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Elise Stefanik Withdraws Support for Ohio Candidate After Trump Comments 

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference, said Republican Ohio House candidate Craig Riedel (2009) made “inappropriate” comments about former President Donald Trump. Breitbart News exclusively reported Thursday that he later withdrew his support.

Stefanik's decision to withdraw support is a vote of confidence within the Republican conference as he seeks to defeat incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) in the key swing seat of Ohio's 9th Congressional District. It highlighted sexuality.

Stefanik, an ardent supporter of Trump and his first supporter as he seeks re-election in 2024, said he informed Riedel this week that he was withdrawing his support. Stefanik's decision to end Riedel's support is the first time House leadership has done so.

“I am deeply disappointed by the inappropriate comments made about President Trump,” she told Breitbart News in a statement. “As 2024 begins, my focus is on ensuring we have a strong candidate on the ballot who is committed to electing President Trump and expanding the House Republican majority this November. ”

Because Riedel was the preferred candidate in the race, Republicans were blindsided by his tape-recorded comments last week.

“Look, Donald Trump, he's a different person than me,” Riedel Said. “I don't like the way he communicates. I think he's arrogant. I don't like the way he calls people by name. I don't think that would be very presidential.”

Republicans want to replace Kaptur, who was first elected in 1982. Recent redistricting has significantly increased the competitiveness of the district. politiko Before report About major upheavals in the Republican Party:

House Republicans may have found a way to shore up their shaky prospects in key swing seats. A last-ditch recruiting effort by House Republican leaders has sent Ohio Rep. Derek Melin jumping into a chaotic primary for his Toledo-based district just before the state's filing deadline on Wednesday. .

Republicans are worried about a repeat of last year, when J.R. Majewski won the primary but lost to Kaptur. With Riedel remaining in the race, there is a real risk that the anti-Majewski vote between him and Melin will split, opening the way for him to win the nomination again.

The campaign says Mr. Riedel plans to remain in the race, and the possibility of Mr. Majewski winning multiple primaries is not just hypothetical. That's exactly what happened in 2022, when Mr. Riedel and a third candidate similarly tried to block Mr. Majewski from the race. He was nominated as a candidate, but ultimately the votes were split.

Riedel spokesman Mark Harris previously said, “We are very confident that we will win the primary.'' Said. “The more they encourage others to run, the more likely it is that Mr. Majewski will be the beneficiary.”

Follow Wendell Husebo “X” @WendellHusebø.he is the author of politics of slave morality.

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