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Brian McGinnis

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Brian C. McGinnis
Born1982 (age 43–44)
Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Firefighter
  • Political Candidate
  • U.S. veteran
Political partyRepublican
Other political
affiliations		Green
SpouseHamadee McGinnis
Children4
Military career
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Marine Corps
Service years2000–2004
ConflictsIraq War

Brian C. McGinnis (b. ~1982)[1] is an American firefighter and US Marine Corps veteran. He is the Green Party candidate for the 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina.

Early life

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McGinnis grew up in Quincy, Illinois. His father was a Vietnam Veteran. He was class president at Quincy Senior High School and went to boot camp two days after graduating in 2000.[2] He was on the All-Marine boxing team and deployed to Iraq as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman in 2003.[1] After being honorably discharged, he earned an Associates Degree at John Wood Community College in 2006.[3]

Career

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McGinnis is a senior firefighter in the City of Raleigh fire department.[4]

Politics

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In 2024, he joined the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, attempting to bring aid to Palestine by boat during the Gaza war.[5] As of 2026, McGinnis is a registered Republican[1] and the Green Party candidate for the 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina.[6]

2026 anti-Iran war protest

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On March 4, 2026, McGinnis, dressed in his US Marine Corps uniform, interrupted a Senate Armed Service Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support[7] hearing on the war in Iran in the Hart Senate Office Building,[8] shouting "America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!"[9][10] McGinnis was forcibly removed by United States Capitol Police assisted by US senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and McGinnis's arm was broken during the altercation.[11][12][13] An audible snap can be heard in the video.[14]

McGinnis was arrested and charged with three counts of resisting arrest and unlawful demonstration, three counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of "crowding, obstructing and incommoding" for blocking the door.[4][15]

Reaction

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The video of McGinnis's interruption and subsequent removal went viral on social media.[16][17]

In a social media statement, Sheehy described McGinnis as an "unhinged protestor".[10] A GoFundMe page started for McGinnis subsequently raised over $60,000.[18]

In March 6, 2026 statement, McGinnis wrote that the incident made him 'only more determined' to continue his run for Senate.[19][20]

Personal life

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McGinnis is married to a Palestinian woman with whom he has four children.[1] As of 2024, they lived in Wendell, North Carolina.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rohrlich, Justin (2026-03-05). "Mom of Iraq War vet whose arm was broken during Senate Iran briefing says 'wonderful' son can get 'kind of riled up'". Yahoo News. The Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  2. ^ "Home". brianmcginnis4ussenatenc.org. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  3. ^ Louis, Jayla (2026-03-05). "Quincy native arrested at U.S. Capitol after scuffle in Senate hearing room". WGEM-TV. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  4. ^ a b "Raleigh firefighter, Marine veteran charged after protesting war in Iran at Senate hearing". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Associated Press/WTVD. 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  5. ^ a b Roy, Amalia (2024-04-25). "Raleigh firefighter joining mission to bring aid into Gaza through Mediterranean Sea". CBS17.com. WNCN. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  6. ^ "Brian McGinnis (North Carolina)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  7. ^ "To receive testimony on the current readiness of the Joint Force". www.armed-services.senate.gov. SH-216 Hart Senate Office Building: United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. 2026-03-04. 41:31. Retrieved 2026-03-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ^ Levenson, Michael (2026-03-05). "Senator Tim Sheehy Helps Officers Forcibly Remove Protesting Veteran From Hearing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  9. ^ Sommerlad, Joe (2026-03-05). "Marine veteran protesting Iran war suffers broken arm in struggle with GOP senator". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  10. ^ a b IV, Antonio Pequeño. "'No One Wants To Fight For Israel:' Marine Veteran Removed From Hearing". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  11. ^ Yarbor, Natalie (2026-03-04). Sen. Tim Sheehy forcibly removes protester Brian McGinnis from Senate hearing. CNN Politics. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  12. ^ Drew, Micah (2026-03-04). "Montana Sen. Sheehy gets in altercation with anti-war protester, veteran, on Capitol Hill • Daily Montanan". Daily Montanan. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  13. ^ Davis, Sarah (2026-03-04). "GOP Sen. Tim Sheehy joins police to physically remove protester from hearing". thehill.com.
  14. ^ Fergison, Malcolm (2026-03-05). "Veteran Whose Arm Was Broken While Protesting Iran War Faces Charges". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  15. ^ Walsh, Joe (2026-03-05). "GOP senator joins police in ejecting anti-war protester from Capitol Hill hearing". CBS News. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  16. ^ Battaglia, Danielle (2026-03-05). "An NC candidate for U.S. Senate faces charges that he injured Capitol police". The News & Observer.
  17. ^ "Vet whose arm was broken during Senate briefing can get 'kind of riled up,' mom says". The Independent. 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  18. ^ "Raleigh firefighter, a Marine veteran, forcibly removed from US Capitol for anti-war protest". WRAL.com. CNN Newsource. 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  19. ^ https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5771363-brian-mcginnis-protest-green-party-senate-race/
  20. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/anti-war-protester-injured-capitol-hill-struggle-with-us-senator-sheehy-2026-03-05/
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