Michigan House candidate Robert "RJ" Regan denounced for comments about rape

Top Michigan Republicans on Tuesday denounced a state House candidate over his remarks about rape, the latest in a number of controversial comments from the man who narrowly won a special GOP primary a week ago. Robert "RJ" Regan made the statements Sunday in a livestream hosted by a conservative group that was posted on Rumble. 

He advocated for decertifying the 2020 presidential election, telling another participant who said it is too late to do anything that her attitude is like what he tells his three daughters: "Well if rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it."  

Later, in an interview with a Michigan conservative talk show on Wednesday, Regan referred to the outrage that ensued after his remarks about rape as "a distraction. It's a bunch of BS," and he said that "voters deserve better than what our media and the Republican establishment has been giving us."

He also sharply criticized "establishment" Republicans and Michigan GOP leaders, saying grassroots activists are tired of being told what to do. He repeated his earlier rape analogy and tried to explain what he'd meant.

"We're sick and tired of the establishment telling us, 'you just have to sit there and take it. Just lie there and enjoy it,'" Regan said. "This is the way this is going to be. And I used the example: 'That would be like if I told my three daughters that rape's inevitable and you should just lie back and enjoy it.'"

"That's not what we do. Even in the face of very difficult odds, you go after it. That is what our founding fathers did," he added.  

On the day of his upset victory in Kent County's four-person primary, he called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "fake war just like the fake pandemic." He also shared antisemitic social media posts in 2021.

State Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser said in a statement that Regan's "history of foolish, egregious and offensive comments, including his most recent one, are simply beyond the pale. We are better than this as a party and I absolutely expect better than this of our candidates." Weiser had congratulated Regan last week.

Similar condemnations were made by the Kent County GOP chairman, House Speaker Jason Wentworth and Sen. Mark Huizenga, whose elevation to the chamber last fall opened up the Republican-heavy seat that Regan is favored to fill in a May election. Democrats and the conservative Michigan Freedom Fund had begun rebuking Regan a day before.

"As a Christian, a public servant and a father of two daughters, I find Robert Regan's comments about sexual assault to be revolting and immoral, and I strongly denounce them," Huizenga said in a statement. "His statements about Russia's unprovoked attack of a sovereign country are contrary to our own nation's values, and his antisemitic posts claiming Jewish people control the banks and were behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks are shameful and disgusting."

Democratic Rep. Laurie Pohutsky also condemned Regan's comments about rape.

"Having been in a situation where rape was inevitable, I can promise this man that there is nothing enjoyable about it," Pohutsky posted on Twitter. "This man is disgusting and I'm hoping HD 74 doesn't send him to Lansing. I don't normally say this about people I could end up working with, but he's horrid."

The Associated Press left email and Facebook messages seeking comment from Regan.

If elected, he will serve through 2022 and has indicated he will also run later this year for a full two-year term. The results of the primary, which Regan won by 71 votes out of roughly 7,300 cast, are unofficial until they are certified by canvassers.

Democrats said Republicans should try to remove Regan from the special general election ballot, though it was not immediately clear if that is allowed under the law.

"Anything short of that shows support for this kind of toxic rhetoric," Kent County Democratic Party Chair Bill Saxton said.

Adam Brewster contributed to this report.

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• Rape
• Michigan