TOLEDO, Ohio — Despite an official censure from local Republican party leaders over his comments about people with developmental disabilities, candidate J.R. Majewski said he will not drop out of the race for the Ohio 9th Congressional district.
“After carefully considering the pressure and attacks by the Washington Establishment Machine, my family and I have decided that there is no mission more important than continuing this race and standing strong for the patriots I committed to fight for," Majewski said in a statement released to media.
The Lucas County Republican Party executive committee voted Sunday to censure Majewski over offensive comments he made about people with developmental disabilities.
On an episode of a conservative podcast called "Trifecta Hour" Majewski compared arguing online to competing in the Special Olympics in an offensive way. The episode aired earlier in February but is no longer available. He later apologized on social media, saying that as someone who is not a career politician, he makes mistakes and he regretted what he had said.
The party's executive committee called Majewski's comments "reprehensible, uncaring and inappropriate."
In his statement Wednesday, Majewski blasted calls for him to drop out of the race.
"It has become abundantly clear that the swamp and their unquestioning allies in the media will stop at nothing to keep their grip on the status quo and silence free and independent America First voices. Despite these organizations’ vicious attempt to quite literally write my resignation, I have one very strong message: I will not cower to corruption, I will not be threatened and I will never stop fighting for this country and the amazing people of Northwest Ohio.”
Majewski, of Port Clinton, is one of four Republicans running to face incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, Toledo) in the November general election. Majewski won the Republican primary in the Ohio 9th Congressional District in 2022 but lost to Kaptur in the general election.
His opponents in the March 19 Republican primary are former Defiance-area state representative Craig Riedel, former Napoleon mayor Steve Lankenau and State Rep. Derek Merrin (R, Monclova).
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