2022 OH Senate race: on Principles & Values


Bernie Moreno: Running to protect the American dream

Bernie Moreno sees Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the extreme left, their allies in the media, big tech, and universities push socialism at every turn. He sees them using Cancel Culture to completely silence us. That's not why his parents risked it all to come to America. He's fighting to protect the American Dream.
Source: 2022 Ohio Senate campaign website BernieMoreno.com Dec 24, 2021

Bernie Moreno: We need to protect Trump's victories & amazing achievements

President Donald J. Trump is the Most Conservative President of Our Lifetime. He stood up to everyone who rigged the system against outsiders, and he fought for Americans every step of the way. He was attacked more than any other elected official, and yet accomplished amazing achievements for the American people. We need to protect his victories.
Source: 2022 Ohio Senate campaign website BernieMoreno.com Dec 24, 2021

Bernie Moreno: Confirm judges to defend Constitution and state's rights

We need to ensure that hard left judges cannot wash away Conservative, hard-fought victories. That means confirming strong, principled jurists to the bench. I will vote to confirm the men and women who will defend the constitution and state's rights to our federal judiciary.

I believe all human life is precious. I will always fight hard to protect and defend the sanctity of life.

Source: 2022 Ohio Senate campaign website BernieMoreno.com Dec 24, 2021

Bernie Moreno: Tried to buy Cleveland Indians to prevent name change

Moreno told Fox News that he wanted to buy the franchise because the team "means a lot to northeast Ohio" and "a lot" to the "generations" of fans "who grew up there."

"So for the name change to happen, it was just a classic example of the kind of cancel culture woke-ism that's affecting our nation," Moreno said. "And it just really bothers me that a small group of White, liberal activists can make something like that happen."

"It's the wrong decision and we want to reverse it," he continued.

Source: FOX News on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jul 21, 2021

Bernie Moreno: Defended fellow candidate against antisemitic advertisement

A Republican Senate candidate in Ohio is doubling down on a controversial campaign ad, insisting voters need to be aware of an important fact: that the frontrunner in the primary, Josh Mandel, is Jewish. A moderator at the debate asked for [Republican Senate opponent Mark] Pukita to respond to claims that he is "antisemitic and intentionally divisive and inflammatory."

"In terms of antisemitism, all I did in an ad was pointed out that Josh is going around saying he's got the Bible in one hand and the constitution in the other. But he's Jewish," Pukita said. Pukita's response was quickly condemned by Bernie Moreno.

"Josh, nobody should question your faith. That's not right," Moreno said. "The Jewish religion, the Bible is the Bible. That was hard to hear. I'm sorry about that. That's not right. We're better than that, guys."

Pukita last month was cut out of a forum hosted by the Center for Christian Virtue after the organization deemed his radio ad to be antisemitic.

Source: Politico.com AdWatch on 2022 Ohio Senate race Nov 11, 2021

Jane Timken: Advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation

With the backing of Donald Trump, Timken unseated Matt Borges for control of the Ohio Republican Party in January 2017. In her kick-off video, Timken touts her support of Trump and his America First agenda and pledged that as senator she'd "advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation." She told the Cincinnati Enquirer that she'd be happy to have Trump's endorsement.
Source: Springfield News-Sun on 2022 Ohio Senate race Mar 25, 2021

Jane Timken: Second Trump impeachment was unconstitutional and a sham

Q: After the Capitol riot, there were some Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, including Anthony Gonzalez, while others continue to support him. How are you navigating this tension?

Timken: I did disagree with Anthony Gonzalez's vote and have said that repeatedly. The second impeachment was unconstitutional and a sham, and I have called out Anthony Gonzalez on that issue, so I want to make that very clear.

Source: Jewish Insider on 2022 Ohio Senate race Mar 26, 2021

Jane Timken: I denounce QAnon, I don't agree with them

Q: Marjorie Taylor Greene has become a controversial figure thanks in part to her belief in QAnon. What do you make of her as well as the QAnon conspiracy theory?

Timken: Look, I denounce QAnon. I don't agree with them. But, you know, Marjorie Taylor Greene was elected duly, and she has the right to voice her opinions and represent her constituents.

