U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, candidate Josh Mandel visit supporters in Westlake ahead of Tuesday's primary

WESTLAKE — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is backing U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel because Mandel is the most conservative candidate who can win, he told the crowd gathered at a rally Friday night. The pair railed against COVID-19 shutdowns, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich's veto of the "heartbeat bill" in 2018, and "squish" Republican-in-name-only Republicans at USA Freedom Fund's Rally for Ohio in Westlake. Cruz has endorsed Mandel in Ohio's crowded Republican primary for U.S. Sen. Rob Portman's soon-to-be-vacant seat. Portman is not seeking reelection and his current term ends at the start of 2023. Mandel told supporters crowded into the banquet hall that he believed the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. He demanded an audit for Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and every other state in the nation, alleging cheating on the Democratic side needed to be investigated and prosecuted. The U.S. Justice Department has not discovered evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the 2020 election. Mandel supports voter ID laws and said all voting machines, and early voting, should be done away with to protect the integrity of the election. His platform also includes protection for the unborn, he said, noting he's been a longtime champion of the issue and has the scars to prove it. He went on to allege students were being taught there are more than 50 genders and that children in third grade can pick their gender. He said he's disliked by "Republicans in name only" (RINO) in Columbus and Washington, D.C., and he takes their endorsements "anyone but Mandel" as a compliment. Cruz followed Mandel's speech, saying the country is in crisis — skyrocketing inflation, debt, rent, and gas prices — and the White House is lying about the cause. The COVID-19 shutdowns of 2020 were nonsense and everyone knows it, he told supporters, who cheered and waved signs emblazoned with "Take Back the Senate" and "Stop Biden-flation." But he promised supporters that the evening wasn't one of negativity. The revival is coming, he said. He said with every new idea from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer the pendulum accelerates in the other direction. He said more young people, Hispanics, African Americans and suburban women are coming back to the Republican Party, and the wave that's coming to turn Congress will be a tsunami. Once the legislative branch turns red, the Republicans in the House and Senate need to do something with that majority, Cruz said. Mandel is running against fellow Republicans Matt Dolan, Mike Gibbons, Neil Patel, Mark Pukita, Jane Timken and JD Vance in Tuesday's primary. The winner will face the top vote-getter of the Democratic primary between Morgan Harper, Traci Johnson and Tim Ryan in November. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.