Lawmaker Who Blamed Dayton Shooting on Gays Will Not Resign

Ohio lawmaker Candice Keller, who blamed mass shootings on drag queens, marijuana and progressive policies, stuck by her remarks as leaders of her own political party called for her resignation.

Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken called on Keller to resign after the Republican politician pinned the shooting deaths of more than 30 people on a long list of reasons that left out white supremacy or access to firearms.

"Candice Keller's Facebook post was shocking and utterly unjustifiable," said Timken in a statement. "Our nation is reeling from these senseless acts of violence and public servants should be working to bring our communities together, not promoting divisiveness."

Keller in a statement to the Cincinnati Enquirerdismissed Timken's request. She plans to stay in office and to continue a run for state Senate.

"Establishment moderates have never been fans of mine because I ran against their endorsement and won," Keller said. "As the only conservative in this race, I will be taking my Senate campaign to the voters to decide."

Keller's brand of conservatism, it appears, includes pegging virtually any mass tragedy on the existence of LGBTQ people. She responded to news this weekend of back-to-back shootings, including one in Dayton, Ohio, with a lengthy social media rant attempting to "place the blame where it belongs."

"The breakdown of the traditional American family (thank you, transgender, homosexual marriage, and drag queen advocates); fatherlessness, a subject no one discusses or believes is relevant; the ignoring of violent video games; the relaxing of laws against criminals (open borders); the acceptance of recreational marijuana; failed school policies (hello, parents who defend misbehaving students): disrespect to law enforcement (thank you, Obama)," she wrote.

Timken, the first woman to chair Ohio's GOP, has never called for a public official's resignation since she took the reins at the state party, the Enquirer reports.

But she's not the only Republican embarrassed by Keller's antics. Pro-Trump Sheriff Richard Jones also called for Keller to resign. ""She's made a laughingstock out of Butler County, which is a shame," he said.

Keller has made headlines before for controversial political choices, including a 2017 interview on a radio show promoting white supremacist views to promote a sanctuary cities ban.

She also previously compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis.