Ohio’s newest congressman said Donald Trump needs to repair his relationship with Ohio Gov. John Kasich or be prepared to face the loss of Ohio and the state’s 18 electoral votes.
“I don’t know who needs to bury the hatchet. I really think probably Donald Trump,” said Warren Davidson on Tuesday at his first Republican National Convention.
“(Trump) is the guy who needs the support on the ballot. I think he will extend the olive branch if necessary,” Davidson said. “It’s my first convention so obviously the buzz is a bit different from a normal convention and we’re working to unify the party,” said Davidson,
A Kasich endorsement of Trump could be the deciding factor in which way Ohio swings in November. Sitting out the election is not an option for Republicans, he said.
“You’re either going to support Hillary Clinton’s campaign very overtly or minimally by not supporting our nominee,” he said.
Davidson said it was time to unite around Trump, even though the Miami County manufacturing business owner disagrees with some of the billionaire New Yorker’s positions on trade and manufacturing.
Davidson declined to give his first preference for president.
“The reality is we’re going to end up playing a different hand than I thought we would end up playing,” he said.
Sworn into Congress a little more than a month ago, Davidson of Troy is attending the convention in Cleveland with his wife Lisa.
With no state or national political experience, Davidson was one of 15 candidates to seek John Boehner’s 8th Congressional District seat after the former Speaker of the House announced his retirement in September 2015. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., took Boehner’s gavel in October.
Davidson, elected in a June 7 special election, was sworn in two days later by Ryan, who speaks at the convention Tuesday. The evening program will focus on jobs and the economy.
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