Stefanik withdraws support from GOP candidate who criticized Trump

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) withdrew her support from a former Ohio state lawmaker’s bid for Congress over his reported criticism of former President Trump.

“Earlier this week, I informed Craig Riedel (OH-09) that I will be withdrawing my endorsement. I was very disappointed in his inappropriate comments regarding President Trump,” Stefanik wrote Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “As we begin 2024, my focus is on ensuring we nominate the strongest candidates on the ballot who are committed to electing President Trump this November and expanding our House GOP Majority.”

Riedel, who is running for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District seat in the House, served three terms as an Ohio state representative.

He came under fire last month after audio leaked that featured him calling Trump “arrogant” and saying he didn’t want the former president’s endorsement.

In the audio, first obtained by the Charlie Kirk Show, Riedel was asked, “You’re not looking for a Trump endorsement, are you?”

“I’m not. We are not. Nope,” Riedel said.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) addresses reporters after a closed-door House Republican Conference meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. (Greg Nash)

When asked if he is “making it a point that you don’t want Trump’s endorsement,” Riedel could be heard answering “yep.”

He later goes on to say he dislikes the way Trump communicates and “calls peoples names,” and called the former president “arrogant.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a staunch Trump supporter, posted the leaked audio on X, writing, “.@Craig_riedel is a RINO Never-Trumper. In his own words.”

The following day, Riedel announced his endorsement of Trump, pointing to his record on the U.S. southern border, inflation, job creation and foreign policy.

“Matt Gaetz and a social media trickster pulled a stunt yesterday to try and convince President Trump to get involved in my congressional primary for proven loser JR Majewski,” Riedel wrote on X.

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Majewski, a Trump-backed Republican, had an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2022 after his military record was called into question. He launched a 2024 bid last October to challenge Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur for the northern Ohio seat.

A number of House GOP leaders have endorsed Riedel’s congressional bid, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (Minn.), both of whom officially endorsed Trump’s 2024 White House bid this week.

Others, like Stefanik, have turned their backs on Riedel in the wake of the audio. GOP Rep. Max Miller (Ohio) withdrew his support for Riedel last month, writing, “Due to recent comments by Craig Riedel, I must rescind my support for his candidacy. Make America Great Again. AGAIN.”

Stefanik, a longtime backer of Trump, was quick to endorse the former president’s White House bid in November 2022, before he formally announced his run.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling index shows the former president with a 52.8-point lead over his GOP rivals, garnering 64.1 percent of the primary vote. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley sits at second place, with 11.3 percent, followed closely by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has 11 percent support. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie each have support in the single digits.

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