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Ohio Republicans’ “family fight” is full steam ahead. Here’s what you missed in what has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country. 

NOTHING CAN STOP THIS “FAMILY FIGHT”
 
Nothing can stop this “family fight” from devolving into a chaotic mess. With the candidates wasting no time attacking one another, it’s clear whoever emerges from this primary will be bruised, battered and out of touch with Ohioans. But don’t take it from us:
 
J.D. Vance: “We’re going to have a very brutal primary in the State of Ohio, just like we did in 2022.” 
 
Cook Political Report: “This is still a primary that could become hotly contested.”
 
USA TODAY: “[The prospect of unseating a Democratic incumbent] threatens to produce a wide open GOP primary similar to the knock-down, drag-out fight in 2022 for the nomination for the state’s other Senate seat.”
 
SPEAKING OF ATTACKS… LAROSE HAS A BAD WEEK, THROWS ELBOWS AT MORENO AND DOLAN
 
Frank LaRose had another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week as his “shadow campaign” for Ohio’s Senate seat raised more ethics concerns. While the pressure mounts, LaRose is throwing elbows at his opponents, telling donors that “neither of them have the strength” to win. 

Read the highlights:
 
The Columbus Dispatch: “But some campaign finance experts say the arrangement allows the secretary of state to raise limitless funds in the dark while promoting a potential U.S. Senate bid…Still, critics believe LaRose, as the state’s chief election official, should be held to a higher standard.”
 
Tribune Chronicle: “Perhaps LaRose’s campaign should steer a little further away from ‘isn’t really illegal.’”
 
WEWS: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent out a fundraising request disguised as an important letter, confusing and upsetting voters… ‘I’ve been horrified by it and thinking that LaRose is using his office in this way, taking advantage of his position,’ he said. ‘It was an attempt to mislead me.’”

DONALD TRUMP CASTS BIG SHADOW IN #OHSEN, STORM BREWS AHEAD OF MIKE PENCE ANNOUNCEMENT 

Trump’s presence continues to cast a big shadow on the primary field as some candidates rush to curry favor with the former President while others *cough* Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose *cough* are either ignoring or downplaying the former President’s influence. 
 
With three new contenders expected to get in the Presidential primary next week, one thing is certain…

After reporting from The Columbus Dispatch raised ethics concerns about LaRose’s “shadow campaign” for Ohio’s Senate seat, the Tribune Chronicle Editorial Board yesterday slammed LaRose for “confusing” Ohioans and called on him to “do better.” 
 
Read more: 
 
Tribune Chronicle: LaRose should do better than be legal just by a technicality
Editorial Board
May 31, 2023

• Perhaps LaRose’s campaign should steer a little further away from “isn’t really illegal.”
• “I’ve been horrified by it and thinking that LaRose is using his office in this way, taking advantage of his position,” Bill Joiner said. “It was an attempt to mislead me.”
• To any thinking Ohioan, LaRose is campaigning out of his office. But according to the letter of the law, what he did is legal (for now).
• Surely the knowledge voters were worried and confused by his mailing will be all the reminder needed that once his campaign is official, LaRose must keep his efforts as far above board as possible.

The Columbus Dispatch: Secretary of State Frank LaRose uses election integrity group to aid US Senate ambitions
Haley BeMiller
May 31, 2023

• But some campaign finance experts say the arrangement allows the secretary of state to raise limitless funds in the dark while promoting a potential U.S. Senate bid.
• LaRose told a Republican donor in April that he was raising money for a super PAC, according to a voicemail obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. In the same breath, he laid out his intention to run in the GOP Senate primary and pitched the donor on why he’d be the best choice.
• “As you know, there are two other candidates. Both are nice guys, but clearly neither of them have the strength to beat a guy like Brown,” LaRose said in the voicemail. “All the metrics show that I’m the guy that can do that.”
• Still, critics believe LaRose, as the state’s chief election official, should be held to a higher standard. And Catherine Turcer, executive director for Common Cause Ohio, worries Ohio politicians haven’t learned from the racketeering conviction of former House Speaker Larry Householder.

Today, reporting from The Columbus Dispatch is raising additional ethics concerns around Frank LaRose’s “shadow campaign” for Ohio’s Senate seat. Previous reporting from The Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC.
 
“Ohioans deserve complete transparency and answers to the serious ethical questions around Frank LaRose’s ‘shadow campaign’ for Ohio’s Senate seat and how it is being bankrolled,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Reeves Oyster.
 
Read more: 

The Columbus Dispatch: Secretary of State Frank LaRose uses election integrity group to aid US Senate ambitions
Haley BeMiller
May 31, 2023

• But some campaign finance experts say the arrangement allows the secretary of state to raise limitless funds in the dark while promoting a potential U.S. Senate bid.
• LaRose told a Republican donor in April that he was raising money for a super PAC, according to a voicemail obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. In the same breath, he laid out his intention to run in the GOP Senate primary and pitched the donor on why he’d be the best choice.
• “As you know, there are two other candidates. Both are nice guys, but clearly neither of them have the strength to beat a guy like Brown,” LaRose said in the voicemail. “All the metrics show that I’m the guy that can do that.”
• Still, critics believe LaRose, as the state’s chief election official, should be held to a higher standard. And Catherine Turcer, executive director for Common Cause Ohio, worries Ohio politicians haven’t learned from the racketeering conviction of former House Speaker Larry Householder.

Today, Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Reeves Oyster released the following statement on Warren Davidson and Ohio Republicans’ “family fight” for Ohio’s Senate seat.
 
“Ohio Republicans’ ‘family fight’ is already one of the messiest, most bruising primaries in the country. With candidates wasting no time attacking one another, it’s clear whoever emerges from this primary will be bruised, battered and out of touch with Ohioans.”
 
What you need to know on what’s already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” battles in the country: 

• Chronicle Telegram: GOP Senate Primary Will Be A Fight
   
• Bernie Moreno has taken consistent swipes at Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose – saying Dolan is “Democrat-light” and attacking LaRose for campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime. Moreno called Trump “the greatest president of my lifetime,” said that candidates who refuse to support Donald Trump should be “disqualified,” and has already secured Trump-loyalist J.D. Vance’s endorsement.
   
• Matt Dolan continues to be dogged by the field and Ohio’s conservative base for his record and lackluster support of the former President. 
   
• Frank LaRose has attacked Dolan and Moreno for trying to buy the election, boasted he would be the “strongest candidate” in the race, and returned fire on Moreno’s criticisms. LaRose was also caught downplaying Trump’s endorsement to Republican attendees at a closed-door event while criticizing Moreno.

See also: ICYMI: Expect a “Bloody Fight” in #OHSEN Republican Primary; Ron DeSantis Creates Chaos in Republicans’ #OHSEN “Family Fight;” J.D. Vance Escalates Ohio Republicans’ “Family Fight” With Endorsement; Donald Trump Looms While the Field Takes Heat; Frank LaRose Doubles Down on His Trump Problem, Jabs at Bernie Moreno *Again*; The Buckeye Battle Continues; Frank LaRose Goes On The Attack in Messy #OHSEN Primary; Jabs, Jabs, and More Jabs; Bernie Moreno, Warren Davidson Sling Mud as #OHSEN Republican Primary Heats Up; RINOs and Ethics Troubles and Country Club Republicans – Oh My!

It’s May, but Republicans’ “family fight” for Ohio’s Senate seat is getting more chaotic by the day and it’s only going to get nastier from here as more politicians and outside groups throw gasoline on the fire.
 

SPEAKING OF… J.D. VANCE ADMITS THIS PRIMARY WILL BE BRUTAL, ENDORSES BERNIE MORENO
 
J.D. Vance: “We’re going to have a very brutal primary in the State of Ohio, just like we did in 2022.” 
 
There’s no denying the direction this primary is headed and Vance’s endorsement “won’t scare others”from entering the fray. The field has already wasted no time attacking one another and the infighting will only get worse as candidates are forced to duke it out over new endorsements. 
 

 
RON DESANTIS MAKES IT OFFICIAL, CREATES CHAOS IN #OHSEN AS FAULT LINES FORM
 
Chronicle Telegram Editorial Board: Ohio GOP primary “could turn into a proxy battle in the GOP’s presidential nominating contest, which could complicate things.”
 
They’ve got that right. 
 
When it comes to the Presidential primary, the #OHSEN field is caught between a rock and a hard place and it’s only going to get more complicated from here. But in the meantime, read more on the chaos – including the below – here. 

WATCH MORE ON DESANTIS CAUSING CHAOS IN #OHSEN FROM SPECTRUM

YOU CAN NOW ADD “BLOODY FIGHT” TO THE LIST OF ADJECTIVES USED TO DESCRIBE THIS BATTLE
 
Live footage of Ohio Republicans’ family fight…

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
 
Chronicle Telegram Editorial Board: “Anyway, it’s doubtful that Vance’s endorsement will be enough to head off another bruising GOP primary.”