The August Republican Party primary is expected to feature a dozen or so candidates who will fill the 15-candidate open seats in Ohio.t Congressional District Seat. But one candidate in crowded field caught the attention of government watchdogs and conservative, principled insiders, and for all the wrong reasons: Ohio State Representative Jeff LaRe.
Some of LaRe’s biggest campaign donors have been indicted in connection with a massive corruption scandal in the Buckeye State. In addition, LaRe is aligned with a shady “Never Trump” team of pro-Biden Republicans who have worked to undermine Republican values in Ohio and across the country.
Still, that didn’t stop LaRe’s candidacy from receiving shocking support earlier this week when endorsed by former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers. It was Stivers who created the vacancy when he resigned from Congress in April, he became president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
The former congressman says LaRe’s “experience as a law enforcement agent” sets him apart.
But what really sets LaRe apart is his lack of political credibility and the unprincipled characters that make up his inner circle.
Five people were arrested last summer federal charges of racketeering and bribery related to a “significant conspiracy” to support divert billions in taxpayer aid to prevent the closure of aging nuclear facilities in Ohio. The group allegedly received about $60 million as part of the program.
The defendants are some of the most crucial figures in LaRe’s political career.
One of the leaders of the conspiracy is former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. While serving as speaker, Householder played a key role in appointing LaRe to an open state House seat in 2019. Jeff Longstreth, an aide to Householder, was also indicted.
The other three men arrested — Matt Borges, Juan Cespedes and Neil Clark — are lobbyists who were major donors to LaRe’s political campaigns. In fact, Cespedes was LaRe’s largest individual donor in the 2020 campaign cycle, donating $13,000 for LaRe’s campaign in the House of Representatives. Borges was also one of LaRe Top 10 donors.
When Matt Borges wasn’t busy organizing one of the largest corruption operations in U.S. history and funneling money to LaRe, the former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party was creating super PAC whose goal was to elect Joe Biden.
Borges’ Right Side PAC has spent money encouraging Republicans in key swing states, including Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina, to vote for Biden and other Democratic candidates.
It worked.
Not only did Biden become president, but Borges helped Democrats take control of the Senate. Some election analysts believe that Republican “Never Trump” efforts, such as Borges’ super PAC, gave Democrats an advantage in extremely close U.S. Senate races in Michigan and Arizona.
For his efforts to support Democratic candidates, the central committee of the Ohio Republican Party officially he condemned Borges.
Additionally, Matt Carle and Ben Kaiser, two Ohio political activists who allegedly worked with the LaRe campaign, previously led the anti-Republican “Never Trump” organizations. Carle served as executive director of New Day for America, a super PAC that he spent $2.5 million attacking Trump. Leaked emails obtained by New York Post indicated that Kaiser, along with Borges, participated in a secret effort to boost GOP support for Biden during the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
Apparently the red flags surrounding LaRe’s candidacy are apparent from space.
LaRe is friends with people who masterminded a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme to defraud taxpayers of more than $1 billion and from whom she pocketed thousands of dollars in campaign cash. Additionally, although he is running as a Republican, LaRe has close ties to people who supported Joe Biden and helped Democrats take control of the Senate.
Due to the mighty partisan divide in the House of Representatives, the modern number of candidates running for this seat and the unique timing of the special election, the fight for Ohio’s 15th placevol This district is expected to be in high demand nationally.
With the nation’s eyes on the district, the last thing Republicans can afford to do is allow a valuable House seat to fall into the hands of someone with little political experience, questionable principles and close ties to criminals who have exploited their government connections to try to make a quick buck off the backs of taxpayers.
Out of a dozen candidates, there are 11 better choices than Jeff LaRe.
Drew Johnson is a political columnist and government observer who writes about government transparency, wasteful spending, and abuse of power.
