Veterans blast heiress’s boyfriend — a Dem congressional candidate — after eagle-eyed experts spot problem with his Navy record

Military veterans are criticizing Democratic congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, accusing him of exaggerating details about his Navy service and using the gravesite of a Korean War veteran as a political photo backdrop.

Campa-Najjar, who is running for a congressional seat in eastern San Diego and is the boyfriend of billionaire Qualcomm heiress Rep. Sara Jacobs, is facing backlash over how he presented his military background during the campaign.

Elizabeth Perez-Rodriguez, a Navy combat veteran, Vista business owner, and former deputy secretary at CalVet, said she previously supported Campa-Najjar but no longer does.

“As a combat veteran, I cannot tolerate politicians using the uniform for political gain,” Perez-Rodriguez said in a statement. “Using a veteran’s gravesite as part of a campaign is disrespectful and completely inappropriate.”

Campa-Najjar has served as a Navy Reserve officer since 2023. Critics say his campaign materials referred to him simply as a “Navy Officer,” which they argue violates policies requiring reservists running for office to clearly identify their reserve status.

He also faced criticism after photos surfaced showing him posing at the gravesite of Korean War veteran Richard K. Stephenson at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. The images later appeared on his campaign website, even though his campaign acknowledged that Campa-Najjar had no personal connection to Stephenson, who died in 1997.

Campa-Najjar’s campaign said the photos were taken during an official Memorial Day ceremony where he and his unit were honoring fallen service members.

Campaign manager Andi McNew said there was no political activity taking place at the cemetery.

“At no time did the campaign conduct political activity at a VA cemetery, and claims suggesting otherwise misrepresent both the facts and the rules,” McNew said. Federal law and Department of Veterans Affairs regulations strictly prohibit campaign activity at national cemeteries.

Army combat veteran Michael Malach said the accusations raise serious concerns.

“These allegations show a troubling disregard for the meaning of military service and wearing the uniform,” Malach said. “Using staged photos at a fallen veteran’s grave to promote a campaign is shameful.”

Other Democrats in the race also condemned the situation. Marni Von Wilpert, another candidate running in the 48th Congressional District, said national cemeteries should never be used for campaign purposes.

Brian Van Riper, a Marine Corps combat veteran and former organizer for President Barack Obama, called the use of a gravesite for campaign imagery deeply offensive.

“Our national cemeteries are sacred places, not campaign settings,” Van Riper said. “Using a service member’s grave at a VA cemetery for political photos is one of the most disrespectful political tactics I’ve seen.”

The image taken at Stephenson’s gravesite has since been removed from Campa-Najjar’s website, and his campaign materials were updated to clearly state that he serves in the Navy Reserve.

McNew said the campaign made the clarification voluntarily.

“Although the Navy did not request changes, the campaign is happy to provide additional details about Ammar’s service,” she said.

She added that Campa-Najjar has served in various assignments, including time in the Philippines, at Pacific Fleet Headquarters, and at Fort Meade while on active duty during parts of his career.

The Navy has confirmed it is reviewing the situation.

“The Navy is looking into the matter. We have nothing further to provide,” a spokesperson said.

This is Campa-Najjar’s third attempt to win a congressional seat. He previously ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020 and also ran for mayor of Chula Vista.

Financial support for his campaigns has come from Jacobs and members of her family, who together have contributed more than $200,000 toward his political efforts in the San Diego area.

Campa-Najjar has also faced criticism over shifts in his political messaging. In his first congressional campaign in 2018 he ran as a progressive, but he adopted more conservative positions during his 2020 race. He later ran again as a liberal during his unsuccessful 2022 campaign for mayor of Chula Vista, which he lost to Republican John McCann.

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