Self-enriching schemes, pandering to MAGA extremists, and in-party fighting
Welcome to another week of Transplant Turmoil—the weekly series spotlighting the ways Republican carpetbaggers continue to prove themselves as being out-of-touch with the state they’re running in.
As the New York Times reported yesterday, MAGA Republicans have “recruited candidates from a significantly higher economic echelon than the working-class voters it is trying to woo in swing states. … For Democrats, their opponents’ backgrounds offer them a choice: tie them to Mr. Trump and his brand of what they call extremism, or fall back on a tried-and-true strategy to portray them as out-of-touch elitists, with histories of harming employees and customers alike.”
In this week’s edition, following Tuesday’s primary in Ohio, it seemed only fitting to include Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno—who might not be from out-of-state but is extremely out-of-touch with Ohioans in his policies, anti-worker history, and in attending the state’s rival university.
What the GOP’s out-of-touch candidates have been up to:
#OHSen: Bernie “Michigan-Man” Moreno
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Aside from attending Ohio’s rival university, Moreno has a long history of working against the people of the Buckeye state. Instead of properly paying his employees, Moreno refused to pay the workers the overtime they earned, deliberately destroying the documents he was legally required to keep. After a jury found him liable for wage left, he was forced to pay over $400,000 to his employees in damages and settle over a dozen similar wage theft lawsuits.
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Despite Ohioans supporting abortion rights, time and time again, Moreno supports a national abortion ban and spent $100,000 to the special interest group that failed to defeat Issue 1.
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Though he claims to be an “outsider,” Moreno has exploited his insider political connections, hefty campaign contributions, and public board appointments for years to boost his own business. When Moreno ultimately cashed out, it was for at least $5 million.
#MISen: Florida-Man Mike Rogers
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Mike Rogers can’t seem to decide how he feels about Donald Trump since deciding to run for U.S. Senate. In November 2022, he criticized Trump, calling on America to move beyond him. But now, he’s touting Trump’s endorsement of his campaign, using it in fundraising emails—apparently this craven grifter will say whatever he thinks will win.
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But even with his desperate pandering to Trump, Rogers continues to be criticized by the far-right. After Senator Rand Paul slammed Trump’s endorsement, the ultra-conservative coalition Rescue Michigan is calling on Trump to rescind his endorsement of Florida-Man Rogers, with over 1,100 Michiganders signing the petition.
#MTSen: Wannabe Cowboy Millionaire Tim Sheehy
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This week, as the Montana Supreme Court approved an abortion referendum to move forward onto the ballots this November, the people of Big Sky Country slammed Sheehy for trying to restrict a woman’s most personal medical decision. Sheehy has previously compared abortions to “murdering” children and refuses to support the Access to Family Building Act, which protects reproductive rights.
#NVSen: Scam Brown
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This week the Koch network’s dark money group Americans for Prosperity announced they will spend $1.6 million in ads for Sam Brown. This is just the latest in Brown’s pattern of attracting billionaires and dark money groups—his super PAC, Duty First, is almost solely backed by one single billionaire. That megadonor’s $2 million contribution accounts for all but $530 of the total contributions to the PAC during July–September of 2023. It’s clear that the only people Scam Brown attracts are wealthy elite and shadowy special interests.
#PASen: Hedge Fund Millionaire David McCormick
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This week, it was revealed that McCormick used his position in the George W. Bush administration to rewrite the rules of investment in China and then capitalized on those rules to make millions for himself and his hedge fund. He’s already shown Pennsylvanians that he doesn’t care about outsourcing jobs and putting China profits ahead of American workers, but now we know in office he would help shape policies to pad his own pockets.
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Last week, McCormick continued pandering to the wealthy elite and MAGA extremists. While Senator Casey met with local union members, McCormick instead chose to attend another fundraiser hosted by two fake electors who played a role in trying to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election results. The event was also attended by Jeffery Yass—a GOP megadonor and Pennsylvania’s richest billionaire.
#WISen: California Bank Owner Eric Hovde
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After previous comments of Hovde slamming students and young voters, a new report reminded Wisconsinites the California millionaire blamed societal problems on single moms and suggested ending programs that support mothers and children during his last Senate run. While criticizing out-of-wedlock children’s impact on society, Hovde’s remarks played into negative and racist stereotypes about Black women. He also criticized the food SNAP program, spewing hateful misinformation about the families using the program.
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This week, Hovde spoke at a fundraiser with extreme conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene and a man arrested for his role in the January 6th insurrection. Despite his ongoing claims to be a ‘uniter’, Hovde continues to align himself with MAGA extremists who continue to look to divide America.
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