Source: Jewish Insider on 2022 Ohio Senate race Mar 26, 2021

Jane Timken: Supports Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court

Jane Timken says Barrett is another "superb" nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, noting Barrett's time as a federal judge. "We all know the Supreme Court decisions in this country whether (they are) based on decisions about our constitutional rights or regulations that are important to businesses and our daily lives," says Timken. "That is motivating to voters. They want to see a Supreme Court that is going to interpret the law and support the constitution, not legislate from the bench."
Source: Statehouse News Bureau on 2022 Ohio Senate race Sep 28, 2020

Jane Timken: My opponent should resign for voting to impeach Trump

[On Trump's second impeachment]: "It is clear Congressman Gonzalez' wrongful decision to vote with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to impeach President Trump has undermined his ability to effectively represent the people of the 16th district," Timken told Fox News. "Gonzalez should immediately resign so the Republican Party can unify behind new, conservative leadership for the 16th district."
Source: FoxNews.com on 2022 Ohio Senate race Mar 1, 2021

Jane Timken: We should be doubling down on faith at universities

I am outraged at the latest jaw-dropping move from Harvard that represents an attack on faith and religion in America. Harvard's new President of Chaplains is a devout atheist. At a time when young people are just embarking on their own independent journey, we should be doubling down on faith, not encouraging them to drift away from it.

My faith has been deeply important to me throughout my life. I am a proud Catholic, unabashedly pro-life, and rely on prayer to help navigate life's stormier waters. I believe that now, more than ever, our country should be leaning into faith, prayer, and religion to guide our leaders and fix the problems our world faces, not running away from it. These are the things that make America strong.

Source: WarRoom.org on 2022 Ohio Senate race Sep 8, 2021

Jane Timken: AdWatch: Stop socialist agenda; teach kids to be patriots!

Source: AdWatch on 2022 Ohio Senate race: JaneTimkenForOhio.com Nov 12, 2021

JD Vance: 2016: Trump reprehensible; 2020: evolved to support Trump

Vance was once a stern critic of former President Trump. Now, as a candidate for the Republican Senate nomination in Ohio, he is a big Trump fan. How and why Vance moved from one position to the other is a topic of red-hot debate [and] a window into the current state of the Republican Party, riven by tensions over the 45th president & the long shadow he casts.

CNN uncovered old tweets in which Vance had called Trump "reprehensible" in relation to his policies on "immigrants, Muslims etc." In another tweet from 2016, Vance said he would vote for an independent candidate, Evan McMullin, rather than Trump or Hillary Clinton. In early 2016, Vance wrote in USA Today that "Trump's actual policy proposals, such as they are, range from immoral to absurd."

Vance gave a penitent interview [this week]: "I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016, because I've been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy," Vance said.

Source: The Hill e-zine on 2022 Ohio Senate race May 6, 2021

JD Vance: Willing to wade through a little crap to save this country

I have two boys. I love those kids. I want them to live in the same great country that I lived in. If we don't do something, they're going to grow up in a country that's much poorer, that's much dirtier, that's much uglier, and where they can't even speak their mind as citizens. It's time to fight back though. If you're not willing to wade through a little crap to save this country, then you're not willing to stand up on the big stage, and I am.
Source: Fox News on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jul 2, 2021

JD Vance: Known as the "Trump Whisperer" for explaining his support

Vance was colloquially known as the Trump Whisperer by critics who said Vance could explain why Middletown and the surrounding areas showed up in droves to vote for President Trump.

"Trump was just talking about real issues," said Vance. "And whether you agreed or disagreed with the president I think most people recognized that he actually identified something real in our country, which is that a lot of the communities feel like they've been left behind, because they have been left behind."

Source: WTOL-11 Newsroom on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jul 3, 2021

JD Vance: 2016: Trump makes people I care about afraid

He was publicly critical of Trump during the 2016 election cycle--calling him "noxious" in an interview with NPR--and ultimately voted for independent Evan McMullin that year. He cast Trump supporters as unmarried, uneducated and less likely to attend church. "Trump makes people I care about afraid," Vance said in October 2016. "Immigrants, Muslims, etc. Because of this I find him reprehensible."
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jul 1, 2021

JD Vance: Critical of Trump in 2016, enthusiastic supporter in 2020

He was initially critical of former President Donald Trump in 2016 but has since changed his mind about that, too. "I think he delivered on his promises to make the country a better place," Vance said. "So, I think I saw this guy, he was an outsider. I didn't really believe he was serious. And then I saw the guy in action. And I thought he was a successful president. That's why I supported him enthusiastically in 2020. So I changed because he did a good job."
Source: WCPO-TV ABC-9 on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jul 2, 2021

JD Vance: Wokeness will make everything boring and ugly

Vance was angered when he learned that writer Josh Safran, who will be the showrunner for the new "Gossip Girl" that will stream on HBO Max, has reworked the wealthy Manhattan socialite characters to make them more aware of the privileged lives they lead. Vance was not fond of this artistic decision, however, and railed that the teen drama was the latest work of art to fall victim to "wokeness."

