NASHVILLE (AP) — A Republican candidate for the state House says an automated program is to blame for his campaign Twitter account "liking" several explicit tweets.

WSMV-TV reports that Nathan Massey's campaign said the program had been set up to automatically like posts coming from areas in House District 50 in Nashville, including from the Madison community.

The racy tweets liked by Massey's Twitter account included the hashtag "Madison."

Campaign spokesman Chase Geiser said the program aimed at enhancing social media exposure "picked up some unintended content." The Massey campaign has stopped using the program.

After a WSMV reporter called to discuss the tweets with Massey campaign, she was blocked from viewing the account.

Massey is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell.