Ohio Republican Congressman Brad Wenstrup's niece was reportedly among those killed during a stampede in South Korea over the weekend.
“Monica and I, and our entire family, are grieving the loss of our niece Anne Marie Gieske. She was a gift from God to our family. We loved her so much,” said Rep. Wenstrup.
In a separate statement, Gieske's parents mourned the loss of the University of Kentucky nursing student who was studying abroad in South Korea at the time.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken over the loss of Anne Marie. She was a bright light loved by all. We ask for your prayers but also the respect of our privacy. Anne's final gift to us was dying in the state of sanctifying grace. We know we will one day be reunited with her in God's kingdom” her parents said.
The deadly crowd surge during a Halloween celebration in Seoul took the lives of at least 153 people, including 26 foreigners. As of Sunday evening, 133 people were reported injured during the incident but officials have warned the toll may continue to rise.
The other American killed during the surge has been identified as 20-year-old Steven Blesi, a student at Georgia's Kennesaw State who was also in the country to study abroad.
Rep. Wenstrup currently represents Ohio's 2nd Congressional District and is up for re-election against Democrat Samantha Meadows. Election prognosticators FiveThirtyEight predict Wenstrup will easily defeat his opponent in the solid red district he's held since 2013.
Ohio has been home to a number of high-profile election battles this year as Republicans seek to hold onto the governor's mansion and maintain a Senate seat held by outgoing Republican Senator Rob Portman.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine is projected to win re-election against Democrat challenger Nan Whaley. The latest Marist poll reported DeWine with a 13-point advantage over Whaley.
The Senate race between Trump-endorsed bestselling author J.D. Vance and longtime Democrat Congressman Tim Ryan is expected to be close but recent polls show Vance maintaining a slight lead over the Democrat. RealClearPolitics average report Vance with a two-point lead over Ryan. The latest Marist poll reported the two candidates tied for the Senate seat.
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