- GOP Republicans wrote a letter to Trump urging him not to endorse Senate candidate JD Vance.
- "He referred to your supporters as 'racists,'" the letter, signed by local GOP officials, said.
- Vance has previously apologized for his critical comments about Trump.
US Senate candidate JD Vance went from a staunch critic of former President Donald Trump to an acolyte, a reversal that other Republicans in Ohio apparently can't quite let go of.
Dozens of local GOP officials sent a letter to Trump to urge him against endorsing Vance, citing the latter's past criticism of the former president. The letter, which was obtained by Politico, listed specific disparaging comments Vance made in the past about Trump, including: "Trump's actual policy proposals, such as they are, range from immoral to absurd."
"While we were working hard in Ohio to support you and Make America Great Again, JD Vance was actively working against your candidacy," the letter said, adding Vance did not support Trump in 2016 and saying "he referred to your supporters as 'racists.'"
The letter said the signers were not all supporting the same candidates in the Senate race, but that they were all opposed to Vance. It was signed by county GOP chairs and members of the Ohio GOP State Central Committee.
"With only a few short weeks until Election Day, an endorsement that cuts against your support and legacy in Ohio will only serve to confuse or upset voters," the letter said.
Vance did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Vance has framed himself as an America-first candidate and even apologized last year for making critical comments about Trump in the past, saying he was wrong and that he hopes voters don't hold his previous comments against him.
The Ohio Republicans sent the letter after reports Trump was planning to endorse Vance for Senate. Vance has already earned endorsements from other pro-Trump Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Banks, as well as Sen. Josh Hawley.
Vance is up against a crowded field of candidates in the Republican primary for the Ohio Senate race, which is set for May 3.