Tim Ryan Rips J.D. Vance on 'Replacement Theory,' Ties to 'Extremists'

Ohio Republican candidate J.D. Vance has been accused of supporting "replacement theory" and having ties to "extremists" by Representative Tim Ryan, his Democratic foe in the race for U.S. Senate.

The candidates took part in their second debate, in Youngstown, on Monday night. They were each asked to share opinions of the so-called "great replacement theory"—a far-right conspiracy concept that claims an effort is underway to replace white Americans with migrants of color.

Vance argued that Democratic leadership had been "very explicit" about wanting more migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border "to ensure that Republicans are never able to win another national election." However, he insisted that his assertion was "not about white or non-whites."

"This is who he's running around with, talking about replacement theory," Ryan responded. "There's no big grand conspiracy. This is a country that's been enriched by immigrants from all corners of the world."

Vance interjected and said it was "shameful" for Ryan to accuse him of supporting the theory, prompting the congressman to say, "my turn, pal." Ryan then accused Vance of supporting the theory alongside "extremists" like Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

"This great replacement theory was the motivator for the shooting in Buffalo," said Ryan. "That shooter had all these great replacement theory writings that J.D. Vance agrees with."

"Some sicko got this information that he's peddling with," he added. "Those extremists that he runs around with: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ted Cruz ... all these guys that just want to stoke this racial violence."

Vance, who is married to the daughter of immigrants from South Asia, angrily responded to Ryan by saying that his opponent was "so desperate not to have a real job" that he would "slander" him and his biracial family for "political power."

Ryan said, "I think I struck a nerve," following Vance's angry response, while accusing the Republican of trying to "spin" the issue because he did not want to talk about being "with the extremists" in supporting a theory that "led to some crazy dude getting a gun" and killing Black people.

Vance said that he found the theory "disgusting" and had "never endorsed it" in response.

"FACT CHECK: JD Vance did support the Great Replacement Theory. Roll tape," Ryan tweeted after the debate, alongside a video showing Vance warning of an "invasion" of migrants during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

In a statement to Newsweek, Ryan campaign manager Dave Chase described Vance as a "San Fran phony" and maintained that the Republican had "pushed lies and unhinged conspiracy theories."

Newsweek has reached out to the Vance campaign for comment.

Ryan also lashed out at his opponent for making positive comments about Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones during the debate, alleging that Vance had described Jones as "one of the most credible news sources in the whole country."

Although Vance did not describe Jones as one of the "most credible," he did say that the conspiracy theorist was "a far more reputable source of information" than MSNBC host Rachel Maddow in a September 2021 tweet. He also said that Jones was being "censored by the regime."

This is a breaking story and more information will be added as it becomes available.