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Just When You Thought Southerland’s Month Could Not Get Any Worseu2026

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Congressman Steve Southerland had yet another terrible day as he attempted to explain away holding a men-only fundraiser by questioning whether or not Gwen Graham had attended a “lingerie shower.”

As you can see below, the coverage has not been kind to Congressman Southerland, who has expressed regret not for the comments but that his words are being used against him. Clearly Congressman Southerland could not be more out of touch with the North Florida Way. 

Miami Herald: Paging Dr. Freud: Rep. Steve Southerland opens mouth, inserts “lingerie shower.” “Well, at least Steve Southerland isn’t talking about ‘legitimate rape.’ But for a GOP Congressman stuck in a close race against a female Democrat, someone oughtta tell Southerland to be careful with the gender talk…This isn’t the messaging Republicans want — espcially because it happened during an event with Gov. Rick Scott and NJ Gov. Chris Christie.” 

Tampa Bay Times: In Southerland-Graham race, the subject turns to lingerie. “Asked to respond to the Democrats’ criticism that he’s anti-women, Southerland laughed and said: ‘I live with five women. That’s all I’m saying. I live with five women. Listen: Has Gwen Graham ever been to a lingerie shower? Ask her. And how many men were there?’” 

MSNBC: Republican muses over opponent’s ‘lingerie party’ attendance record. “Republican Congressman Steve Southerland – up against Gwen Graham in a heated Florida House race – is in hot water for doubling down on his campaign’s sexism, now musing over his female opponent’s lingerie party attendance record. Southerland, responding to criticism over a male-only fundraiser his supporters hosted back in March, which stated on the invitation to ‘tell the Misses not to wait up,’ said that the event simply resembled a ‘lingerie party.’” 

Huffington Post: Rep. Steve Southerland Wonders If His Female Opponent Has ‘Ever Been To A Lingerie Shower’ Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) was criticized last week for hosting a male-only fundraiser in March, with his opponent Gwen Graham’s campaign calling the event ‘offensive.’ But Southerland laughed off the criticism to the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, comparing the event to a ‘lingerie party.’… ‘Steve Southerland’s latest jaw-dropping gambit to appeal to women: demean and ridicule us by claiming a “lingerie party defense,”’ DCCC spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in the statement.” 

The Hill: Fla. Republican compares men-only fundraiser to lingerie shower. “Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) dismissed Democrats who criticize him as anti-woman for holding a men-only fundraiser by comparing the event to a lingerie shower.” 

Gawker: GOP Congressman Says He’s Not Sexist, Because Women Dig Lingerie. “Steve Southerland, a tea partier in a tough battle for his Florida congressional seat with the daughter of a Democratic ex-senator, caught criticism last week for hosting a closed-doors men-only fundraiser. But he told reporters today that he’s no misogynist, because he knows how ladies do love negligees.” 

Talking Points Memo: GOPer: I’m Not Sexist — Did Female Dem Ever Go To A ‘Lingerie Shower’? “Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL) tried to deflect charges of sexism by Democrats by pointing out that he lives with five women and asking if Democratic opponent Gwen Graham has ever been to a lingerie shower…Southerland’s lingerie comment came in response to a conference call Democratic Party chairwoman Allison Tant highlighted the fact that Southerland held a men-only fundraiser.” 

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