RUNDOWN: Voters First: 2022 Ohio US Senate Republican primary debate
The Republican candidates for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat discussed the 2020 presidential election, Trump endorsements, immigration, religion and party focus at Central State University on Monday afternoon.
Jane Timken, former chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party, said in her opening statement that she is a “mom on a mission” who is looking to put America first.
Neil Patel, who previously worked on U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s transition teams, thanked God, America and his family in his opening statements.
Mike Gibbons, former Ohio Finance Co-Chair for Donald Trump for President in 2016, took a stance similar to the former president in his opening remarks.
“I’m a businessman, not a politician,” Gibbons said.
Former Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel named his three children as his reason for running in his opening statement.
Entrepreneur Mark Pukita stated his hopes to bring back the American Dream in his opening remarks.
Venture capitalist and author JD Vance expressed his dedication to the issues at hand for Ohio voters.
“What you'll hear, unfortunately, too much, is too many slogans and too many talking points from politicians. I hope what you hear from me tonight is substance, actual ideas for how to solve these problems and enough respect for you to talk to you like you're not an idiot,” Vance said in his opening statements.
Ohio State Sen. Matt Dolan stated that his campaign has been about Ohio from the start and explained how he will continue to fight for security for Ohioans in his opening remarks.
America First Agenda
When the candidates were asked about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, Timken, Patel, Gibbons, Mandel, Pukita and Vance cited incidents of fraud and election integrity –– all of which were fact checked by the Ohio Debate Commission and found no evidence to support the claims.
“I think the election was stolen from Trump,” Vance said.
Dolan opposed this stance on the election.
“Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the United States. My problem is he’s a failed president,” Dolan said.
On the topic of Ukraine, all the candidates agreed on keeping American troops off the ground and preventing escalation.
“We should never be putting American boys and girls on the ground over there in this Ukraine-Russia conflict or up in the air,” Mandel said.
He then went on to express what he sees as a threat from the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.
“They're focused on the downfall of America and the rise of Communist China. That is why we need people in public office, in the U.S. House, in the U.S. Senate, in the White House, who are strong, who have a backbone,” Mandel said.
Pukita stated the American people are being lied to about Ukraine and “the media is lying the most.”
Dolan explained how he sees conflict in Ukraine as an Ohio issue.
“Talk to any farmer and they know the Ukrainian conflict is going to cause them additional prices above and beyond caused by inflation,” Dolan said.
Vance felt the U.S. government should be focusing on other issues.
“We should not be getting involved in Russia at all. It's not our problem,” Vance said. “The same people who want to escalate in Ukraine are the same people who screwed up Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, we should not be giving those people more power.”
Timken blamed the situation in Ukraine on Biden, saying “his weakness invited this invasion.”
When asked about the immigration issue, Mandel, Vance, Patel, Gibbons, Dolan, Timken and Pukita expressed their support of finishing the border wall, citing keeping Americans safe, job security and preventing drug trade.
“Every time we allow people from Mexico or Honduras or Guatemala or China or Yemen or Haiti to sneak into our borders, in violation of federal law and take your jobs and take the jobs of your kids and your neighbors and your grandkids. We are weakening this country,” Mandel said.
Dolan emphasized ways for securing the southern border other than building a physical wall, such as more support for border patrol and a “technological or cyber wall.”
“Ohio is a border state because of Biden's failed policies,” Timken added.
Vance expressed that he believes the border wall would not only stop illegal immigration, but prevent the flow of drugs into Ohio, while criticizing both Republicans and Democrats for their inaction.
“Congressional Republicans and Democrats refused to give Donald Trump $4 billion for the U.S. border wall over four years, while fentanyl illegal drugs and tons of other problems poured into this country killing our citizens. They gave Joe Biden $14 billion for Ukraine in one week,” Vance said.
Endorsements
All GOP candidates except for Dolan are actively seeking out an endorsement from former President Donald Trump and touted their current endorsements.
“When you look to what this election is about, it's about you, Ohio. And I'm the only one that's fighting for you,” Dolan said.
Patel expressed his support for Trump but doubted receiving an endorsement from him, also adding that it should be the public deciding elections, not politicians, later in a press conference.
