At least 10 Republicans were at Capitol riots

At least 10 Republicans who are running for Congress were at the January 6 riots. Early in 2021, supporters of Donald Trump attended the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally, where some made their way toward the US Capitol to stop Joe Biden’s election. Three Republican nominees are also seeking statewide office in 2022.Retired Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden travelled to Washington on January 6, but insists he did not join the mob attack on the Capitol.However, polls put the race for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District firmly in favour of the Republican over Brad Pfaff for an open Wisconsin seat long held by Democrats.North Carolina’s Sandy Smith, who tweeted on January 6 she was ‘in DC fighting for Trump’ and had ‘just marched from the Monument to the Capitol’, breezed to the Republican nomination.In addition, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy campaigned early with JR Majewski, GOP nominee for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, who was also at the Capitol on January 6. At least 10 Republicans were at the January 6 riots in 2021 (Image: GETTY) Derrick Van Orden traveled to Washington for January 6, but insists he didn’t join the mob (Image: GETTY)The party has stuck with the Ohio candidate after reports that he misrepresented his military record.Mr Majewski also told Toledo TV station WTOL in April 2021: ‘When everything started to happen … we all left.’I was responsible for 60-70 people at the Capitol. I had multiple people get injured but I made sure they made it back to our hotel. It was a terrible experience.”Leon Benjamin Senior, GOP nominee for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, was also in Washington on January 6, according to photos and a live-stream video he posted on Facebook.READ MORE: Biden scrambles to PA as Dr Oz races into 3% lead over Fetterman JR Majewski said ‘when everything started to happen … we all left … it was a terrible experience’ (Image: GETTY) John Feehery, a Republican strategist, said ‘Trump inspires all of this’ (Image: GETTY)Jo Rae Perkins, making a longshot bid for US Senate in Oregon, told CBS Portland affiliate KOIN that she walked up to the exterior of the Capitol building but did not enter.Jeff Zink, the GOP nominee for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District, also told Texas station WCBD he did not enter the Capitol and did not participate in the violence.Tina Forte, running in New York’s 14th Congressional District, also live-streamed video near the Capitol with other demonstrators. ‘Not a lot of people trying to be moderates. They’re warriors for their beliefs.’ (Image: GETTY)John Feehery, a Republican strategist who was the long-serving spokesperson for former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, said: ‘Trump inspires all of this.’There are not a lot of shrinking violets. Not a lot of people trying to be moderates. They are warriors for their beliefs.’Carlos Curbelo, a Republican former congressman from Florida, also said: ‘This is going to be the most diverse class of Republicans – ever – in every sense of the word.’What it means for governing is a big question mark.’ Polls put the Democrats very narrowly ahead in the midterms in key seats (Image: GETTY)It comes as a new poll showed the Democrats were only narrowly ahead of the Republicans in the midterms, with most blue states with slim leads or tied.According to a new survey from The New York Times and Siena College, Arizona’s Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman and Georgia’s Raphael Warnock are all ahead of their rivals by three to six points.Should all three win, that would represent a net pickup of one seat for the Democrats.However, should Mr Warnock finish with under 50 percent of the vote, which is expected based on current polling, he and Herschel Walker will be forced into a January runoff election.