Bobby Smith, a Democratic candidate for a judgeship in Spencer County, Kentucky, ran an ad in a local paper that featured four silhouettes hanging from a tree branch, along with the words “Good ol’ boy system.”

A judge/executive candidate in Spencer County paid for this ad to be placed in a local paper, which is… something. pic.twitter.com/zt3rHcu929 — Joe Sonka (@joesonka) August 2, 2018

The ad also stated that Smith was willing to take the necessary steps to “make Spencer County great again.” It read, “Some hard choices need to be made to make Spencer County great again. I will make those choices.”

Shortly after Smith’s ad ran in the Spencer Magnet, a local weekly paper, his own party fought back. The Kentucky Democratic Party took to social media to show their disapproval.

This is not an ad from the Kentucky Democratic Party. Our statement on the ad: “The Kentucky Democratic Party finds this ad to be offensive and appalling given its imagery. There is no defense for making light of lynching. Mr. Smith should rescind it and apologize immediately.” https://t.co/48FrnMRznU — Kentucky Democrats (@KyDems) August 2, 2018

Smith is challenging Republican incumbent John Riley for Spencer County judge-executive.

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