Ohio Democratic Rep. Kennedy Kent endorses Trump

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A Democratic lawmaker has made her stance in support of President Donald Trump very clear.

State Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent, who is Black, said she has been a lifelong Democrat but is now on board with Trump. The lawmaker and her husband met with the president on Air Force One in Cleveland ahead of last night’s debate.

She released a statement on Tuesday that read, “We all recognize that gainful employment and economic development is the best deterrent against violence and social unrest, so I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to ensuring the success of the Black community in every way,” according to Cincinnati.com.

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Kennedy Kent was kicked out of the Ohio House Democrats in 2018 according to Dispatch.com. She sent a public records request in regards to then-Police Chief Kim Jacobs to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther using Ohio Legislative Black Caucus letterhead. The problem is that Cleveland Democrat and president of the Black Caucus, Rep. Stephanie Howse, said it was unauthorized.

“There is no apology,” said Howse. “She’s just digging down, and you cannot operate that way, especially when you’re elected and entrusted with people’s information. You cannot use it for your own personal agenda.”

Kennedy Kent said the Democratic party, “does not have the people’s best interest in mind,” in her latest comments.

She has not been to the Statehouse since May 2019 and today, she stands with Trump.

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She said her “values” align with the president and accused Democratic nominee Joe Biden of spewing “divisive rhetoric, promotion of mass incarceration, and disrespectful, insensitive ideologies.”

In the prepared statement she added, “We all recognize that gainful employment and economic development is the best deterrent against violence and social unrest, so I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to ensuring the success of the Black community in every way.”

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper declared that the endorsement didn’t reflect the strong support Biden enjoyed in the state among the party.

“She basically hasn’t been involved with the party or her Statehouse job for a long time,” Pepper said. “This is the first I’ve heard of her in a while. Obviously, she checked out of her public position a long time ago.”

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