Ohio GOP chair, Butler County sheriff call on Candice Keller to resign amid fallout from Facebook post

MIDDLETOWN, OH — An Ohio state representative, whose controversial Facebook post regarding recent mass shootings has gained national attention, is now being told to resign by the state Republican Party chairwoman.

Ohio Republican Party chairwoman Jane Timken had this to say regarding Keller’s post: “While our nation was in utter shock over the acts of violence in El Paso and Dayton, Republican State Representative Candice Keller took to social media to state why she thought these acts were happening,” Timken said in a statement. “Candice Keller’s Facebook post was shocking and utterly unjustifiable. Our nation is reeling from these senseless acts of violence and public servants should be working to bring our communities together, not promoting divisiveness.”

Timken has not spoken with Keller personally about the GOP leader’s decision to ask for Keller’s resignation, Ohio Republican Party spokesman Evan Machan said.

Keller, R-Middletown, posted on Facebook Sunday comments that blamed “drag queen advocates,” the Democratic Congress, former President Barack Obama, violent video games and the hatred of veterans for the deaths of nine people and the shooter in Dayton early Sunday.

Keller did not respond to TiffinOhio.net’s requests for comment.

Ohio GOP chairwoman Timken’s request was unusual for her, as she often avoids publicity and rarely gets in the middle of political fights. This is the first time Timken has called on an Ohio official to resign since she was chosen to lead the party in January 2017.