Candidate Faces Scrutiny Over Deleted Post Honoring Nazi Grandfather

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
OTSEGO COUNTY

New York State Senator Peter Oberacker, now running for Congress in New York’s 19th District, is facing renewed scrutiny after a resurfaced 2015 Veterans Day Facebook post showed him honoring his grandfather, who served in Nazi Germany’s military under Adolf Hitler.

The post, first reported by Politico, featured a sepia‑toned photo of Ludwig Oberacker wearing a Nazi military uniform displaying multiple swastika insignia. Oberacker cap-tioned the image: “My Grandfather Ludwig Oberacker who gave his life for his country, I salute all who served.” The post has since been deleted.

Oberacker told Politico he intended the message to acknowledge “veterans of all conflicts,” adding that his father grew up without his own father due to the war. He also said he views the post differently today given rising concerns about antisemitism.

In a statement to “The New York Post,” Oberacker said he “condemns antisemitism in all forms” and criticized his opponent, Democratic Rep. Josh Riley, claiming Riley has not spoken out against antisemitic figures within his party. These claims have not been independently verified.

Oberacker previously served on the Senate Republicans’ antisemitism working group and proposed legislation in 2024 to expand the definition of harassment to include Nazi symbols.

This is not the first controversy involving antisemitism connected to his political circle. In 2025, Politico reported that Bobby Walker, then slated to become Oberacker’s campaign manager, participated in a group chat where Young Republican leaders praised Hitler and used racist and misogynistic language.

On October 17, Politico cited AllOtsego’s reporting in its New York Playbook edition. “NY Young Republicans in Hateful Group Chat were at Oberacker Congressional Launch” read the title of AllOtsego’s same-day article by Staff Writer Eric Santomauro-Stenzel which heavily featured his photos taken at the launch. Oberacker dismissed Walker following the report.

Oberacker did not respond to a request for comment by press time.