A social media dispute involving Planned Parenthood ignited a public clash this week between Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and local Democratic officials, after a comment referencing his children appeared on a family photo shared online. The exchange quickly escalated into a broader political fight over values, activism, and campaign priorities in Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
According to Local 3 News, the controversy began when a commenter responded to a Christmas photo of Wamp’s family by writing, “This is why we need Planned Parenthood, this picture right here.” Wamp, a Republican, later shared a screenshot of the remark and condemned it in a separate post, stating, “Recently, a commenter on my family Christmas post suggested that my children were a reason why we need Planned Parenthood.” He added, “I found that vile comment deeply out of step with the values of Hamilton County.”
Wamp then highlighted what he described as a broader political issue by posting a screenshot of a message from Kathy Lennon, former vice chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. Lennon had written about attending a “Campaign Crash Course” with Planned Parenthood. In response, Wamp wrote, “Now, we also see Democrat activists proudly training with Planned Parenthood for 2026 campaigns. Relying on Planned Parenthood for campaign training is a new low for the local Democratic Party.”
The Chattanoogan reported that Wamp described the images as reflecting two “very different visions for the future of Hamilton County.” His comments drew an immediate response from the Hamilton County Democratic Party, which accused the mayor of inflaming tensions online.
In a Facebook statement, the party said it was “disappointed by County Mayor Weston Wamp’s decision to manufacture outrage on social media rather than focus on the real work facing Hamilton County.” The statement continued, “The County Mayor chose to elevate a vague, drive-by online comment into a political spectacle — framing it as a personal attack and using it to smear political opponents.”
Democratic officials also criticized Wamp’s leadership style, accusing him of “govern[ing] from the comment section” and engaging in “performative politics rather than delivering results,” while pointing to infrastructure and local governance challenges in Chattanooga.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between local leaders as national political issues, including Planned Parenthood and abortion policy, continue to influence local races and online political discourse ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
