Twerking for votes: Shelby Campbell, the 32-year-old Democrat vying for office in Michigan

What would you do if you were running for elections and were trying to garner votes? Some may say run a smart social media campaign; some may suggest a rally in the area; others might recommend a meet-and-greet with voters in your constituency.

But these ideas are tame compared to what one American candidate has chosen to get voters in her constituency to elect her. She’s been seen twerking on her kitchen counter, with someone posting that this is her campaign strategy.

What do we know of this candidate? And how are people reacting to her twerking videos?

US candidate for Congress goes viral for controversial videos

Social media is abuzz after videos emerged of Shelby Campbell seen twerking on her kitchen counter. A 32-year-old single mother, Campbell is a Democrat running for election to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional district.

In one video that she has posted on TikTok, one can see her twerking and crouching on a kitchen counter before declaring, “I am an ethical person. I am a classy b**ch, am I not?”

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For the unaware, twerking is a form of dance that is characterised by hip thrusting and buttock shaking. It became a mainstream phenomenon in 2013, especially after singer Miley Cyrus was seen doing the steps during her MTV VMAs performance.

In another video on X, she is heard saying, “White ladies, I’m glad that we are becoming the enemy to the white man as well. I’m proud of you. Now let’s get it, girls.”

In another viral video, Campbell says, “I am a c**t. Great. But would you know a cl*t if you saw one?”

The election for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District will be held on August 4. She is up against the Democrat, Shri Thanedar, who has represented the constituency district since 2021.

Shelby Campbell, no stranger to controversy

But who exactly is Campbell, the Democrat vying to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional district?

A mother of two boys, the 32-year-old claims to be a first-generation college graduate. Campbell received an associate degree from Rock Valley College, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in law from Wayne State University, and took 43 credits from Detroit Mercy School of Law.

On her website, she claims that she has worked as a bartender, restaurant server, certified nursing assistant, and as a third-generation autoworker who sold her automobile, drives a scooter, and takes public transportation.

Campbell describes herself as the “grassroots” candidate in the race. On her fundraising page, she pitches her campaign as “by the people, for the people.” Image Courtesy: @shelbycampbell/Instagram

Campbell describes herself as the “grassroots” candidate in the race. On her fundraising page, she pitches her campaign as “by the people, for the people.” “Now, I’m running for Congress in Michigan’s 13th District to put working families, not corporate donors, at the centre of our democracy,” Campbell notes on the site. “My campaign is about community over corporations, compassion over cruelty, and people over profit.”

Campbell boasts of not being a “career politician”, writing on her site, “I’m not here to pretend I’m perfect. I’m not here to smile in your face and stab you in the back later.”

Her twerking videos aren’t her first brush with controversy. When American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September last year while addressing students at one of his events, Campbell said in one TikTok video, said, “I don’t think anyone deserves to be murdered in front of their wife and children, but life happens. And when you support radical ideas, and you say them out loud, and they’re evil, bad things might happen to you.”

She also earned backlash when she referenced late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel returning on air after he had briefly been suspended over remarks tied to the Turning Point USA founder’s death. “Hey, MAGA. How bad does it hurt that Jimmy Kimmel is back, but you guys can’t get your person back?” she asked.

Campbell has declared she has been to jail and includes four prior mugshots. Image Courtesy: https://www.soup4change.com/

Campbell also has a criminal past. Her website features four mugshots alongside her biography, which states, “I’ve been to jail. I’ve been judged. And I’ve gotten back up.”

She’s also earning hate for her remarks on American soldiers. In one video, she said, “Quit thanking the troops for sacrificing their lives.”

“I don’t want to thank these men and women who join the military because they have no other option. But they didn’t want to go to school, they didn’t have the resources; they didn’t have the knowledge. They don’t have people that love them,” she notes in the video, which has since been deleted.

Criticism mounts against Campbell

But it seems that Campbell isn’t resonating well with the voters. Her latest dancing videos have earned her the ire of many on social media.

One user noted, “Bro, this is her actual campaign strategy? Twerking in the living room for votes in 2026 Single mom energy mixed with OnlyFans audition. Michigan really out here picking leaders like this? Policy? Nah, just vibes and squats. The bar is in hell at this point.”

Another social media user stated on X, “I doubt she cares about the campaign. She is doing this for publicity. I bet she opens an Onlyfans site if she doesn't already have one.”

A social media commentator, “This isn’t authenticity — it’s vulgar and unfit for office. Congress needs adults, not this. Michigan voters deserve better. This is a woman running for the Michigan House of Representatives. Thank @MichiganDems for running this trash.”

With inputs from agencies