Update: Kraus yanks Majewski endorsement

House candidate Steve Kraus pulled his endorsement for J.R. Majewski Sunday after learning about comments Majewski made during a podcast. "It has come to my attention that J.R. Majewski has said some very unflattering and disparaging things about 'special needs' people. I was both offended and appalled by his comments," Kraus said in a news release. "Even though I appreciate his apology, with heavy heart I can no longer endorse his candidacy for Congress." Kraus is a candidate for the Ohio House 89th District in the Republican primary against incumbent state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron. Swearingen, who also endorsed Majewski, was not available this morning for comment. Majewski was the Republican nominee for the 9th Congressional District in 2022 against U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur. He is in a four-person race for the nomination in next month's primary election. * Posted 10 p.m., MondayMajewski apologizes for remarks SANDUSKY — Saying he will hold himself responsible for mistakes, Congressional candidate J.R. Majewski has publicly apologized for "extremely insensitive" comments about the mentally handicapped made during a podcast. "I'm not a career politician, and I don't always say the right things. But I do take accountability when I make mistakes," Majewski said when explaining a two-minute video he posted on X for his more than 91,000 followers. "I just want to say I apologize to anyone I offended," Majewski said. "I'm sorry. You should expect better." On Saturday, a Majewski critic, state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, posted a 30-second excerpt from a podcast featuring Majewski. Majewski said, "Shout out to all the Democrats living in mom's basement, that like to talk s--- on the internet. "It's like being in the Special Olympics. No matter how good you perform, you're still a f------ r-----." Click called on Majewski to drop out of the race for U.S. House District 9, writing, "When he says that the Dems will use that against him in the general, it is a huge display of arrogance that he doesn't even care. Plus it implies that Republicans are okay with that kind of speech. We are not." Majewski faces three other Republicans — Derek Merrin, Steve Lankenau and Craig Riedel – in the March 19 primary. The winner takes on U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, in the general election. Click endorsed Riedel early and said Merrin, a last-minute entrant to the race, also is a friend. In his video, Majewski states that he was not intending to attack people with special needs. He said he immediately regretted his statement and unsuccessfully asked the podcast host to remove it. In a district that was redrawn to make it essentially a tossup between Democrats and Republicans, Majewski lost to Kaptur by about 57% to about 43% in the 2022 general election. This year's GOP primary has been dominated by arguments about whether Majewski deserves a second chance or whether another Republican candidate would be more likely to unseat Kaptur. Majewski argues that he was unfairly smeared in 2022 about his military record when he served in the Air Force and he can prove it. He also argues that his strong support for Donald Trump will help him in a state where Trump apparently remains popular. Click told the Register the latest controversy shows why Kaptur obviously hopes she'll get to face Majewski again. "He's the only one she knows she can beat. She's done it before and she will do it again. I know many Republicans who have told me that would sit that one out," Click said. "Trump won by 3 and JR lost by 13. Instead of Trump helping him, he was a drag on Trump in the 9th (District)."