"Wokeness will make everything boring and ugly," he wrote.

Source: RawStory.com blog on 2022 Ohio Senate race Jun 22, 2021

JD Vance: Public policy views aligned with Catholic social teaching

My views on public policy and what the optimal state should look like are pretty aligned with Catholic social teaching. That was one of the things that drew me to the Catholic Church. I saw a real overlap between what I would like to see and what the Catholic Church would like to see. I hope my faith makes me more compassionate and to identify with people who are struggling. But my politics have been pretty consistent over the past few years.
Source: The American Conservative on 2022 Ohio Senate race Aug 11, 2021

Josh Mandel: Stand up for the Trump America first agenda

In an interview with 3News, Mandel pledged to carry on former President Donald Trump's agenda. Mandel said the Trump's second impeachment pushed him into action. "I've been watching this sham and unconstitutional impeachment, and it's really made my blood boil and it's motivated me to run for the U.S. Senate," he said. "I want to go to Washington to stand up for the Trump America first agenda."

"Let me be very clear: I am going to Washington to pulverize what I call the uni-party," he said. "The uni-party is this group of Democrats and Republicans who sound the same and stand for nothing, and they're more interested in getting invited to cocktail parties than they are in standing up for the Constitution and standing up for the American people, and I have no desire to be part of that club. I'm going to Washington to take on the system. Whether that means taking on Republican leaders, Democrat leaders, I don't care."

Source: WKYC 3News on 2022 Ohio Senate race Feb 10, 2021

Josh Mandel: 2011: Refused to return donation from Nazi reenactor

In 2011, he refused to return a $1000 campaign donation from a longtime Nazi reenactor, calling the whole thing a "manufactured nonissue." Adding a layer of weirdness to the matter is the fact that Mandel himself is Jewish.
Source: Queerty blog on 2022 Ohio Senate race Feb 10, 2021

Josh Mandel: OpEd: Attacked ADL for report on extremists hate groups

In a defining moment, Mandel faced this choice: Side with the Anti-Defamation League.

Or side with white nationalists, Nazi sympathizers, avowed racists and other hate groups.

For anyone with a shred of decency, this was an easy call. Mandel sided with hate. On July 20, Mandel ripped the ADL's decision to publish a report identifying key members of extremist hate groups. The ADL, he tweeted, has "become a partisan witchhunt group targeting people for political beliefs."

Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer OpEd on 2022 Ohio Senate race Aug 3, 2017

Josh Mandel: Supports President Trump's America first Agenda

Mandel's statement announcing his campaign said he was motivated by the "sham" impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump and emphasized his support for "President Trump's America first Agenda." "I'm going to Washington to advance the Trump agenda and to take on the establishment," Mandel said.
Source: Politico.com on 2022 Ohio Senate race Mar 18, 2021

Josh Mandel: Pulverize the "uni-party," no desire to be part of that club

Let me be very clear: I am going to Washington to pulverize what I call the uni-party. The uni-party is this group of Democrats and Republicans who sound the same and stand for nothing, and they're more interested in getting invited to cocktail parties than they are in standing up for the Constitution and standing up for the American people, and I have no desire to be part of that club. I'm going to Washington to take on the system.
Source: WKYC on 2022 Ohio Senate race Apr 18, 2021

Josh Mandel: 2011: Refused to return donation from Nazi reenactor

In 2011, he refused to return a $1000 campaign donation from a longtime Nazi reenactor, calling the whole thing a "manufactured nonissue." Adding a layer of weirdness to the matter is the fact that Mandel himself is Jewish.
Source: Queerty.com on 2022 Ohio Senate race Apr 18, 2021

Josh Mandel: Attacked ADL for report on extremists hate groups

In a defining moment, Mandel faced this choice: Side with the Anti-Defamation League. Or side with white nationalists, Nazi sympathizers, avowed racists and other hate groups.

