OHIO — U.S. Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio was one of ten House Republicans who joined Democrats last month in voting to extend temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants. Rep. Mike Carey, a Republican from Columbus, also voted with Democrats on the measure, which is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

Turner and Carey are among several Ohio Republicans up for election this year who have sided with Haitian immigrants and opposed positions taken by the Trump administration. Turner, a former mayor of Dayton who has held his congressional seat for nearly 25 years, faces reelection in November, and polls suggest he is vulnerable to losing his seat. He was criticized last year for failing to hold an in-person town hall.

"The headwinds will certainly be strong against Republicans in the fall. Given support Haitians have received from religious, business and civic leaders in the area, it makes sense that Carey and Turner have shown a willingness to not toe the Trump line on this topic," said Robert Alexander, a professor of political science.

Ohio voted for Trump by a double-digit margin in the 2024 presidential election, after backing Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. A poll of 1,000 registered Ohio voters by Bowling Green State University and YouGov found that 15% of those who voted for Trump in 2024 regretted their decision. The state has not had a Democratic governor in 15 years, and polls show Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton statistically tied in the gubernatorial race set for November.

"A significant number of Ohioans do not like what they have seen when it comes to many of Trump's policies. Respondents have routinely noted concerns over the economy, inflation and a general unhappiness with the status quo. We are witnessing much higher enthusiasm for this year's midterm among Democrats over Republicans as well," Alexander said.

Springfield, Ohio, has an estimated 10,000 Haitian immigrants. Carl Ruby, a pastor at a Springfield church and a supporter of the local Haitian community, encountered Turner at a local airport gate alongside Viles Dorsainvil, who runs the Haitian Community Help & Support Center in Springfield. The two approached the congressman about the situation facing Haitian immigrants as they waited to board the same flight to Washington.

"I hadn't gotten anywhere in getting an appointment with him; all his staff were putting us off," Ruby said. "He clearly understands the economic benefit of having immigrants here. He clearly is not on the same page with many members of his party who are willing to step back and let the president do whatever he wants."

At a September 2024 presidential debate, Trump said immigrants were eating pets in Springfield. In the weeks before the 2024 election, bomb threats and white supremacist marches occurred in the city, and Ruby shared information with the FBI. In October, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of ending temporary protected status for more than 300,000 Venezuelan nationals, and Ruby estimates the court may rule on TPS for Haitians by June.