Veterans are speaking out against Democrat congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar over allegations that he misrepresented aspects of his military record and used his service for political gain.

Campa-Najjar has been accused of referring to himself as a “Navy Officer” in campaign materials, rather than more precisely identifying his role as a Navy Reserve officer. Critics argue that the distinction matters, noting that military guidelines require reservists running for office to accurately disclose their service status.

The United States Navy has acknowledged the issue and said officials are “looking into” the matter to determine whether any policies were violated.

The controversy has drawn sharp reactions from veterans, including Elizabeth Perez-Rodriguez, who said she previously supported Campa-Najjar but no longer does. “As a combat veteran, I can’t stand when political candidates exploit the uniform for politics,” she said, criticizing what she described as inappropriate use of military imagery.

Additional backlash followed campaign photos showing Campa-Najjar at Massachusetts National Cemetery, including one near the grave of a Korean War veteran with no reported personal connection. Veterans groups called the imagery inappropriate, arguing that national cemeteries should not be used for campaign promotion.

Brian Van Riper described the photos as “among the most disrespectful” political tactics he has seen, emphasizing that such sites are meant for remembrance, not campaigning.

Similarly, Michael Malach said the allegations reflect “a complete disregard” for the meaning of military service, adding, “Shame on Campa-Najjar and anyone who supported these cynical political stunts.”

Campa-Najjar’s campaign has pushed back on the criticism. Campaign manager Andi McNew said the cemetery photo was taken during an official Memorial Day event alongside his unit and denied that any political activity took place at the site.

The campaign website identifies Campa-Najjar as a Navy Reserve officer and includes a disclaimer stating that references to his service are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the military.

Campa-Najjar is currently running in California’s 48th Congressional District against incumbent Republican Darrell Issa. The controversy marks the latest challenge in what is his third bid for Congress, as questions over military representation and campaign conduct continue to draw scrutiny.