Stewart Mills III, the Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional District, said Wednesday he continues to support Donald Trump despite the presumptive presidential nominee's racially charged comments about a Latino judge.
Trump has said Gonzalo Curiel, the judge presiding over the Trump University case, is biased against Trump because of Curiel's Mexican heritage, also calling Curiel "Mexican." In fact, Curiel was born in Indiana to immigrant parents from Mexico.
The comments drew condemnation from Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who called them "racist." U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., rescinded his support of Trump over the comments.
In response to a question on whether Mills continued to support Donald Trump despite the comments, Mills campaign manager Mike Lukach sent a statement from Mills which said he did.
"I don't expect to agree with anyone 100% of the time, but Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee and I support him as our nominee, because when it comes to protecting the (Second Amendment), reinvigorating our main street economy, and defending our nation Donald Trump is light years ahead of Hillary Clinton and her failed record," Mills said.
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Nolan backs off from Bernie?
The man Mills hopes to unseat-U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn.- also faces an awkward situation because of developments in the presidential race. He previously said he'd vote for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention as an unpledged delegate, or "superdelegate." However, Hillary Clinton this week reached the amount of pledged delegates necessary to win the primary.
In response to a question on whether Nolan would continue to support Sanders despite Clinton clinching the pledged delegates, Nolan campaign manager Joe Radinovich sent a statement from Nolan, which said although Bernie Sanders had advanced progressive ideals, it was time for the party to "unite."
"There's no question in my mind that Hillary Clinton will bring us together and lead us to victory in November," Nolan said in the statement.
"Bernie Sanders has been the drummer, moving our party forward on income inequality, economic justice, equal rights; ending wars of choice and so-called nation building abroad, rebuilding America and rebuilding a strong middle class. But now it's time to unite under the banner of a progressive and inclusive platform to defeat Donald Trump and the forces that would roll back a century of progress for this nation."
As to whether Nolan would still be voting for Sanders at the national convention, Radinovich said, "that's a decision that Congressman Nolan will be making in the days and weeks ahead."
ZACH KAYSER may be reached at 218-855-5860 or Zach.Kayser@brainerddispatch.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZWKayser .
