Debate features all 7 Ohio GOP Senate candidates

The Ohio Senate Debate was held at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Each candidate was given a 60-second opening statement where the candidates outline their campaign to the voters of Ohio. The first segment of the debate dealt with voter fraud and whether the candidates thought the 2020 Presidental Election was stolen. All of the candidates except Matt Dolan thought the 2020 Presidental Election was stolen. Matt Dolan said, “Joe Biden is the legitimate President of the United States.” During the segment, Karen Kassler repeatedly said that everything the candidates have said has been fact-checked and been proven to be not true. Though Mrs Kassler never stated what parts were true and untrue.

The next segment of the debate was to deal with the Ukraine-Russia crisis where the moderator asked if the candidates thought a no-fly zone should be put in place in Ukraine and whether or not US troops be should be in Ukraine. All of the candidates said they do not wish to see a no-fly zone or any troops be sent to Ukraine. JD Vance even went as far to say that we shouldn’t worry about the Ukraine crisis and focus on the issues at home.

The 3rd question asked to the candidates pertained to the immigration crisis and whether or not they support the border wall. All of the candidates agreed that we need to finish the border wall and put more funding towards finishing the border wall.

Another question was asked pertaining the text messages that came out that were between Ginni Thomas (the wife of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas) and Mark Meadows (President’s Trump Chief of Staff). It was asked whether or not Justice Thomas should recuse himself if case pertaining to election fraud came before the Supreme Court. All the candidates said that Justice Thomas should recuse himself.

The Moderator then ask Mike Gibbons, Jane Timken, Josh Mandel, & JD Vance about their endorsements from a number of individuals. Mike Gibbons was asked if he stood by Dr Rand Paul when he called Fauci a liar. Jane Timken asked if she stood by Corey Lewandowski after he was accused of assault. Josh Mandel was asked if he stood by General Flynn after he touted “conspiracy theories”. JD Vance was asked if he stood by Majorie Taylor Green even though she spoke at a supposed white supremacist rally. All the candidates said yes but Josh Mandel went as far to say that line questioning was unfair and JD Vance agreed with Josh and said that we don’t control what our endorsers do.

Later on in the debate, State Senator Matt Dolan championed balancing 3 state budgets while being chair of the Ohio Senate Finance Committee even though it is required in the Ohio Constitution.

After the debate 4 candidates participated in a Q&A from members of the press where The Roundtable got to ask some tough questions to JD Vance, Matt Dolan, Mark Pukita, and Neil Patel. Mark Pukita raised concerns about fact-checking during the debate, particularly in the first segment of the debate which was about election fraud. Mr Pukita also called for the full abolition of the FBI and said he doesn’t know what would replace it if he got his way. Mr Pukita also complained that the news media doesn’t want to cover his race for the US Senate.

Matt Dolan was asked if he would accept President Trump’s endorsement he said that “my focus isn’t focused on getting the endorsement of President Trump but focusing on the issues that matter to Ohio.” I asked Senator Dolan “If President Trump was to endorse your opponent would it hurt your chances of being elected?” He responded, “I do not I think it would hurt other people’s chances.” I again asked Senator Dolan later in the question time “You said that you want to help people with the pain at the pump would you support suspending Ohio’s gas tax to help lower gas prices?” He responded, “No for several reasons the way we get gas prices down is to go back to what President Trump was doing and make America energy independent.”

JD Vance was next to speak where I asked Mr Vance “Do you think your opponents calling you a never-Trumper is not founded and how is your relationship with President Trump?” He responded, “I talk with the President about the race fairly often and I think I am in a good place with him personally.” He continued to explain that his record was clear that he didn’t support Trump in 2016 but he did, however, change his mind during Trump’s presidency.