In the heart of Ohio's Trump country, Republican resigns over Trump's summit with Putin

Scott Wartman | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump criticizes summit 'witch hunt' questions President Donald Trump on Monday said "it's a shame" that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin were being asked questions at their summit in Helsinki about the Russia probe while they were trying to discuss issues like Syria and nuclear proliferation. (July 17)

For at least one Republican in Ohio, President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was more than he could take.

Belmont County, Ohio Republican Chairman Chris Gagin on Twitter Monday announced his resignation shortly after the controversial press conference in Helsinki where Trump praised Putin and declined to side with U.S. intelligence services.

Gagin tweeted that he remains a Republican but resigned out of a sense of duty.

"The president is entitled to GOP party leaders, at all levels, fully committed to his views and agenda," Gagin tweeted. "Following today's press conference with Pres. Putin, as well as certain policy differences, most especially on trade, I could no longer fulfill that duty."

I remain a proud conservative and Republican, but I resigned today as Belmont Co Ohio GOP Chairman. I did so as a matter of conscience, and my sense of duty. — Chris Gagin (@cgagin) July 16, 2018

The President is entitled to GOP party leaders, at all levels, fully committed to his views and agenda. Following today’s press conference with Pres. Putin, as well as certain policy differences, most especially on trade, I could no longer fulfill that duty. Thus, I resigned. — Chris Gagin (@cgagin) July 16, 2018

Despite Belmont County's small size - it has only 70,000 residents - the resignation drew national attention. Belmont, located on Ohio's far eastern border with West Virginia, is in the heart of Trump country. The president won the county in 2016 with 67 percent of the vote.

I don't know Chris Gagin. But @cgagin just showed more courage than most of my House Republican colleagues. Thank you Chris for putting America first and standing up to today's remarks by @POTUS. https://t.co/UlndxpNEQY — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) July 16, 2018

“I remain a proud conservative and Republican, but I resigned today... I did so as a matter of conscience, and my sense of duty," Chris Gagin said.

https://t.co/fGKVme7Drd — Linda Hill (@bulldoghill) July 17, 2018

But don't expect Gagin's resignation to signal a larger revolt in the GOP.

More: Here's how local Republicans reacted to the Trump-Putin summit

Belmont is also in the heart of Appalachia, an area long-dominated by Democrats. Gagin himself was a Democrat until four years ago, according to his biography on the Belmont County GOP website.

Republicans have won over much of Appalachia in the past 15 years, especially as the coal mines and steel mills - which fueled the economy there over the past 100 years - closed down.

Gagin as a staff attorney for former Democratic Rep. Charlie Wilson, who represented Ohio's Sixth Congressional District and was known as a conservative, "blue dog" Democrat.

Gagin also had a moral falling out with the Democratic Party in 2014. That's when he registered Republican. He couldn't support the Democrat's agenda he blamed for the national debt and a "war on coal," the Belmont County GOP's biography quotes him as saying. Gagin also didn't support the Affordable Care Act.

Belmont County, Ohio's GOP leader is stepping down on moral grounds. Upset over yesterday's Trump-Putin press conference, Republican Party Chairman Chris Gagin said he's still a Republican but must resign as a matter of conscience and duty — NBCNewsRadio (@NBCNewsRadio) July 17, 2018

"Just like a lot of folks in Belmont County, I realized the Democratic Party had largely abandoned what I valued–even at the local level–and so I made the switch," Gagin said on the website.

Kyle Kondik, a political analyst with Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, pointed out the distinction of the Belmont County GOP compared to Republicans elsewhere.

"Belmont is one of those Appalachian counties with deep Democratic DNA that nonetheless eroded before Trump," Kondik said.

Belmont is one of those Appalachian counties with deep Democratic DNA that nonetheless eroded before Trump https://t.co/At8gtbZncf — Kyle Kondik (@kkondik) July 17, 2018

Gagin could not be reached for comment Tuesday.