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topicnews · October 17, 2024

1st Congressional District candidates reached agreement on immigration issue

1st Congressional District candidates reached agreement on immigration issue

The Republican running for a congressional seat in Greater Cincinnati broke with presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday on the issue of mass deportations and the 2020 election.

Republican Orlando Sonza is challenging new Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the city of Cincinnati, some eastern suburbs of Hamilton County and Warren County.

In a mostly cordial debate hosted by Xavier University and The Enquirer, the two men often agreed and even complimented each other.

Here are some takeaways from the debate:

Landsman praises Sonza for his resistance to mass deportations

Sonza, 33, a former Hamilton County deputy prosecutor from suburban Springfield Township, said he does not support mass deportations of immigrants, something Trump has long advocated.

“I don’t support mass deportations,” Sonza said. “Firstly, I don’t think it’s logistically feasible. And secondly: Who should pay for this mass deportation? We are already suffering the burden of our own failed economy.”

Instead, Sonza said the administration must focus on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and “immediately close the border with Mexico.”

Landsman, 47, a former Cincinnati City Council member from Mount Washington, praised Sonza for his stance.

“I think it took a lot of courage for him to say that mass deportation was logistically not a way forward,” Landsman said. “I think that’s something we have to come to terms with. And I want to give him credit for saying that it’s logistically impossible. That’s not who we are either.”

Sonza and Landsman discussed what bills Congress should pass to address the immigration problem. Landsman said he supports legislation that would increase the number of border patrol agents and judges and raise the criteria for asylum seekers.

Both Sonza and Landsman would have certified the 2020 election

Following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, 147 Republicans voted against certifying the 2020 election results and President Joe Biden’s victory, including Rep. Steve Chabot, who represented the 1st Congressional District before his loss to Landsman in 2022.

Trump continues to repeat false claims about a stolen election in 2020.

Although neither Landsman nor Sonza were in Congress in 2020, both said Wednesday they had certified the 2020 election.

Landsman said he ran for Congress because the man who represented his district, Chabot, was one of the 147 Republicans who voted against certification. “Someone had to say this is wrong,” Landsman said.

“I think this is one of the most important moments in American history,” Landsman said. “No matter who wins this election, our democracy must survive, and that means certifying the election.”

Sonza said he had confirmed the 2020 results.

“Whether a candidate who lost, whether it’s Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, whether he allows the other person to raise their right hand and swear to protect and defend their hand for the Constitution, that’s the most important thing.” said Sonza. “And I would be appalled if a candidate didn’t allow this across party lines.”

About the candidates

Landsman served on the Cincinnati City Council for four years before becoming a member of Congress in January 2023.

Before joining the council, he led efforts to organize Cincinnati’s Preschool Promise program, which helps low-income families finance their children’s preschool attendance.

Sonza previously ran for the Ohio State Senate, losing to Democrat Catherine Ingram in District 9, which covers much of Cincinnati and the central suburbs of Hamilton County. He graduated from West Point in 2013 and served as an infantry officer in the Army.

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