Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel has announced that he will seek the Republican nomination to replace retiring Senator Rob Portman next year.
In a statement Mandel said he was inspired to run after watching the Trump’s,
“sham and unconstitutional impeachment.”
“I’ve heard loud and clear from my fellow Ohioans that we need a warrior that won’t quiver in their boots when it comes to standing up for conservative values.”
Like Trump, Mandel has a record of cozying up white nationalists and Nazi aficionados. This guy is a real gem.
In 2017, he attacked the Anti-Defamation League for listing alt-right commentators Jack Posobiec and Mike Cernovich in a report about hateful extremists.
In a since-deleted tweet, Mandel wrote,
“Sad to see @ADL_National become a partisan witchhunt group targeting people for political beliefs. I stand with @Cernovich & @JackPosobiec.”
In 2011, he refused to return a $1000 campaign donation from a longtime Nazi reenactor, calling the whole thing a
“manufactured nonissue.”
And in 2012, nine of his own family members took out an ad in their local newspaper blasting Mandel for his antigay views, which include opposing same-sex marriage, voting against extending employment non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ people, and supporting the reinstatement of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
Another layer of Mandel’s unique contrarian position? He himself has two gay cousins, one of whom served in the military.
Mandel previously ran for Senate in 2012, but lost to Sen. Sherrod Brown. He tried again in 2018, but dropped out, due to family health concerns.
He is the first Republican to throw his hate (sorry, typo, but I’m leaving it in…) into the ring in Ohio’s open Senate race to replace Portman, but it is expected to become a crowded field fast.
Seems you could throw a frisbee into a crowd and hit a better candidate.
My candidacy is about fighting for economic freedom and liberty and stopping Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi from their assault on American values. pic.twitter.com/4Wf3ZbhL5D
— Josh Mandel (@JoshMandelOhio) February 11, 2021
(Image, Twitter; via Queerty)
