A congressional hopeful from California, who is romantically linked to a wealthy San Diego heiress, is facing scrutiny for allegedly embellishing his military credentials to boost his political campaign. Notably, he is accused of orchestrating campaign photo ops at a fallen Navy veteran’s gravesite.
The US Navy has initiated an inquiry into accusations against Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Navy Reserve officer and the partner of Representative Sara Jacobs. Campa-Najjar, who is on his third congressional campaign, is suspected of breaching Department of Defense regulations by campaigning in military uniform.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the US Navy remarked, “Lt. j.g. Campa-Najjar serves as a Navy Reserve officer with the Fleet Public Affairs Center in San Diego. The Navy is currently investigating the issue, and we have no additional comments at this time.”
His campaign website includes images of him clad in a Navy uniform, which is permissible provided there is a clear notice that the military does not endorse the candidate.
However, Campa-Najjar allegedly overstated his rank, labeling himself as a “Navy Officer” in campaign documents and on social media, a title he has since revised in recent updates.
But he appears to have inflated his position — describing himself as a “Navy Officer” in campaign filings and on social media before editing the mentions in recent weeks.
“There’s a matter of integrity,” Brian VanRiper, a Marine veteran and Democratic campaign consultant, told KBPS. “Veterans can immediately smell this out quickly.”
Under military directives, reserve officers “must clearly indicate” their reserve status.
“While the Navy has not requested any changes be made, the campaign is happy to include additional details of Ammar’s service to the nation,” Campa-Najjar’s campaign manager, Andi McNew, told The Post in an email.
“Ammar is a proud Navy Reserve Officer who has been on active duty status throughout periods of his career, including in the Phillipines, as well as at Pacific Fleet Head Quarters and Fort Meade.”
Campa-Najjar — the grandson of a Palestinian militant who’s racked up endorsements from top Dems like Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Ted Lieu and Jacobs, his own girlfriend — has posted photos of himself in uniform on his Facebook and Instagram accounts since joining the Navy Reserve in 2023, after his most recent failed campaign for mayor of Chula Vista.
In one image, which was later used on his campaign website, he is seen saluting the grave site of a deceased Navy officer and Korean War veteran named Richard K. Stephenson — a possible violation of federal laws and Veterans Affairs regulations that strictly bar campaign activities at national cemeteries.
The image has since been removed.
Campa-Najjar has no relationship with Stephenson, who died in 1997, his campaign admitted.
“There is no personal relationship with Mr. Stephenson; the photo reflects Ammar participating in an official Memorial Day event where he, alongside his unit, honored fallen service members. At no point did the campaign engage in political activity at a VA cemetery, and any suggestion otherwise is a misrepresentation of both the facts and the applicable rules,” McNew told The Post.
“If this story is meant to raise questions about Ammar’s service, the facts are straightforward: he has served honorably, followed all applicable regulations, and been transparent about his record. We encourage a focus on issues that actually impact service members and their families rather than attempts to manufacture controversy.”
The candidate for California’s 48th District — who’s raked in more than $200,000 from Jacobs and her extended family across his three ill-fated political campaigns — has since updated his website and campaign materials to note his reserve status.
Najjar’s alleged misrepresentations and odd political history have earned eye-rolls from fellow Dems — some of whom warned against endorsing him.
Campa-Najjar first ran for Congress as a Bernie bro-style lefty and lost to Rep. Duncan Hunter, who was then under federal indictment.
He made a baffling U-turn in his next failed campaign — holding a campaign event with a far-right group and claiming he opposed abortion and assault weapons bans — before losing to Rep. Darrell Issa.
He then parachuted into nearby Chula Vista, running again as a liberal and losing to Republican John McCann in the predominantly Democratic city.
A letter penned by San Diego County Dem official Lauren Cazares and other local Dems cited his “repeated defeats” and “lack of clear principles” in urging Democrats not to back him in the high-stakes congressional race.
“Campa-Najjar has lost three straight races to Republicans: in 2018 and 2020 for Congress, and again in 2022 for Chula Vista Mayor — each time in winnable territory,” the letter stateed.
Jacobs, the granddaughter of Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, has reportedly escorted Campa-Najjar around high-dollar events like an annual Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee retreat in posh Torrey Pines.
Campa-Najjar’s main Democratic rival in the primary is Marni Von Wilpert, a member of the San Diego City Council.
They are competing in a top-two primary against Republican Jim Desmond, a member of the San Diego Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa announced his retirement earlier this month.
