An exclusive Talking Points Memo investigation by Christopher Mathias reports that Marshall Rawson, a Republican candidate for Florida’s House District 10, was photographed marching with white supremacists at the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The violent event left one woman dead and 35 people injured.

According to TPM, Rawson attended the rally with members of the League of the South, a white nationalist and neo-Confederate organization. Archived video reviewed by the outlet shows Rawson and his wife arriving at the event and being greeted by other League members. Photographs and footage reportedly show Rawson carrying a League of the South flag and marching with neo-Nazis, including James Alex Fields Jr., who later killed counterprotester Heather Heyer by driving his car into a crowd.

Rawson has not publicly denounced the League of the South, apologized for participating in the violent rally or spoken out against many of the people with whom he marched.

The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the League as having a documented history of white supremacist, antisemitic, anti-immigrant, homophobic and secessionist advocacy. Its leaders have also openly promoted the idea of establishing a white ethnostate in the South, according to the SPLC’s database of hate groups.

TPM cited a 2025 Facebook post in which Rawson wrote, “I am happy to talk about my past advocacy and activism on any issue. I am also proud of the advocacy work that I have been involved with for the past 13 years.”

The investigation also cited a 2023 statement in which Rawson expressed support for the death penalty for gay people in Uganda. “This is how you would run the pervs and miscreants out of Florida,” he said. “A one-way ticket to no more sexualizing of children and the LGBTQ+ agenda in Florida!”

TPM further alleged that Rawson may have used a pseudonymous social media account to express more extreme views. The outlet reported that several data points link an X account that posted from 2017 to 2020 under the handle “RockOfDixie” to Rawson. Some posts compiled by researcher ShermanMarching appear to have been deleted, and the account’s most recent post dates to 2020. A related post by ShermanMarching is preserved in the Internet Archive.

The account featured a bodybuilder flexing on stage. The same image appeared in an online gallery from the 2016 National Physique Committee Galaxy Championships, where the bodybuilder was identified as Marshall Rawson. He finished fourth out of six competitors.

One policy attributed to the account was support for bringing back lynchings. “Multiculturalism kills and public lynchings worked,” the “RockOfDixie” account stated.

TPM reported that members of the League of the South have also provided financial support to Rawson. He has received more than $15,000 from dozens of donors whom the report said are connected to the League, neo-Nazi circles, white nationalist groups or other extremist activism. One donor is a former Klan lawyer, while others attended the Charlottesville riot. Asked about the contributions, Rawson said he does not “screen” donors or their views before accepting their money.

Rawson won the August Republican primary by just over 2,000 votes and is widely expected to win the November general election in the heavily conservative district. TPM said his candidacy illustrates how ideas once associated with fringe white nationalist groups have gained a greater foothold in Republican politics.

Neither the Florida Republican Party nor the national Republican Party responded to TPM’s requests for comment.