Mary Ann Mendoza Blackface Photos Spark Outrage

Images allegedly showing Arizona Republican State House nominee Mary Ann Mendoza in blackface have led to condemnation on social media.

Mendoza, who is running in the State House Legislative District 9 race, hasn't yet commented on the photos, which began circulating last Saturday. She was one of former President Donald Trump's "Angel Moms," a term used to describe mothers who have lost a child due to an illegal immigrant.

She started speaking out about illegal immigration after her son, Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza, was killed in a head-on crash with an undocumented immigrant in 2014.

The images of Mendoza that have begun to cause a stir appear to show her at a Halloween party in blackface as Aunt Jemima, a character used by the brand of the same name to sell pancake-related products.

Other images have also appeared to show Mendoza in brown face dressed as a Native American.

Arizona State University Professor Ayanna Thompson, who wrote a book titled Blackface, spoke to ABC15 and reflected on the backlash.

"I think when people dress in Halloween costumes, whether it's Pocahontas or Aunt Jemima, or whoever, and they apply those prosthetics, it does harken back to mocking and denigrating black identity," she said.

The two Democrats competing against Mendoza condemned her alleged actions and insisted she should be disqualified as a candidate, according to the ABC15 report.

"There were the antisemitic remarks, you know, a couple of years ago, that got her banned from Twitter and kicked out of the [Republican National] Convention. "This is racism. This is hate," candidate Seth Blattman said.

"This something that spreads a very dangerous ideology," said candidate Lorena Austin.

"Mary Ann Mendoza engaged in an especially vile and racist use of blackface and refuses to respond," she said, according to a press release seen by Newsweek.

"It is long past time that she apologize and withdraw from the race. And it is long past time that those who have endorsed her demand she do so.

"The residents of Legislative District Nine in Mesa and Tempe deserve representation at the Capitol that will serve the interests of everyone, that is what Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman will do."

Despite the mounting pressure against Mendoza, some Republicans have come out in her defense. U.S. Representative Debbie Lesko of Arizona has defended her endorsement of Mendoza.

In an emailed statement to ABC15 she said: "Instead of focusing on decade-old Halloween photos posted by liberal opponents right before an election, voters care about a secure border and common sense policies that will keep Arizona strong."

A friend of Mendoza, Kathleen Winn, who also stood as a congressional candidate, said: "Her heart is pure and she deserves our full support.

"Whatever makeup she wore is no worse than drag queen's."