“I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump,” he said. “I mean, I’m going to obtain a conviction rendered by a jury of his peers at a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt based on evidence presented at a trial conducted in accordance with the requirements of due process, resulting in a sentence duly executed of capital punishment.”

His highly divisive comments drew a whirlwind of criticism from Ohio Republicans.

Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, who’s running for state attorney general as a Republican, was among the politicians who condemned Forhan’s rhetoric.

“That kind of vile comment makes it clear that Elliot Forhan is not qualified to be attorney general,” he said in his own video statement.

Faber called on Ohio Democrats, most notably gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, to denounce Forhan. As of Wednesday morning, Acton had not addressed his rhetoric on social media.

Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican gubernatorial candidate and former 2024 presidential candidate, said it’s “utterly shameful” that Acton and the Ohio Democratic Party have not commented on the behavior of one of their own, adding that they “implicitly endorse” it instead.

Ohio state Sen. Rob McColley made a similar statement to Ramaswamy.

“Ohio Democrats across the board, starting with Amy Acton and David Pepper, must denounce these disgusting comments from one of their party’s leading candidates for Attorney General,” the Republican lawmaker posted. “Ohioans have overwhelmingly supported President Trump and there’s absolutely no room for this dangerous rhetoric in our state.”

Pepper, who formerly chaired the Ohio Democratic Party, is Acton’s running mate this election cycle.

Faber also took Forhan to task for openly celebrating Charlie Kirk‘s assassination last fall, using it as an example for why Americans need to “tamp down the rhetoric” in the country. In one Facebook post shortly after the conservative activist’s death in September, Forhan wrote, “F*** Charlie Kirk.”

Former Ohio state Rep. Jay Edwards, a Republican candidate for Ohio treasurer, said Forhan’s latest statement “fits his pattern” of anger and wishing violence on conservatives.

“Democrats, your silence is telling. Dr. Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown—disavow this extremist now, or admit you’re okay with this violent hate in your party,” he wrote on X. “Ohioans, this is why we fight. We stand stronger with President Trump against these radicals pushing threats and division.”

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During his tenure in the state legislature, Forhan faced disciplinary action for allegedly harassing and intimidating colleagues and staff. In 2023, party leadership ultimately stripped him of all committee assignments and cut off his access to an office over his abusive behavior.

The embattled lawmaker finished third in the 2024 Democratic primary and lost his reelection bid. He served one term in the Ohio House from 2023 to 2024.