Elise Stefanik revokes endorsement for Ohio Republican candidate after he called Trump ‘arrogant’

In an X post on Thursday, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik announced that she had withdrawn her endorsement for congressional candidate Craig Riedel after he made “inappropriate comments regarding [former] President [Donald] Trump.”

Earlier this week, I informed Craig Riedel (OH-09) that I will be withdrawing my endorsement. I was very disappointed in his inappropriate comments regarding President Trump. As we begin 2024, my focus is on ensuring we nominate the strongest candidates on the ballot who are…

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 4, 2024

Last month, conservative activist Charlie Kirk leaked exclusive audio on social media of Riedel mildly criticizing Trump and calling the former president arrogant.

With Republicans holding a thin seven-seat majority in the House of Representatives, Trump allies like Stefanik and Bernie Moreno were poised to support Riedel in trying to unseat veteran Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D), who currently holds Ohio’s 9^th Congressional District seat. But Moreno and fellow Trump acolyte Rep. Max Miller also pulled their endorsements for Riedel after the audio surfaced.

Kaptur won her 21^st congressional term in 2022 after defeating far-right candidate J.R. Majewski. Although he garnered MAGA support, Majewski’s bid failed after reports surfaced that he lied about serving a combat tour in Afghanistan.

Hours after Riedel’s audio surfaced, he made an X post endorsing Trump for president in 2024.

I am endorsing President Donald J. Trump. #OH9 pic.twitter.com/10Ees3dZG4

— Craig Riedel (@craig_riedel) December 8, 2023