Jorge Borrego, a Republican candidate running for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, publicly apologized on Wednesday for a series of past online posts. The posts, which have recently come under scrutiny, were described by the candidate as containing “crude and immature jokes.”

Earlier in the week, Borrego had initially dismissed the controversy, reportedly laughing off the posts when they were first brought to his attention. However, his tone shifted on Wednesday when he released a formal statement addressing the matter. In his apology, Borrego explicitly stated, “In no ways do those past posts represent my current sentiments and feelings.” He further explained that the nature of the posts was influenced by his childhood environment, suggesting that his surroundings at the time contributed to the behavior.

While the candidate has sought to distance himself from the content, the incident has drawn attention to his digital history during his campaign. Borrego’s statement serves as an attempt to pivot away from the controversy and reframe his public image as he continues his bid for the state legislature. No further details regarding the specific content of the posts or the reactions of his political opponents were provided in the initial reports.