someone who isn’t his wife is the cherry on top of this ridiculous day https://t.co/dLuXMMygox
— sara p the skeleton queen (@sara__pequeno) October 3, 2020
According to the News & Observer, a newspaper based in Raleigh, NC, Cunningham’s campaign has confirmed the authenticity of these text messages. Cunningham apologized for his behavior, but said Friday night that he is not dropping out of the race.
“I have hurt my family, disappointed my friends, and am deeply sorry. The first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility, which I do. I ask that my family’s privacy be respected in this personal matter,” Cunningham said in a statement sent to The News & Observer.
“I remain grateful and humbled by the ongoing support that North Carolinians have extended in this campaign, and in the remaining weeks before this election I will continue to work to earn the opportunity to fight for the people of our state.”
The texts appear to have been exchanged some time in late July-early August.
Cunningham, 47, is a Lt. Col. in the US Army Reserve and a lawyer. He previously served in the North Carolina state Senate and ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the senate seat in 2010, but lost.
Tillis and Cunningham met Thursday night for their third and final debate. According to Real Clear Politics, Tillis is still trailing in the polls.
But Cunningham wouldn’t be the first Democratic candidate to be felled by a sexting scandal.