Rep. Landsman: Ohio Early Vote Looks Strong for Democrats

What do these early voting numbers tell you? What? The moment. Uh, it suggests a couple of things. One is that more and more people are voting early. We've seen that trend over the years. Uh, fewer are doing Mail-In ballots and, uh, than than in previous cycles. They're going in and doing so. They're voting in person. That speaks, I think, to, you know, some of the worries around this election and people wanting to make sure that their votes are counted. Uh, and, and then it's overwhelmingly, uh, Democratic. I mean, it's just a the numbers suggest a very big night for Democrats in Ohio. Uh, but, you know, there's still seven days left, so we'll see. Yeah. Is there any doubt in your mind right now, Congressman, that Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown win their races? I mean, yes, of course. Uh, there's still seven days, so you never know. But, you know, based on everything I've seen and heard in the numbers and just being on the ground. The energy for both Amy and Sherrod is is really significant. And just the overall, uh, the, the overarching and desire for most voters that they don't like what's happening. They don't like the status quo, they don't like the status quo in D.C. or in Columbus. And they're going to vote for people who are going to shake up that says quo, which is Amy, and share it. And then, of course, me in this test, this district, it said Trump plus three district, so very competitive. But we've been ahead the entire time and it keeps growing. Um, you know, it's been interesting watching your state in particular over the past couple of days and weeks, and in particular this ad that came from the Ramaswami campaign, uh, that most people seem to know about at this point, featuring the estranged mother of Amy Acton calling her, uh, a liar. This seems to have backfired, largely even with some Republicans. Congresswoman, I'm wondering how it has changed the discourse around your race. We've seen ratings change in the gubernatorial contest since that ad went up. Yeah, maybe was is, I think, the worst ad I've ever seen. I hear people say that. The worst that they've ever seen said a despicable ad depraved. Uh, it just mean it. And I think in some ways it does represent the worst of this moment, the cruelty of this moment. And part of that represents, I think, part of the status quo that people are so pissed off or angry about. Excuse me, they just don't like this. And that was as low as it gets. But it also did represent the worst of this moment that, you know, I think ultimately hurts him. We won't know until all the votes are counted, but he's had a rough couple of days, and it is something that makes me feel a little bit better about humanity, our voters, that they also saw that and thought, that's, uh, that is awful. That's an awful thing to do. Well, and obviously that is something we assume will factor in to the election being held one week from today. Here in the U.S., Congressman, I do wonder your take on the election that was held in Israel today. We've seen exit polling. Now that would suggest picking up more seats than Benjamin Netanyahu, even if right now he would be short of being able to form a coalition. I know you have been one of the more pro-Israel Democrats in your caucus in the last several years. Congressman, would you be pleased to see a change in government in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu not being at the top, or does it color at all how you view the Israeli relationship? Yeah, it would be really wonderful to get a new government in Israel. This government, I think, has been a disaster. I think Bibi, uh, Netanyahu is uh, has has made some terrible, terrible decisions. And he's got these far right folks in his government that have also made him, uh, pulled this, this government in a direction that has, uh, made mistakes, huge, huge mistakes. And Gaza, uh, I think, you know, the fact that October 7th happened on their watch is a is a huge issue concern for Israelis. What's going on in the West Bank. They need new leadership. I, I hope uh got ice and ice and Cod wins. It has a coalition that can, uh, rebuild these relationships around the world, uh, resolve the conflict in Gaza, start to rebuild, uh, same in Lebanon. Stop the West Bank violence. Uh, all of that big change will help Israel and it will strengthen the US-Israel relationship. So my hope is that there is a new government. Yes. Would it encourage or inspire Democrats to vote to continue weapons shipments to Israel beyond 2028? I would I don't know. I mean, I think it all depends on, uh, you know, what kind of, um, disposition that this new government takes. Uh, I suspect a lot of folks who have been oppositional, uh, to, uh, to funding, uh, you know, would say, look, you know, we'll give it we'll give this new government a chance. I don't know, not everybody. But, you know, it certainly wouldn't hurt. But I think it does help. Well, uh, there will be all sorts of funding issues that you and your colleagues will be dealing with in the lame duck session, uh, let alone the new Congress, whatever, uh, majority, uh, is in place come January. And there's other legislative matters you want to pursue as well. I know you've introduced some legislation, uh, on restoring and increasing EV tax credits. Is this, uh, among the best ideas, Congressman, to try to address higher prices at the pump is making it easier for Americans, uh, to turn back to EVs. And do you think that there is a kind of critical mass around this idea, knowing that these tax credits obviously have gone by the wayside? Yeah. The larger issue here is that they used the congressional Republicans, Trump, and I think they're going to lose the election as a result of of the cuts to health care and food assistance and the health care subsidies that they let expire. They used the tax code to provide a relief for the super wealthy in these big corporations, at the expense of most Americans. Uh, and 52 million Americans who are going to lose their health care. The tax code should be used to help working people, uh, you know, get by. It should should not be for the wealthy. It should be for workers. And so tax credits that help people pay for childcare. That makes sense. Uh, tax credits that help people pay for health care. That makes sense. And with gas prices as high as they are to help people, uh, buy a car newer use, and then have that car be something that doesn't use or, uh, you need gas. That would make a huge difference in terms of reducing costs, which is obviously the number one issue. But at the heart of it is saying the tax code should not be used for the wealthy and big corporations, it should be used for workers. You know, Congressman, your bill would do a lot of good, I'm guessing for Elon Musk and Tesla. You think he'd put money behind this effort? I don't think so. I have no idea. Uh, but my hope is genuinely at the end of this, uh, when this is all said and done, this election, that Republicans will come back and say, all right, we've got to do more to reduce costs. The tax code really should be used to help people pay for stuff. Uh, let's use the tax. Let's just use the tax code to pay for child care. Health care and and buying a car. All of those things should be bipartisan after this election, because I think this election is going to be about the American people saying, you've got to work harder to get our costs down and put us at the center of your economy, not the not the super wealthy.