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This Week In #OHGov: Vivek Ramaswamy's October Full of Surprises
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 17 -- The Ohio Democratic Party posted the following news:
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This Week In #OHGov: Vivek Ramaswamy's October Full of Surprises
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Columbus, Ohio- Vivek Ramaswamy had a really bad week as his October full of surprises continued. His campaign even surprised itself by getting busted for putting a convicted sexual predator in an ad and appearing to coordinate with an independent expenditure Super PAC backing the campaign. Ohioans were reminded about Ramaswamy's extreme, anti-abortion agenda and learned he campaigned with a pastor who referred to Cleveland as a "third-world
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 17 -- The Ohio Democratic Party posted the following news:
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This Week In #OHGov: Vivek Ramaswamy's October Full of Surprises
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Columbus, Ohio- Vivek Ramaswamy had a really bad week as his October full of surprises continued. His campaign even surprised itself by getting busted for putting a convicted sexual predator in an ad and appearing to coordinate with an independent expenditure Super PAC backing the campaign. Ohioans were reminded about Ramaswamy's extreme, anti-abortion agenda and learned he campaigned with a pastor who referred to Cleveland as a "third-worldcountry."
With only 18 days to go until Election Day, there are more reasons than ever to not trust Vivek Ramaswamy.
Sexual Predator Stars in New Ramaswamy Ad: Bombshell new reporting from The Bulwark revealed that Vivek Ramaswamy's latest campaign ad features a child sex predator who was convicted of gross sexual imposition of a girl under the age of 13. This disturbing discovery is the latest in a pattern of child abusers and sexual predators with close ties to the Ramaswamy campaign. Ramaswamy proudly touted endorsements from a state lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct and one who reminisced about talking to young girls about sex. Ohioans can't trust Ramaswamy to keep their families safe.
Flag on the play: MeidasTouch News caught Ramaswamy coordinating with an independent expenditure Super PAC, a potential violation of Ohio campaign finance law. Ramaswamy's independent expenditure committee, V-PAC: Victors, Not Victims, was jointly paying for WinRed fundraising pages and soliciting donations for Ramaswamy's official campaign committee, Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio.
Cleveland Rocks (Unless You're Ramaswamy): The Cleveland Guardians are deep in the playoffs, but Vivek Ramaswamy won't be celebrating. His campaign was slammed for campaigning with a pastor who called Cleveland a "third-world country" and said Clevelanders are "going to hell." The same pastor called the modern practice of Judaism "fake" and led a church that sponsored protesters outside a Jewish lawmaker's home.
Can't Trust Ramaswamy: New reporting from Heartland Signal reminded Ohioans that Vivek Ramaswamy has long backed extreme abortion bans that stand in direct opposition to the state's constitutional amendment. In unearthed audio, Ramaswamy's running mate can be heard telling voters the constitutional amendment voters passed "just changes the way we have to fight this battle." Ramaswamy will push his own extreme policies instead of respecting the will of the voters.
Ironton Leaders Slam Ramaswamy: Today in Ironton, Ohioans slammed Vivek Ramaswamy's policy scams that will raise costs for working families. Ironton City Council President Troy Scott said "I wanted to help the community that's given me so much. I can't vote for someone like Vivek Ramaswamy who wants to do the opposite and make costs higher for our families."
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Original text here: https://ohiodems.org/this-week-in-ohgov-vivek-ramaswamys-october-full-of-surprises/
New: Online forum controlled by Marty O'Donnell contains slurs and Nazi talk, AP review finds
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 17 -- The Nevada Democratic Party posted the following news release:
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New: Online forum controlled by Marty O'Donnell contains slurs and Nazi talk, AP review finds
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Fresh off his trip to Arizona to pal around with anti-semites and endorse Donald Trump's cost-raising agenda, new reporting reveals the online forum Marty O'Donnell created and tied to his campaign is rife with slurs and Nazi sympathizing. From posts that include racial slurs to those minimizing Nazi Germany and defending white nationalist conspiracy theories, O'Donnell's online forum is a cesspool
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 17 -- The Nevada Democratic Party posted the following news release:
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New: Online forum controlled by Marty O'Donnell contains slurs and Nazi talk, AP review finds
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Fresh off his trip to Arizona to pal around with anti-semites and endorse Donald Trump's cost-raising agenda, new reporting reveals the online forum Marty O'Donnell created and tied to his campaign is rife with slurs and Nazi sympathizing. From posts that include racial slurs to those minimizing Nazi Germany and defending white nationalist conspiracy theories, O'Donnell's online forum is a cesspoolof bigotry and hatred. O'Donnell can continue to deny responsibility for his supporters' actions, but he cannot escape his own, including the time he wore a mask of Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist dictator and Hitler ally, for Halloween.
Beyond his wholehearted support of Donald Trump's cost-raising agenda and disparaging of Las Vegas, O'Donnell's facilitation of the bigoted "Marty's Army" and apparent support for Mussolini are disqualifying for anyone who wants to represent Nevada in public office.
Associated Press: Online forum controlled by Nevada GOP House candidate contains slurs and Nazi talk, AP review finds
* An Associated Press review of thousands of posts made on the forum between 2022 and 2026 found racial slurs, minimizations of Nazi Germany and defenses of white nationalist conspiracy theories.
* "It wasn't a couple of crazies. The popular sentiment was, 'Yes, slavery should be legal," said Deacon Dameron, a former group member who said O'Donnell banned him for calling another user a "dork."
* Many views espoused in the forum, which is controlled by O'Donnell and his handpicked moderators, are at odds with some of the values articulated by the candidate and his campaign.
* In May 2022, for example, a member wrote, "WE STAND WITH MARTY." Others reacted to the post using letter emoji to spell out -- incorrectly -- a racial slur for Black people. More soon chimed in, using emoji letters to invoke another anti-Black slur.
* A user suggested in March 2024 that the Nazis "did some good things" that were "completely overshadowed by the terrible things they did."
* Another that month asked, "Was Hitler really an evil guy?"
* "Like aside from the Holocaust," the user added, "did he really even do anything wrong?"
* In February, a third member posted, "Heil Hitler."
* O'Donnell wrote on the forum that he rejects fascism. But he also shared a photo of himself wearing what he said was a mask of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator and key Hitler ally, that he wore to a Halloween party.
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Original text here: https://nvdems.com/new-online-forum-controlled-by-marty-odonnell-contains-slurs-and-nazi-talk-ap-review-finds/ (TNSmlt)
NRCC: Wow - Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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WOW: Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
October 16, 2026
Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett has spent the campaign lying to voters and telling them she is pro-Israel. Over the weekend, her true beliefs were on full display as she proudly campaigned with Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, who has been accused of blatant antisemitism and discrimination.
Read the full story here or see excerpts below:
Top N.J. Dem recruit campaigned alongside New Jersey mayor accused of antisemitism
Jewish
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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WOW: Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
October 16, 2026
Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett has spent the campaign lying to voters and telling them she is pro-Israel. Over the weekend, her true beliefs were on full display as she proudly campaigned with Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, who has been accused of blatant antisemitism and discrimination.
Read the full story here or see excerpts below:
Top N.J. Dem recruit campaigned alongside New Jersey mayor accused of antisemitism
JewishInsider
Marc Rod
October 15, 2026
New Jersey Democratic House candidate Rebecca Bennett campaigned this week alongside Linden, N.J., Mayor Derek Armstead, a Democrat who has been accused of antisemitic discrimination in an ongoing lawsuit, at an event that also featured House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
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Based on photos from the Bennett campaign event, held in Linden, Bennett, Armstead and Jeffries delivered remarks.
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As part of the ongoing suit, Armstead has been accused of discrimination against Jews in hiring for the local school district, and was, according to the lawsuit, recorded making multiple antisemitic comments about the growing local Orthodox Jewish population.
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"Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett and blatantly anti-Israel Seamus O'Toole [who is also running] cannot be trusted to fight for our Middle East ally. Tom Kean Jr. is the clear choice in this race," NRCC spokesperson Maureen O'Toole said.
The lawsuit alleges that, in a discussion about hiring for the school system, Armstead said that he wanted to "keep our community [from] being taken over by guys with big hats and curls," referring to the Orthodox Jewish community. The recordings cited in the lawsuit were reviewed and reported by NJ.com.
