The Republican running for a Greater Cincinnati congressional seat broke with presidential candidate Donald Trump Wednesday on the issue of mass deportations and the 2020 election.
Republican Orlando Sonza is challenging freshman Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman in Ohio's 1st Congressional District , which includes the city of Cincinnati, some eastern Hamilton County suburbs and Warren County.
In a largely cordial debate hosted by Xavier University and The Enquirer, the two men often found themselves agreeing and even complimenting each other.
Here are some takeaways from the debate:
Landsman compliments Sonza for opposing mass deportations
Sonza, 33, a former Hamilton County assistant prosecutor from suburban Springfield Township, said he doesn't support mass deportations of immigrants, something Trump has long advocated.
"I don't support mass deportations," Sonza said. "Number one is that I don't think it's logistically possible. And number two is, who's going to pay for that mass deportation? We're already crippling under the weight of our own failed economy right now."
Sonza instead, said the government needs to focus on deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes and "immediately close that border" with Mexico.
Landsman, 47, a former Cincinnati City council member from Mount Washington, complimented Sonza on his stance.
"I think it took a lot of courage for him to say the mass deportation just logistically isn't a path forward," Landsman said. "So I think that is something that we have to come to terms with. And I want to give him credit for saying that they saying that it's logistically impossible. It's also not who we are."
Sonza and Landsman argued which bills Congress should pass to address the immigration issue. Landsman said he supports one that would increase border patrol agents and judges and raise the criteria for those seeking asylum.
Both Sonza and Landsman would have certified the 2020 election
After the riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, 147 Republicans voted against certifying 2020 election results and President Joe Biden's win, including Rep. Steve Chabot, who represented the 1st Congressional District prior to his 2022 loss to Landsman.
Trump continues to repeat false claims of a stolen 2020 election.
While neither Landsman nor Sonza were in Congress in 2020, both said on Wednesday they would have certified the 2020 election.
Landsman said he ran for Congress because the man representing his district, Chabot, was one of the 147 Republicans who voted against certification. Someone had to say that's 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 has to survive, and that means certifying the election."
Sonza said he would have certified the 2020 results.
"If whether one candidate that lost, whether it's Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, whether they will allow the other person to raise the right hand and swear to protect and defend its hand up for the Constitution, that's the important thing," Sonza said. "And I would be appalled if a candidate did not allow for that to happen across both parties."
About the candidates
Landsman served on Cincinnati City Council for four years before becoming a member of Congress in January 2023.
Prior to joining council, he led the efforts to organize Cincinnati's Preschool Promise program , which helps low-income families pay for their children to attend preschool.
Sonza previously ran for Ohio State Senate and lost to Democrat Catherine Ingram in District 9, which covers a large portion of Cincinnati and the central Hamilton County suburbs. He graduated from West Point in 2013 and served as an infantry officer in the Army .
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio GOP congressional candidate: Trump's mass deportations not 'logistically possible'
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