Until a few days ago, Rep. Jim Renacci had been ready to run for governor in the state of Ohio, but he said Friday he changed his mind because the White House called, and he is now seeking a senator's seat.
"Last week, as you said, I was running in the governor's race," the Republican lawmaker told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program.
"I said the only way I would jump is if I did get a call from the White House and the White House did call on Tuesday. I was there on Wednesday. And they asked me to jump in to this race."
Renacci noted that he supported President Donald Trump in the Ohio primary, even though Gov. John Kasich was running for president as well.
"They basically asked me to get in the race and this president wants to help me with this race, and it's been a whirlwind 48 hours, that's for sure," Renacci said.
However, in September, Renacci said he was leaving Washington to run for governor back in Ohio because he was frustrated after six and one-half years, with many of the career politicians in the nation's capital.
"I'm the type of person in business that likes to get things done, big things done," the Ohio Republican lawmaker told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.
"I'm frustrated with too many of the career politicians that are there. They continue to drive policy based on elections not future generations, and, you know, for me I've learned a lot. I got to tell you."
Renacci would be running against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, but he said Friday he is the "total opposite" from Brown, a career politician.
"I have been a businessman for 30 years," said Renacci. "He has been a career politician for 40 years. Every decision I made I had to live with...People will see absolutely two distinct people and they have two basic differences. Big differences. Businessman versus a career politician."
Renacci said he believes people in Ohio are happy to see what has happened since Trump's election, including the changes in the economy and the tax cuts.
"Remember people in Ohio, blue collar union people, said 'I want President Trump,'" said Renacci. "That's where I started. I was a blue-collar family kid who understands what it means to get up every day and work hard and not see your paycheck growing.
"I think this year they're going to see that the Trump agenda is doing a lot of good things for them."
He added that he'll welcome Trump's support.
"Look, I'm a business guy. He's a business guy. We look at things different," said Renacci. "We have to change the agenda. We must make things different. But we also have to be able to work together."
Renacci also commented on the controversy over Trump's reported comments about Haiti and African nations, saying that he has said all along that Trump is saying "what people are thinking," but he has learned over the years to watch what he's saying.
"I know it's difficult for the president because many times you want to say what you are thinking but in the end, I know a lot of times he is saying what people are thinking," said Renacci.
"I always say judge the president after four years. Let's judge the president after what we have done. Let's not judge the president on what he says."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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