"I'm just keeping it real. And if people don't understand that, you know, we are really trying to save our community here," Armstead continued.
In further comments, he complained that another prospective employee had "sold his house to the guys with the big hats and the curls too. So, you know, everybody's undermining the progress we're trying to make here in town."
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While Armstead has been mayor, Linden has also been accused of undertaking a campaign of antisemitic discrimination and harassment aimed at preventing the growth of the local Orthodox community through zoning laws and other measures.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) urged the Department of Justice and New Jersey State Attorney General to investigate the city for alleged rampant violations of law and the state and U.S. Constitution.
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Kean has supported various efforts to combat antisemitism while he's been a member of the House, including cosponsoring legislation to pull federal funding from college campuses that allow antisemitic events on their campuses and several efforts to addressantisemitism internationally.
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Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/10/16/wow-rebecca-bennett-proudly-campaigned-with-an-antisemite/
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL -- Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party U.S. Senate nominee, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, faced Donald Trump's handpicked Republican candidate, Michele Tafoya, for a live debate on MPR News today.
Peggy Flanagan laid out her strong vision to give working people the opportunities to build the life they want. That means stopping the blanket tariffs costing
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL -- Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party U.S. Senate nominee, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, faced Donald Trump's handpicked Republican candidate, Michele Tafoya, for a live debate on MPR News today.
Peggy Flanagan laid out her strong vision to give working people the opportunities to build the life they want. That means stopping the blanket tariffs costingMinnesotans money, reversing the health care cuts that are driving up care, and ending the war of choice in Iran that is making gas and groceries more expensive.
Republican choices raised Minnesotans' costs and they'll keep raising them. If they win, Minnesotans all lose.
Michele Tafoya could not meaningfully distinguish herself from the President -- or worse, totally blundered her answers.
Today she said that tariffs will lead to "victory." Donald Trump's tariffs have cost Minnesotans $4.8 billion between January 2025 and the end of August 2026, and counting.
Tafoya has said she's totally "in line" with Donald Trump on abortion. During the debate, she struggled to articulate how that abortion position is "reasonable." She also referenced the reproductive health protections on the books in Minnesota, which she previously called "awful" and "barbaric."
Tafoya completely avoided answering the essential question of how Washington should save Social Security. Over one million Minnesotans depend on social security they earned through their hard work.
Michele Tafoya is just as extreme as Donald Trump, no matter how she tries to present her candidacy to Minnesotans. She even failed to answer a simple "yes or no" to the question of whether she'd join Donald Trump on stage if he visits Minnesota.
In response to the televised debate, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement:
"Peggy Flanagan will go to the United States Senate with one interest in mind: fighting for working Minnesotans. Michele Tafoya would go to the Senate with one interest in mind: Donald Trump.
"It took Tafoya 216 days to change her tune on Donald Trump's war of choice, making your gas and groceries more expensive. Tafoya wants to be labeled pro-choice, but has made clear her intention to be one hundred percent behind Donald Trump on abortion. We can't trust Tafoya."
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Original text here: https://dfl.org/michele-tafoya-wont-commit-to-anything-but-donald-trump-during-mpr-politics-friday-debate/
Mich. Democratic Party Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING -- In response to news that Donald Trump will visit Michigan on Sunday, October 18, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Donald Trump spiked costs and threw Michigan's economy into chaos by starting a reckless trade war with Canada. Now he's parachuting into our state to try and bail out Mike Rogers and John James, two loyal enablers who have stood by his disastrous
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LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING -- In response to news that Donald Trump will visit Michigan on Sunday, October 18, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Donald Trump spiked costs and threw Michigan's economy into chaos by starting a reckless trade war with Canada. Now he's parachuting into our state to try and bail out Mike Rogers and John James, two loyal enablers who have stood by his disastrousagenda at every turn. Michiganders know full well the economic damage Trump inflicted on our state, and like folks all across Michigan, I'll be watching the Lions play the Packers that day, rather than listen to the man who screwed us over and drove up prices."
