A political storm is brewing in Colorado’s House District 39 after the emergence of a video that appears to show the Democratic candidate challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Brandi Bradley being arrested and subdued in the back of a police transport vehicle—an incident that reportedly took place while he was actively campaigning for the seat.
According to The Gateway Pundit, the footage circulating online shows Christian Schilder, the Democrat running against Bradley in the November 3, 2026 general election, being restrained inside a police van following an arrest in Texas. The incident, which has now become a flashpoint in the race, occurred months before the election and is drawing sharp criticism from conservative groups.
Schilder, who filed his candidate affidavit with Colorado campaign officials in November 2025 and maintains an active campaign, was booked on May 8, 2026, in Brazos County, Texas, according to a published booking record. The record lists bonds of $300 and $6,000, with the specific charges detailed in the public record.
Police Account and Video
Douglas County Campaign Watch, a conservative organization, shared a graphic that it said reproduced an account from arresting Officer Jonathan Wynn. According to that narrative, Schilder allegedly refused to walk to the patrol vehicle and had to be physically carried by three officers. Once inside, he allegedly began kicking the rear door and attempted to kick another arrested person.
Officers reportedly pulled Schilder from the vehicle and placed him in a WRAP restraint system—a device used to prevent individuals from injuring themselves or others—before transporting him to jail. He was subsequently charged with resisting transport, according to the attributed police account.
“When we attempted to place him in a patrol car he would not walk and had to be physically carried to the patrol car,” the narrative quoted Officer Wynn as saying.
Douglas County Campaign Watch blasted Schilder in a Facebook post accompanying the footage, arguing that candidates for public office should be held to a higher standard.
“This is unacceptable,” the organization wrote. “This isn’t an old mistake from years ago. This happened during the campaign he is running right now.” The group went on to call on Schilder to withdraw from the HD39 race, adding: “The campaign photo may be polished. The video tells a very different story.”
Schilder Responds
Schilder has not stayed silent on the matter. In an August 6 campaign post, he publicly acknowledged his arrest for public intoxication and said he accepted responsibility for that conduct. That acknowledgment came about three months after the May 8 booking in Brazos County, a public record searchable through Brazos County’s official online jail-record portal.
The timing of the incident is what makes it particularly damaging, according to his critics. Rather than a youthful indiscretion from years past, the arrest occurred while Schilder was already an active candidate for the Colorado House, a fact underscored by the circulation of the video on social media.
On August 28, 2026, the conservative account FreeStateColorado tweeted: “This is who Colorado Democrats have running against @bradleyforco ! Just wow!” along with a preview of the video showing the restrained candidate.
Campaign Message Under Scrutiny
Schilder’s campaign website presents him as a civil engineer and “problem solver” focused on housing affordability, infrastructure, and transportation. It also declares that voters want honest representatives who will “take responsibility”—a message that now faces intensified scrutiny given the footage.
“The campaign photo may be polished. The video tells a very different story,” Douglas County Campaign Watch said, echoing a sentiment likely to resonate with voters in the coming months.
Schilder is set to face Bradley, the Republican incumbent, in November. Public election listings confirm both candidates as their parties’ nominees for the HD39 general election, setting the stage for a contentious contest as the arrest becomes a central issue.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/just-wow-this-is-who-colorado-democrats-are/