Trump records robocall in support of Renacci ahead of Ohio Senate primary

President Trump in a new robocall urges Ohioans to back Rep. Jim Renacci (R) in Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary, arguing that only Renacci can defeat incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in November.

BuzzFeed News first reported that the robocall went out to voters on Monday night. In the message, Trump expresses his support for Renacci, and ties Brown to Democratic leadership.

“Jim is my guy in Ohio. I’ve endorsed Jim in tomorrow’s Republican primary because he’s already helping me to make America great again,” Trump says in the call.

{mosads}“The only Republican that’s going to beat Sherrod Brown is Jim, and that’s why I give him my full endorsement,” he adds.

Trump also calls Brown “Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi’s guy,” arguing that the Democrat follows orders from party leadership. 

Renacci is running against Mike Gibbons, a businessman who has sought to frame himself as a conservative outsider in Trump’s mold.

Trump endorsed Renacci late last month.

The Ohio primary is one of three Senate contests on the docket for Tuesday. GOP primaries are set to take place in West Virginia and Indiana as well. 

Trump has not endorsed a candidate in West Virginia, but on Monday encouraged voters to reject Don Blankenship (R). The controversial ex-coal executive is running in the GOP primary against Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in the race to take on Sen. Joe Manchin (D).

Trump has not weighed in on the Indiana race, but is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in South Bend on Thursday after the party has selected its nominee to challenge Sen. Joe Donnelly (D).