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/chair-hertel-on-donald-trumps-last-ditch-rally-in-michigan/
Lisa Demuth Ad's False Claims Against Amy Klobuchar Dismantled by Fact-Check
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Lisa Demuth Ad's False Claims Against Amy Klobuchar Dismantled by Fact-Check
Two separate fact checks in 24 hours dismantle different false claims from Demuth
Four ads or claims from Demuth and her Super PAC have been fact-checked in recent weeks
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ST. PAUL -- Today, DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement in reaction to a fact check by FOX 9, showing how a recent Lisa Demuth ad that attacked Amy Klobuchar for having "no plan on fraud"
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Lisa Demuth Ad's False Claims Against Amy Klobuchar Dismantled by Fact-Check
Two separate fact checks in 24 hours dismantle different false claims from Demuth
Four ads or claims from Demuth and her Super PAC have been fact-checked in recent weeks
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ST. PAUL -- Today, DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement in reaction to a fact check by FOX 9, showing how a recent Lisa Demuth ad that attacked Amy Klobuchar for having "no plan on fraud"was completely false and left out key details.
"Lisa Demuth's repeated lies and dishonest ads are proof that she doesn't have a credible argument against Amy Klobuchar's record," said Minnesota DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom. "Lisa Demuth is running the most dishonest campaign for governor in recent history - her lies don't stand up to a fact-check, and they won't pass the voters' smell test either. "
Earlier today, the Minnesota Reformer reported that in two separate voter guides, Lisa Demuth said she voted to cap the cost of insulin when, "alongside nearly every other Minnesota Republican, [Demuth] voted against capping the price of co-pays for prescription drugs that treat chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, at $25 per month in 2023."
Last week, KSTP did a fact check on a different anti-Klobuchar TV ad from Lisa Demuth's Super PAC. The ad was given a C- due to "exaggerated or inaccurate information [that] misleads viewers to the point of leaving a false impression."
Finally, last month, the Minnesota Star Tribune did a fact check on another ad from Demuth's Super PAC.
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Original text here: https://dfl.org/new-lisa-demuth-ads-false-claims-against-amy-klobuchar-dismantled-by-fact-check/
DNC: Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War With Iran
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War with Iran
JD Vance participated in a taped town hall with CBS yesterday, and was asked about his administration's war with Iran by the husband of a U.S. service member who was killed in the war, saying the government failed her. Vance responded by saying, "This is literally the first time I've heard of this."
Donald Trump and Vance's war with Iran has already killed at least 21 U.S. service members
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War with Iran
JD Vance participated in a taped town hall with CBS yesterday, and was asked about his administration's war with Iran by the husband of a U.S. service member who was killed in the war, saying the government failed her. Vance responded by saying, "This is literally the first time I've heard of this."
Donald Trump and Vance's war with Iran has already killed at least 21 U.S. service membersand wounded at least 865 more. Vance has recently downplayed the war, saying, "I wouldn't call it a war," and that he doesn't know when the war will end.
On the campaign trail, Vance explicitly campaigned against a war with Iran, promising voters an administration that would not send "tons of innocent Americans to die in foreign countries." Now, as the war enters its eighth month, chief dealmaker Vance has failed to reach an agreement to end the war, despite Trump and Vance assuring Americans dozens of times that the war was nearly over, that they were nearing a deal, or that the war was already over.
In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"Donald Trump and JD Vance promised Americans that if they got into office, they wouldn't start wars. But Trump and Vance betrayed that promise, plunging the country into a war that has killed and wounded U.S. service members. This administration's war has been an unmitigated disaster that has put soldiers in harm's way and driven up prices for Americans back home. Vance's response has been cowardly and careless. Vance's only calculus is himself, and now that Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war, he's trying to pass the buck -- but the blame lies squarely with him and Trump -- and the Republicans who are doing nothing to stop it. Democrats meanwhile have voted multiple times to rein in this unconstitutional military action, and will continue pushing to end this war of choice. My heart is with the loved ones of those who have been killed in this war, and I continue to pray for our men and women in uniform, their families, and everyone being put in harm's way."
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/vance-claims-hes-never-heard-of-service-member-who-died-in-his-administrations-war-with-iran/
