On May 3, QAnon promoter J.R. Majewski won the Republican primary for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District; he will face longtime Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur in November. Majewski’s surprise victory came after months of friendship and free promotion from OAN host and fellow Ohioan Dan Ball.
Majewski has appeared on Ball’s Real America at least seven times since October 2020, and Ball has provided him with plenty of attention, including promoting ways for viewers to donate to Majewski’s congressional campaign in at least six appearances. Majewski’s campaign also published a supercut of his interviews with Ball and promoted them on Facebook.
Majewski has been associated with and appeared multiple times on QAnon podcast RedPill78, and participated with host Zak Paine in the January 6 Capitol riot, including breaching police barricades. In another RedPill78 appearance, Majewski revealed that Ball would headline a fundraiser for him.
The fundraiser took place on August 3, 2021, at a bar on Kelleys Island, off the Ohio coast of Lake Erie. The Majewski campaign later posted a video of Ball responding to a heckler, partially set to the Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg single Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang. (Majewski later rapped a verse himself on a song called “Let's Go Brandon.”)
More recently, Majewski returned to Real America on March 3, when Ball criticized Kaptur and compared her to President Joe Biden, saying, “She’s as worthless as Joe’s been. He’s been in 48 years, she’s been in almost 40. They’re both worthless as -- well, you know the old farm phrase. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that. Worthless as, ahem, on a boar hog.”
Majewski added that “we know piles of manure when we see them here in Ohio.”
Majewski has also been on OAN several other times, often to commemorate some kind of attention he received from Trump:
- On October 12, 2020, Majewski made his first Real America appearance to promote the pro-Trump events he held on his large lawn, which he painted as a Trump campaign sign, and celebrated an old Trump tweet about him. Ball ended the interview by offering Majewski a chance to tell viewers how to donate to and attend rallies.
- On April 28, 2021, about a month after declaring his candidacy, Majewski promoted his congressional campaign and solicited donations on Real America.
- On June 28, 2021, Majewski told Ball about his attempts to get endorsed by “the best president that’s ever ever stood office in the history of the United States,” including a gift of a framed printout of Trump’s October 2020 tweet about him. “He keeps stuff like that,” Ball excitedly said. “He really cherishes those things. That was a smart move, J.R.” After once again plugging the campaign website, Ball said that he would “help” Majewski that summer, when he appeared at the Kelleys Island fundraiser.
- On November 23, Ball welcomed his “friend” back on the show. Majewski celebrated Ohio’s 9th “going from a +20 Democratic district to a +3.5, +3 Republican district,” claimed that “communists” had taken over the Democratic Party, and updated viewers on his quest for a Trump endorsement. Ball offered his own “full endorsement” and predicted Majewski’s victory in November, even though the GOP primary had not yet happened.
- On April 25, Majewski came back to Real America to celebrate his “shoutout” from the former president at an Ohio Trump rally. “You didn’t get the official endorsement,” Ball said, “but you did get this,” referring to Trump’s rally statement about Majewski: “He’s been farming, and he’s been carving the name Trump. … He’s a great guy, and he’s in there fighting for whatever the hell he’s fighting for, I don’t care. I love him.”
Thanks in part to OAN’s repeated support, a QAnon-promoting January 6 participant has now won the GOP primary to challenge a seat in Congress. And in the wake of Ohio’s redistricting process, he could threaten another upset victory in November – this time over the longest-serving woman in the House.
Update (5/6/22): After winning the GOP primary, Majewski came back to Ball's show on May 5 and partially credited the host for his victory, saying, “I'm so thankful for you and Peyton and the One America News group. I mean, you guys have been awesome to me, and I wouldn't be here without you. I really, really, really appreciate your friendship.”
