Republican Senate candidate cancels rally, calls for cooldown of political rhetoric

U.S. Senate Candidate Sherry O'Donnell. | Kyle Davidson

Physician Sherry O’Donnell, one of the four candidates vying for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, canceled a press conference scheduled for Monday morning, following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. 

While O’Donnell was previously scheduled to hold a conference outside of the office of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) office in Lansing to ask her to weigh in on whether President Joe Biden should continue pursuing the Democratic nomination for president, the event was canceled following the shooting on Saturday.  

Although O’Donnell said she still believes Slotkin — who is running for U.S. Senate as a Democrat — should weigh in on whether the president should pass the torch, her campaign canceled the event in a statement on Sunday, noting O’Donnell’s belief that “this is a time to reflect upon how politics has become too nasty.”

“[Saturday’s] assassination attempt on President Trump should have never happened. People should be able to rally for candidates without fear of losing their lives. I am heartbroken for our nation and the family who lost a loved one. Unfortunately, it is no surprise when Democrats have called President Trump an existential threat to our democracy. The rhetoric needs to be toned down. We can agree to disagree on policy,” O’Donnell said. 

O’Donnell is running against former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp), businessman Sandy Pensler and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) — who’s speaking at the Republican National Convention — in the Republican primary on Aug. 6.  Slotkin faces actor Hill Harper. 

In the wake of the assassination attempt, U.S. Reps. Lisa McClain (R- Bruce Twp.), John Moolenaar (R-Midland), Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) John James (R-Shelby Township) and Michigan GOP chair Pete Hoekstra shared support for the former president. 

U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids), Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) also shared prayers and hopes for the safety of the former president and the shooting’s victims, while condemning political violence. 

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) condemned the shooting on social media and shared gratitude for law enforcement who responded. 

One man, Corey Comperatore, was shot and killed at the event, while two others were injured. Trump’s campaign reported the former president was “doing well” with Trump later posting to Truth Social in support of Comperatore’s family, and another individual who was “badly injured.” Both of the injured individuals were listed in stable condition Sunday afternoon. 

Republicans are moving forward with the Republican National Convention in spite of Saturdays’ shooting, with Trump set to be formally nominated as the GOP’s presidential nominee on Thursday. 

The post Republican Senate candidate cancels rally, calls for cooldown of political rhetoric appeared first on Michigan Advance.