Democrat Senate frontrunner under fire after using racial slur during House meeting

A Democrat frontrunner in one of the nation’s most closely-watched Senate races has come under fire for using a racial slur during a committee meeting moments after introducing a local black official.

Rep. David Trone, 68, of Maryland, referred to “this Republican j—-boo” during a House Budget Committee meeting Thursday, video of his address showed.

He used the dated and offensive term for black people moments after welcoming Shalanda Young, a black woman who heads the Office of Management and Budget, to the meeting, the Washington Post noted.

“So this Republican j—-boo that it’s the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business, they’ve never been there,” said Trone, who also co-owns Total Wine & More.

He did not seem to pause or notice what he said, as he continued his remarks praising President Biden’s tax policies.

But X users quickly took notice, even though most assumed he had not meant it as a racist slur.

“Rep. David David Trone needs to explain why TF he used the word j–boo in a budget hearing today,” wrote Reecie Colbert, the host of the “Reecie Colbert Show” on Sirius XM, calling it “totally bizarre.”

“Since his ads paint him as a racial justice warrior, he *should* know better,” she argued.

Trone — who is widely expected to face off against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Cardin — later apologized.

“Today, while attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive,” he said in a statement to Fox News.

The word “bugaboo” means an object of fear, but the word Trone used, he said “has a long, dark, terrible history.”

“It should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation.”

“I recognize that as a white man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use — especially in the heat of the moment,” Trone continued.

“Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language.”

He told the Washington Post he did not know what j—-boo meant and was “deeply disappointed” when he learned it, Trone told the Washington Post.

But the incident marks the second time in one week that Trone has faced heat for his remarks.

He had earlier declared his support for granting citizenship and voting rights to millions of migrants in the United States illegally, Fox News reports.

Trone then voted against the Laken Riley Act, which would grant Immigration and Customs Enforcement the authority to detain migrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or other shoplifting offenses.