BUCYRUS — With election polls in Ohio showing a large number of undecided voters in the crowded GOP Senate race, a band of pastors are coming forward. These clergy are convinced this candidate can carry a torch for freedom against government tyranny.
Over one hundred clergy leaders across the state released an open letter giving their formal endorsement of Josh Mandel.
“Based on a Biblical worldview, our strong conviction as (114) one hundred-fourteen clergy throughout the State of Ohio, Josh Mandel will best serve as U.S. Senator representing Ohio for the upcoming May 3rd, 2022 Primary Election to advance the cause of faith, family, and freedom,” the joint statement said.
According to one of the endorsing clergy, Mandel will not stick his head in the sand when it comes to tough issues in Washington.
“Josh Mandel is the best candidate and will fight tooth and nail to defend our GOD-given rights in Washington D.C.,” says Pastor J.C. Church. “Whether it is the culture war or the Constitutional crisis, we need men like Josh Mandel in the U.S. Senate who have an uncommon valor and who do not have a wishbone for a spine.”
The clergy say their endorsement of Josh Mandel is based on his record as State Treasurer for his previous two terms and as an Ohio House of Representative for another two previous terms. Out of all the candidates running, Mandel is the only candidate that has won a statewide race. Mandel won both of his State Treasurer races by double-digit margins.
“Josh Mandel is the best candidate and will fight tooth and nail to defend our GOD-given rights in Washington D.C. Whether it is the culture war or the Constitutional crisis, we need men like Josh Mandel in the U.S. Senate who have an uncommon valor and who do not have a wishbone for a spine.”
Pastor J.C. Church
Early in-person voting and absentee voting for the Ohio primary election begin Tuesday, April 5th, 2022. Candidates running for Ohio Senate in the Republican Primary also include: Matt Dolan, Mike Gibbons, Jane Timken, and J.D. Vance.
The clergy say the are convinced Mandel stands out from the rest of the field.
“As clergy, it is refreshing to learn Josh Mandel has made churches a focus in his campaign. As the grandson of Holocaust survivors, father of three, and a Marine Corps veteran, we admire Josh Mandel’s position in defending the Bible and the Constitution,” the clergy wrote.
“It is no small matter as a freshman state legislator, Josh Mandel publicly opposed the Speaker of the House from his own political party by advocating for the rights of Christian clergy to invoke the name of Jesus Christ when offering the opening prayer for legislative session.”
The faith leaders based their endorsement of Mandel on the following issues: support for sanctity of life and defunding of abortion providers, advocacy of biological gender and traditional marriage, advocacy of religious freedom, support of self-defense and local law enforcement, support for parental rights and resistance to divisive social justice. The clergy also endorsed Mandel for his support for election integrity.
While in Mansfield, Ohio for the campaign trail, Mandel called out the Richland County Board of Elections for not responding to a clergy letter sent by seventy-two pastors. The pastors requested the Board pull the plug on Dominion voting machines due to the company’s lack of transparency. Mandel is the only candidate in the race to observe the Arizona forensic audit and actively promotes the use of paper ballots.
As a candidate, Mandel has taken the unorthodox path of bypassing the Republican establishment. While on the campaign trail, Mandel commented, “The mantra of our campaign is pastors over politicians. I am not interested in earning the support of politicians, but I am very interested in earning the support and endorsement of pastors and Christian activists.”
Clergy endorsements came from a diverse group composed of various denominations spanning thirty-six difference counties across the state. Counties with the most clergy endorsees included: Richland (35), Crawford (7) Franklin (6) Cuyahoga (5) and Wayne (5) counties.
In response to the clergy endorsements, Josh Mandel said in a press release:
“I am honored to receive the support of so many pastors across Ohio. When I started this campaign last year, I decided to run it through churches instead of through traditional Republic Party offices. I believe America will not be saved in Republican Party offices; it will be saved in houses of worship. I believe that we must double-down, not water down the Judeo-Christian bedrock of America. I am proud to fight alongside these pastors to combat the Secular Left.”
Article updated March 3, 2022
Click on the image below to view video of Josh Mandel discussing the role of churches in society.
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The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Joshua Chapter 1, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.”
