WASHINGTON, D.C. — J.R. Majewski, a controversial Republican candidate in Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District, dropped out of the GOP primary just days after vowing he would stay in the race.
What You Need To Know
- J.R. Majewski dropped out of Ohio's Ninth District race for the House of Representatives
- Majewski lost the same race in 2022 after allegations that he lied about serving in combat in Afghanistan
- Republican strategists hope to win back the seat from Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur
Majewski was the Republican nominee for the same seat in 2022, when he received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. After news reports broke that he lied about serving in combat in Afghanistan, he ended up losing by double digits to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.
Majewski had previously suspended his current campaign in May 2023, citing his mother’s health, but reentered the race that October.
He had reeled in a bevy of endorsements from prominent Republicans, including entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
He was also endorsed by Ohio Republican Senate candidates Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose. Neither campaign responded to a request for comment on whether they would rescind their endorsements now that Majewski has left the race.
Majewski came under fire in February after a podcast appearance in which he used a slur to refer to Special Olympians and Democrats.
Days later, he backtracked his remarks.
“Recently on a podcast, I made some comments that were extremely insensitive and they disparaged those with special needs. That wasn’t my intention. However, I did say some things that I regret,” Majewski said in a video posted on Facebook. “I apologize to anybody that I’ve offended.”
His apology could not prevent an irreversible downward spiral for his campaign.
House Speaker Mike Johnson flagged the comments to former President Trump at a visit to Mar-A-Lago, according to reporting from Politico.
The Speaker’s office had no comment on the conversation.
It’s unclear what influence Trump had on the end of the campaign, but Majewski wrote in his suspension announcement that “President Trump did NOT ask me to get out of this race.”
Majewski’s departure leaves two other major candidates in the GOP field: former State Rep. Craig Riedel and State Rep. Derek Merrin.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House GOP leadership, has lined up behind Merrin. The group committed to spend nearly $500,000 to advertise his campaign, according to media tracking firm AdImpact.