Patel later mentioned he is the only candidate with an endorsement from “almighty God.”
Pukita shared similar sentiments to Patel.
“I think endorsements are ridiculous,” Pukita said. “Think about it, someone goes and gets someone to tell you who to vote for.”
Timken spoke on her endorsement from outgoing U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and defended hiring former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski onto her staff.
“Corey Lewandowski knows that I've been in the trenches fighting for the America First policy, defending President Trump and his agenda because they were working for Ohio families,” Timkin said.
Mandel also defended Lewandowski and commended his role in electing Trump.
Mandel faced questioning on his endorsement from former General Mike Flynn and U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn.
“I'm proud to have the endorsement of General Flynn. I'm proud to have the endorsement of Madison as well,” Mandel said.
Vance was questioned on his endorsement from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has faced some flack for attending a recent white nationalist event.
Vance defended Greene saying “she did nothing wrong,” noting that he would not “stab” his friend in the back.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who opposed humanitarian aid to Ukraine, endorsed Gibbons.
“Rand Paul and I agree on pretty much everything,” Gibbons said.
Defining the Republican Party
The candidates were asked their thoughts about U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s “Rescue America” plan and if they would support Mitch McConnell for majority leader. They responded with their thoughts on the future of the GOP.
Gibbons shared that Scott’s plan is a good first draft, but “we’ve got Republicans all over the ideological map.”
Vance said he doesn’t agree with everything in Scott’s plan, specifically middle class tax increases.
“I'm so sick of Republicans who say ‘Well, we're just going to push back against the Biden agenda.’ Well, of course, we're gonna do that,” Vance said. “But what are we gonna actually do for our voters?”
Dolan expressed gratitude to Scott’s proposed plan and agreed there needs to be a realignment of the Republican party.
“We need to establish an agenda for Republicans as to what we're going to go to Washington and debate for the American people,” Dolan said.
Timken did not support Scott’s plan, citing the same reason as Vance and her America First mission. As for the majority leader, Timken said she would vote for someone “who will stand up and fight for America.”
Mandel took his time to address what he described as the “liberal media” and the moderator’s line of questioning creating division in the party.
“And we shouldn't even like play that game. They create hypothetical elections for majority leader a year from now and they don't even tell you who's running,” Mandel said.
Patel noted he does not want fighting but rather negotiating in Washington.
Pukita said Scott’s plan is essentially one to “protect billionaires” and would not support McConnell as majority leader due to McConnell’s “corruption” and “ties to China.”
The candidates were then asked about the tone and nature of this race.
Gibbons pointed out that it did not become a “slug fest,” referring to the previous heated interaction between Mandel and himself at a debate on March 18.
Timken called the interaction “childish.”
“That’s unacceptable in a U.S. Senate race,” Timken said.
“This is theater,” Dolan added. “I’m the only one on this stage who has gone and produced results.”
Mandel and Pukita disagreed with Timken.
“I'm a fighter, and I’m never going to apologize for being a fighter,” Mandel said.
“Dignity and decorum is the last thing we need right now,” Pukita included. “We need to fix problems.”
Takeaways
The candidates criticized Biden for his positions on multiple issues. Ukraine and border security were at the forefront of the issues discussed and all of the Republicans on stage argued that Biden’s approach to tackling these crises have put our country in peril.
“I’m fighting for your security, your international or national border security, your neighborhood security and your financial security. I'm the only one going to Washington looking forward to taking on the crisis caused by the administration and to smite Republican conservative ideas for tomorrow's possibilities,” Dolan said.
When asked about what plans he has outlined that will benefit the people of Southeast Ohio, Vance described his critique of the current energy policies that are in place.
“Energy Policy is pretty jacked up right now. It means that you destroy a lot of direct energy jobs that also make it more expensive to manufacture, because manufacturing is so energy intensive. I think both of those things really affect people in southeastern Ohio,” Vance said.
While a majority of the debate centered around fulfilling Trump's America first agenda, Dolan expressed his readiness to look past the 2020 election and Trump.
“I do think people want to look forward now. You know, President Trump did a lot of good things as a Republican president. No one is disputing that. But let's now look forward,” Dolan said.
The primary election is currently scheduled for May 3.
Madeline Harden contributed to this report.