For anyone with a shred of decency, this was an easy call. Mandel sided with hate. On July 20, Mandel ripped the ADL's decision to publish a report identifying key members of extremist hate groups. The ADL, he tweeted, has "become a partisan witchhunt group targeting people for political beliefs."

Source: The Cleveland Plain-Dealer on 2022 Ohio Senate race Aug 3, 2017

Mark Pukita: AdWatch: anti-Semitic for saying "My opponent is Jewish"?

Pukita is doubling down on a controversial campaign ad, insisting voters need to be aware of an important fact: that the frontrunner in the primary, Josh Mandel, is Jewish. A moderator at the debate asked for Pukita to respond to claims that he is "antisemitic and intentionally divisive and inflammatory."

"In terms of antisemitism, all I did in an ad was pointed out that Josh is going around saying he's got the Bible in one hand and the constitution in the other. But he's Jewish," Pukita said. Pukita's response was quickly condemned by [his opponents].

Pukita last month was cut out of a forum hosted by the Center for Christian Virtue after the organization deemed his radio ad to be antisemitic. In a statement at the time, Pukita's campaign called the claim "ridiculous and defamatory."

"Mark Pukita is absolutely, unequivocally, undeniably a complete supporter of religious tolerance and of Israel," a spokesperson said. "He is not a supporter of phonies and panderers."

Source: Politico.com AdWatch on 2022 Ohio Senate race Nov 11, 2021

Matt Dolan: Need leader to oppose widening chasm of Democratic socialism

From the 1930s through World War II and thereafter, Senator Taft led the conservative charge in response to liberal Democrats' Big Government philosophy in Washington, D.C. Seven decades later, Ohio Republicans once again find themselves in need of a public leader willing to stand astride the widening chasm of Democratic socialism that threatens to swallow our personal freedom, liberties and the founding principles of the republic.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer on 2022 Ohio Senate race Sep 9, 2021

Morgan Harper: Saved by foster care system, adoptive mother

[On personal history]: "Central Ohio stepped up for me and gave me a chance at life," said Harper recalling how the local foster care system and her adoptive mother propelled her to Princeton, to Stanford, to her working for the Obama administration, and beyond. "My mom, a public-school educator who immigrated to Ohio from Trinidad.adopted and raised me on the Eastside," said Harper her mother standing nearby.
Source: Columbus Free Press on 2022 Ohio Senate race Aug 23, 2021

Tim Ryan: Incorporated yoga into his presidential run

After the 2008 election, Ryan attended a mindfulness retreat. What he learned there transformed his approach to politics and life. He wrote a book in 2012 titled "A Mindful Nation" and later incorporated yoga into his presidential run. His second book, "Real Food Revolution," focused on reducing highly processed foods and supporting farmers who grow fresh produce.
Source: Columbus Dispatch on 2022 Ohio Senate race Apr 26, 2021

Tim Ryan: Respects footballer Baker Mayfield for his grit & resiliency

Q: Who is your hero, and why?

A: I don't know if he's my hero or not, but I have a ton of respect for Baker Mayfield. He is someone who had to walk on twice to make college football teams, and continue to overcome adversity and prove his critics wrong time and time again. I think he's a pretty good example and role model for our kids to learn how to develop that type of grit and resiliency.

Source: Mahoning Matters on 2022 Ohio Senate race Oct 29, 2020

JD Vance: 2020 election was stolen by very powerful people

When J.D. Vance was asked in January 2022 whether he felt the election was stolen, Vance responded, "Yeah, I do." Vance continued: "I mean, look, I think the fundamental problem is we had a massive effort to shift the election by very powerful people in this country. I don't care whether you say it's rigged, whether you say it's stolen."

As Ohio's Republican primary continued, Vance explicitly claimed that "I think the election was stolen from Trump.

Vance told Youngstown's The Vindicator newspaper in October 2021 that "there were certainly people voting illegally on a large-scale basis," though that is not true. And though Vance said the election in Ohio was "pretty gold standard," he also said "I think it's probably true that Trump won by a larger margin in Ohio," though there is no basis for questioning Trump's certified 8-point margin of victory there.

Vance said in July 2021 that "I think Josh Hawley did the right thing" in objecting to the certification of some Biden-won states.

Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Ohio Senate race Sep 15, 2022

  • The above quotations are from 2022 Ohio Senate race: debates and news coverage.
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Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Jul 15, 2024