Dalton state Rep. Kasey Carpenter is on defense after a photo resurfaced showing him with darkened skin while dressed as Kanye West at a costume party, a look many readers have called blackface. Carpenter, a Republican who has represented northwest Georgia's 4th House District since 2017, said the image was taken more than a decade ago and that he and his wife were dressed as Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. The disclosure arrives as Carpenter heads into a May 19, 2026, primary.
Carpenter's explanation
In a phone call with reporters, Carpenter labeled the costume a mistake and insisted he is not racist. "Clearly it was a mistake, but it was nothing done with bad intentions or some subversive messaging," he said, according to WABE. He told reporters the photo was taken at a Chattanooga bar about 12 years ago and said he reposted the image online with an apology that acknowledged the issue is "bigger than just politics."
Mixed reaction in Dalton
The photo has stirred both anger and defensiveness in Carpenter's hometown. Some residents say the apology does not go far enough, while others have rushed to defend his record. "Doing blackface in general is crazy, but especially for someone higher up and someone you’re really supposed to look after," said John Brogden. Michelle Witherow added, "I'm 20 and I've made a lot of mistakes; blackface isn't one of them," according to WJCL. Some supporters have posted on Facebook that his character should not be defined by a single photo.
Political stakes and record
Carpenter holds leadership roles in the state House, and he chairs the Creative Arts & Entertainment committee, according to his official House profile. Earlier this year he drew scrutiny for backing House Bill 211, the PFAS Receiver Shield Act, legislation critics say would have limited lawsuits against carpet manufacturers. That voting record has now been folded into the critique of the resurfaced image, as reported by Atlanta News First. Carpenter is set to face Cleve Manis in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary.
Calls for clearer apology
Civil-rights leaders and Democrats are pressing for a sharper response, arguing that a single post or brief explanation will not erase the harm associated with blackface. Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs urged Carpenter to issue an unambiguous apology and said the lawmaker should simply say, "I'm sorry for doing something that is racially insensitive," according to WABE. House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley warned the photo "is just the latest example" of why voters should take notice, the outlet reported.
