High Michigan Republicans on Tuesday denounced a state Home candidate over his remarks about rape, the newest in numerous controversial feedback from the person who narrowly gained a particular GOP main per week in the past. Robert "RJ" Regan made the statements Sunday in a livestream hosted by a conservative group that was posted on Rumble.
He advocated for decertifying the 2020 presidential election, telling one other participant who mentioned it's too late to do something that her perspective is like what he tells his three daughters: "Effectively if rape is inevitable, you must simply lie again and luxuriate in it."
On the day of his upset victory in Kent County's four-person main, he referred to as Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "faux warfare similar to the faux pandemic." He additionally shared antisemitic social media posts in 2021.
State Republican Celebration Chairman Ron Weiser mentioned in a press release that Regan's "historical past of silly, egregious and offensive feedback, together with his most up-to-date one, are merely past the pale. We're higher than this as a celebration and I completely count on higher than this of our candidates." Weiser had congratulated Regan final week.
Related condemnations had been made by the Kent County GOP chairman, Home Speaker Jason Wentworth and Sen. Mark Huizenga, whose elevation to the chamber final fall opened up the Republican-heavy seat that Regan is favored to fill in a Could election. Democrats and the conservative Michigan Freedom Fund had begun rebuking Regan a day earlier than.
"As a Christian, a public servant and a father of two daughters, I discover Robert Regan's feedback about sexual assault to be revolting and immoral, and I strongly denounce them," Huizenga mentioned in a press release. "His statements about Russia's unprovoked assault of a sovereign nation are opposite to our personal nation's values, and his antisemitic posts claiming Jewish individuals management the banks and had been behind the 9/11 terrorist assaults are shameful and disgusting."
Democratic Rep. Laurie Pohutsky additionally condemned Regan's feedback about rape.
"Having been in a state of affairs the place rape was inevitable, I can promise this man that there's nothing gratifying about it," Pohutsky posted on Twitter. "This man is disgusting and I am hoping HD 74 would not ship him to Lansing. I do not usually say this about individuals I might find yourself working with, however he is horrid."
The Related Press left e mail and Fb messages in search of remark from Regan.
If elected, he'll serve via 2022 and has indicated he may also run later this yr for a full two-year time period. The outcomes of the first, which Regan gained by 71 votes out of roughly 7,300 forged, are unofficial till they're licensed by canvassers.
Democrats mentioned Republicans ought to attempt to take away Regan from the particular normal election poll, although it was not instantly clear if that's allowed beneath the legislation.
"Something wanting that exhibits help for this type of poisonous rhetoric," Kent County Democratic Celebration Chair Invoice Saxton mentioned.