October 28, 2024
COLUMBUS, OH — A Democratic campaign staffer working to support Ohio congressional candidates Emilia Sykes and Sen. Sherrod Brown has sparked backlash following controversial comments about immigration, captured in a video by Ohio.news. The staffer, identified as Kevin Oyakawa, was recorded calling for open borders and criticizing those supporting secure border policies as “racist.”
“Open the f—ing border, I don’t give a s— who comes in here,” Oyakawa said in the video, which surfaced earlier this month. He went on to argue that immigration is a “losing issue for Democrats” in Ohio only because of “people’s pure racism.” Oyakawa, who was hired by the Ohio Coordinated Campaign to work on re-electing Sykes, Brown, and other down-ballot Democrats, claimed that discussing immigration would harm candidates in the state due to Ohioans’ stance on the issue.
Statements from Sykes and Brown’s Campaigns
Both campaigns quickly distanced themselves from Oyakawa’s statements. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Sykes emphasized her commitment to border security, citing her support for the bipartisan Dignity Act, aimed at improving border security and immigration infrastructure. Sykes’ opponent, Republican Kevin Coughlin, responded to the controversy, saying, “Ohioans are already aware of Emilia Sykes’ dangerous open border policies… now we see what she and her team support behind closed doors.”
Sen. Brown’s campaign similarly reaffirmed the senator’s commitment to border security, with spokesperson Matt Keyes highlighting Brown’s support for a bipartisan bill endorsed by border patrol agents. “Sherrod has worked with both parties to secure our southern border and keep Ohioans safe from fentanyl,” said Keyes. Brown’s GOP opponent, businessman Bernie Moreno, seized on the incident, with campaign spokesperson Reagan McCarthy saying, “Sherrod Brown’s staff is saying the quiet part out loud… Democrats would rather keep the border open than secure it to protect our communities.”
Growing Criticism and GOP Reaction
Republican critics quickly took aim at Oyakawa’s comments, interpreting them as reflective of the broader stance of Democratic candidates on border policy. National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesperson Mike Marinella condemned the comments, claiming that Sykes “has gone to great lengths to lie to voters about her dangerous open border record, but her staff just said the quiet part out loud.” Marinella called on Sykes to apologize and denounce the remarks.
The Ohio Democratic Party has yet to respond to requests for comment, while Oyakawa’s LinkedIn and social media profiles have been deleted since the video surfaced.
High-Stakes Races in Ohio
The remarks come at a critical time in Ohio’s 3rd Congressional District and Senate races, where control of the U.S. House and Senate could be decided. Rep. Sykes, who won her seat in 2022 by just five points, is defending her seat in a district that includes parts of counties that former President Trump carried comfortably in 2020. Sen. Brown, seeking re-election in a state that has trended increasingly red, faces an uphill battle in what is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races in the nation. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a “toss-up,” with recent polling showing a tight contest within the margin of error.
The incident has highlighted the deep divisions over immigration policy in Ohio and across the country. Democrats and Republicans alike are vying for the support of voters concerned with border security, with many Ohio residents reportedly favoring stricter measures. The GOP has focused on contrasting their stance with Democrats, pointing to incidents like Oyakawa’s comments to illustrate what they argue is a permissive stance on immigration within the Democratic Party.
