The latest shake-up in Ohio’s topsy-turvy congressional primary eases minds within the GOP

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The weekend suspension of a troubled congressional campaign in northwest Ohio has eased the minds of establishment Republicans hopeful they can flip a Democratic seat this fall by defeating the longest-serving woman in Congress.

Erstwhile Republican candidate J.R. Majewski paused his campaign Saturday, just three days after he had insisted he was staying in the race for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. The about-face was the latest turn in a roller coaster of a GOP primary for the seat long held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

Kaptur, 77, who has served in Congress since 1983, is viewed as being among the nation’s most vulnerable House Democrats this year. She beat Majewski by 13 points two years ago.

“It’s been a great ride,” Majewski declared on X, formerly known as Twitter, as he left the race and pledged to devote his energy to electing Donald Trump this fall.

Majewski suggested his adversaries were getting ready to resurface reports that arose in 2022 regarding his military service, which would have piled onto new pressure he was facing over remarks he made on a podcast disparaging Special Olympics athletes. Indeed, a new Ohio Truth PAC was planning $373,000 in attack ads against Majewski, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

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