Republican Candidate Faces Firestorm Over Leaked Videos on Abortion and Witchcraft

A Republican hopeful running for Congress in Washington state is facing a firestorm after leaked videos reveal her calling abortion murder, even when rape causes the pregnancy, and suggesting that non-Christian faiths are nothing more than witchcraft.

Katy Cornell leads SOZO Church in Belfair as its founding pastor. She now seeks to represent the 26th Legislative District against Democrat Renee Hernandez Greenfield this November. Trouble started when recordings of her sermons resurfaced online, according to The Seattle Times. One clip shows her labeling abortion a sin and murder regardless of the circumstances. Another video captures her husband, fellow pastor Tom Cornell, telling his congregation that worshipping gods outside Jesus Christ is witchcraft.

A group fighting Christian nationalism shared this footage on Bluesky. They say they began looking into these teachings in January. The account owner asked to stay anonymous due to safety fears. Questions also swirl around why thousands of sermons disappeared from the internet while she campaigned. On a July episode of the City Quake Podcast, Tom Cornell admitted deleting several thousand clips from YouTube and their church website. He claimed he worried the election would distort their religious message.

Cornell denies being a Christian nationalist. She insists government should not enforce Christianity or any other faith. Telling The Seattle Times she is not running to pastor anyone, she said she will serve all constituents no matter their beliefs. I believe in limited government, individual liberty and protecting everyone's constitutional rights, she stated. Her views on abortion stem from her religion, yet she promised to respect the initiative process and the will of voters.

Her opponent, Renee Hernandez Greenfield, has criticized both the content of the sermons and the decision to erase them publicly. She called the situation troublesome and concerning. Some material remains online, but Hernandez Greenfield wonders what else might have been taken down. The race for this open House seat has already drawn strong financial backing from both sides. The Daily Mail is waiting on a response from Katy Cornell's team.