President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed the wrong person, telling Ohio Republicans to support Rep. Steve Stivers’ (R-OH, pictured above) reelection on Aug. 7, even though Stivers had already won an uncontested primary on May 8.
Bloomberg’s Sahil Kapur caught the error:
President Trump encourages Ohio voters to get out and vote on August 7 for @RepSteveStivers, who already won renomination while running unopposed in the Ohio primary that took place on May 8. pic.twitter.com/TnSM4PVWw0
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 2, 2018
Stivers, as it happens, leads House Republicans’ electoral organization, the National Republican Congressional Committee.
It appears Trump meant to endorse state Sen. Troy Balderson, who will face off in an Aug. 7 special election against Democrat Danny O’Connor. The winner will fill the seat of Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), who left Congress in January.
Looking forward to being in the Great State of Ohio on Saturday night where I will be campaigning hard for a truly talented future Congressman, @Troy_Balderson. See you all then! Tickets: https://t.co/8UOykaI8uf pic.twitter.com/jHdtAy5fgj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2018
Buried lede: every Republican endorsed is the wrong guy.
GOP reps are fungible.
ANOTHer wiN for TRUMP. He ENDORses and THE PEOPLE elect. RED WAVE maga.
Eh, Ohio, no place for a trump golf course or hotel.
Next up is an endorsement of Frederick Douglass.