Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
November 11, 2022 | Portman Difference
In an interview last evening with Fox News’ Special Report, Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) joined host Bret Baier to discuss the results of the 2022 midterm elections. Senator Portman noted that the results were a sign from voters that they don’t want extreme candidates and that lawmakers, including President Biden, should govern from the middle. Senators Portman and Coons also spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine. The two senators visited Ukraine last week to meet with Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskyy, to receive an update on the situation on the ground.
A transcript of the interview can be found below and you can also watch the interview here.
PORTMAN ON HIS REACTION TO THE 2022 MIDTERM RESULTS
“Well, what the voters have said is pretty clearly, Bret, we don’t want to see extremes on either end so, once again, our very divided country has ended up kind of in the middle. It’s extraordinary to think about this, but we are literally going to be 50/50 in the Senate or 49-51, probably one way or the other. And in the House the majority looks like it will shift to the Republicans, which I think is a positive thing for the country, but it’s a very small majority. So, it just means that the voters have spoken, once again and said they are not interested in the extreme candidates or the extreme positions. By the way, I think the Biden administration should pay attention to that and the president should begin governing more from the middle, which is what he promised, of course, in the campaign and pledged in his inaugural address and this is an opportunity for a reset.
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“First, let me say so much for the reset in terms of President Biden’s comments that nothing is going to change. Something should change and we should figure out a way now to work together. It is a divided government. You will have a majority in the House, which is different. We’ll see what happens in the Senate. I tend to agree with Senator Coons we are likely to end up back where we are. With regard to the elections and who was a MAGA candidate or who wasn’t, I think it was not a good night for Donald Trump.”
PORTMAN ON CRITICISMS OF MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL
“No. I would say just the opposite, you know, some people say that the $100 million or so on that President Trump had was not used very much in terms of these races and, you know, there is a fact basis for that. You can look at how much money was put in but, as an example in Ohio, J.D. Vance was behind at some points and then he was tied. It was tight race. It was Senator McConnell who stepped forward and provided over $30 million for Ohio which is unprecedented and got him over the top even though he was former President Trump’s candidate in the primary, not Senator McConnell’s. So, Senator McConnell really stepped up.”
PORTMAN ON FINDING COMMON GROUND IN POLITICS
“Well, Bret, I attribute all of this movement towards more common sense, finding common ground to you. You put people on your show who actually want to talk about that. My view is pretty simple. I think the American people elected us to get things done.”
PORTMAN ON U.S. FUNDS FOR UKRAINE
“Well, I think it’s appropriate to have a debate. It’s a lot of money. On the other hand, it is absolutely essential that we continue to support Ukraine during this pivotal moment. I think we can provide the Ukrainians what they need to defend themselves.”
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