WELLINGTON, Ohio (AP) — Donald Trump is reprising his baseless election grievances in his first campaign-style rally since leaving the White House. Trump spoke Saturday night at Ohio's Lorain County Fairgrounds, not far from Cleveland.
He came to support Max Miller, a former White House aide who is challenging Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez for his congressional seat. Gonzalez was one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol building.
"Every single Republican needs to vote him out of office and nominate and vote for a really great guy, Max Miller," Trump said of Gonzalez during the rally. "He's got a passion for this country like you wouldn't believe."
Gonzalez issued the following statement ahead of the rally:
While Max was being an errand boy, fetching the President Diet Cokes and laboring over which music to play at campaign rallies, Anthony Gonzalez has been serving his constituents and focusing on issues that matter to the people of Northeast Ohio. Anthony is a proven conservative with a record of strengthening our economy, fighting back against the Chinese Communist Party and its unfair trade practices, serving our veterans and providing the highest level of constituent services. Max Miller isn’t fit to represent our community in Congress, and the campaign, as it develops, will bear this out.
Attendees flooded the small town of Wellington, a town of roughly 4,800 citizens, but with many more descending upon the area for the rally, it created lengthy traffic jams leading up to the event.
RELATED: Donald Trump to hold 'Save America' rally at Lorain County Fairground
During the rally, Trump complained anew about the legitimacy of President Joe Biden's victory. But his own election officials and officials in Republican-led states affirmed the validity of Biden's win.
The Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement following Trump's rally:
While Republicans are focused on the divisions of the past, Ohio Democrats are focused on building back better in Ohio and continuing the progress we’ve made in our state under the leadership of President Biden and Ohio Democrats. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and Democratic leadership, Ohioans are vaccinated, businesses are opening back up and families will be able to safely gather in person over the Fourth of July holiday. That's a significant shift from one year ago today.
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