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TOLEDO, Ohio — <\/span>House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries<\/a> said Sunday the election climate is holding firm for Democrats as he campaigned for Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a heavily contested Ohio congressional district that is crucial for majority control<\/a> of the House.<\/p>\n Jeffries also slapped back at President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> abrupt decision to waive sanctions<\/a> on Russia and said there will be a bipartisan effort in the House to pursue a new sanctions package that the president would not have the ability to waive.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s shocking, but not surprising, that an American president would do so much to undermine the cause of democracy, freedom and dignity for the Ukrainian people,\u201d Jeffries told The Associated Press after visiting church services in Toledo.<\/p>\n Jeffries, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win back the majority, has traveled to some 50 cities campaigning for Democratic candidates. He said the House Republicans are \u201cdivorced from reality\u201d in thinking \u2014 as Speaker Mike Johnson<\/a> recently suggested \u2014 that the Nov. 3 election will be a repeat of the 2024 sweep that put Trump in the White House and Republicans in Congress. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are working hard across the county, continuing to make the case that we need dramatic change as opposed to the status quo,\u201d Jeffries said, \u201cand that Democrats are going to be the only ones to fight to make this country affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n The Buckeye State is being fiercely contested<\/a> in these midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. While much attention has been on the Senate race<\/a> between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown, the House races are a district-by-district slog key to unlocking control of that chamber.<\/p>\n The Toldeo-area House seat has been a top priority. Kaptur, who has held office for decades, is the longest-serving woman<\/a> in the House. But Trump has carried the district and Republicans are trying to flip it. Kaptur defeated GOP candidate Derek Merrin<\/a> two years ago, but he is making a repeat play for the seat.<\/p>\n \u201cWe work very hard,\u201d Kaptur told AP. \u201cWe don\u2019t just work at elections. We work to make a difference in the lives of people.\u201d<\/p>\n In August, Kaptur, 80, was heading to church when the vehicle she was riding in as a passenger was struck<\/a>. She was hospitalized with injuries suffered in the car accident, but said she has since recovered.<\/p>\n Jeffries said Kaptur is a legendary figure in the Great Lakes Region. \u201cOnce again, she’s going to defy all expectations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The area has been home to a large Ukrainian American population, and Kaptur is founder and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers with particular focus on the country.<\/p>\n She had harsh words for Trump\u2019s decision late Friday to waive provisions of the Russia sanctions bill named for Lindsey Graham, which Congress had passed to help Ukraine as it battles Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s invasion<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he did is just un-American,\u201d she said. \u201cHe has sided with Putin.\u201d<\/p>\n Members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, expressed outrage<\/a> over the weekend at Trump\u2019s decision to waive the sanctions, which were due to take effect Sunday. The president had just signed the bill into law last month.<\/p>\n Johnson said Sunday on Fox News Channel\u2019s \u201cSunday Morning Futures\u201d that a number of his colleagues have raised concerns. He said he had yet to talk about it with Trump, but said he knows the president is evaluating<\/a> the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to talk about it and I think carefully consider the unintended consequences,\u201d Johnson said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n