Ohio Democrats

Donate

Uncategorized

Ohio Democrats Bring the “Not-So-Strong Ohio” Tour to Lima

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democrats brought their “Not-So-Strong Ohio” tour to Lima as they travel across the state to lay out how Mike DeWine’s weakness is taking our state backward. 

For four years, DeWine has been too weak to stand up to extremists in his own party and the special interests fueling his campaign, instead serving as a rubber stamp for policies that hurt working families while failing to provide the leadership Ohioans expect from their governor.  

“On issues ranging from abortion rights to gun violence to redistricting to the largest public corruption scandal in state history, Mike DeWine’s weakness is costing Ohioans big time and taking our state backward,” said Ohio Auditor candidate Taylor Sappington.

Key examples of DeWine’s weakness include:

  • Abortion Rights – Mike DeWine told an anti-abortion special interest group that he wants ‘to go as far as he can’ to rip away reproductive rights in Ohio. 
  • Gun Violence – Despite promising to ‘do something’ to combat gun violence, DeWine caved to the gun lobby and signed gun bills that are opposed by Ohio law enforcement because they make Ohioans less safe. 
  • FirstEnergy Bribery Scandal – ‘State Official 1’ has been dodging questions since October about what he knew and when about the largest public corruption scandal in state history, a scandal that continues to cost Ohioans $287,000 every single day. 
  • Redistricting – Even as he knew the maps he was passing were likely unconstitutional, DeWine ignored voters, caved to his own party and rubber stamped seven illegal, GOP-gerrymandered maps. 

With this kind of record, it’s no wonder Mike DeWine is scared to debate Nan Whaley. He’s spent his whole time as governor selling out to the wealthy and well-connected and leaving Ohio workers to pay the price. 

“Under Mike DeWine, we’ll have extremists in the legislature running the show, pushing radical agendas that keep businesses away from our state and taking our economy backward,” said Ohio Secretary of State candidate Chelsea Clark. 

Ohio Democrats, like former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, are offering a better way forward: moving our state forward by investing in working families and putting kitchen-table, economic issues front and center. 

“Ohio deserves better. We need a governor who will stand up to the bad guys, not do their bidding. We need Nan Whaley,” said Lima 5th Ward City Councilmember Jamie Dixon. 

###

DeWine Debate Watch: Day 15

Columbus, OH — As debate season starts to ramp up in the closing weeks and days of the election cycle, Mike DeWine has continued to duck committing to debates across Ohio with Mayor Nan Whaley, even as the Mayor has already publicly agreed and challenged DeWine to a number of debates. DeWine also dodged a debate with his primary opponents earlier this year, signaling that he is scared to defend his record to Ohioans, especially since he’s debated political opponents in the past. It’s ‘DeWine Debate Watch’ Day 15, reminding Ohioans that DeWine won’t even try to make his case to them as he seeks re-election to the highest statewide executive office. 

“Mike DeWine clearly knows his record over the last four years of selling out working families in favor of the wealthy and well-connected is not going to be popular with Ohio voters. If DeWine can’t even muster the political courage to tell Ohioans why they should re-elect him, he doesn’t deserve the job and should be held publicly accountable for his cowardice,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes. 

Ohioans deserve answers from DeWine on a number of key issues, including his promise to ‘go as far as we can’ to rip away reproductive rights, his broken promise to ‘do something’ to combat gun violence in Ohio, his connections to the largest public corruption scandal in state history and his role in the failed redistricting process that produced GOP-gerrymandered maps and cost Ohioans millions of dollars. 

Read more from the Dayton Daily News here and below: 

Dayton Daily News: Checking The Issues: Sharp Differences In Governor Candidates As Race Nears End
Jim Gaines
September 11, 2022 

  • The Ohio Debate Commission has scheduled a gubernatorial debate at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the Akron-Summit County Public Library. [Nan] Whaley has accepted, but [Mike] DeWine has not responded.
  • Jill Zimon, executive director of the Ohio Debate Commission, said the body has not heard from the DeWine campaign since May. The commission has not yet set a final date for acceptance, or decided what to do if he doesn’t participate, she said.
  • [Whaley Communications Director Courtney] Rice said Whaley not only agreed to the Ohio Debate Commission event, but has accepted an invitation from the Nexstar TV group and a joint forum at the Columbus Metropolitan Club. Nexstar has five Ohio stations, including WDTN in Dayton.
  • Rice said Whaley’s campaign is also talking with two other organizations that have not announced debates because they’re waiting for a response from DeWine.
  • “If Gov. DeWine isn’t willing to defend his record, why is he even running for reelection?” Rice said.

###

Ohio Democratic Party Statement Marking 9/11 Anniversary

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters issued the following statement marking the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. 

“As we mark the anniversary of September 11th, we honor the memories of the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost and hold their loved ones in our hearts. We also commemorate the courage of our first responders and service members who answered the call to duty that day. Their service is a true inspiration to all of us who wish to make our state and country stronger and fulfill our nation’s values of liberty and justice for all,” said Chair Walters. 

###

DeWine Debate Watch: Day 12

Columbus, OH — As debate season starts to ramp up in the closing weeks and days of the election cycle, Mike DeWine has continued to duck committing to debates across Ohio with Mayor Nan Whaley, even as the Mayor has already publicly agreed and challenged DeWine to a number of debates. DeWine also dodged a debate with his primary opponents earlier this year, signaling that he is scared to defend his record to Ohioans, especially since he’s debated political opponents in the past. It’s ‘DeWine Debate Watch’ Day 12, reminding Ohioans that DeWine won’t even try to make his case to them as he seeks re-election to the highest statewide executive office. 

“Mike DeWine clearly knows his record over the last four years of selling out working families in favor of the wealthy and well-connected is not going to be popular with Ohio voters. If DeWine can’t even muster the political courage to tell Ohioans why they should re-elect him, he doesn’t deserve the job and should be held publicly accountable for his cowardice,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes. 

Ohioans deserve answers from DeWine on a number of key issues, including his promise to ‘go as far as we can’ to rip away reproductive rights, his broken promise to ‘do something’ to combat gun violence in Ohio, his connections to the largest public corruption scandal in state history and his role in the failed redistricting process that produced GOP-gerrymandered maps and cost Ohioans millions of dollars. 

Read more from the Cincinnati Enquirer here and below: 

Cincinnati Enquirer Opinion: Dan Sewell: Ohio Governor Might Sit Out Debates While Sitting On Poll Lead
Dan Sewell
September 7, 2022 

  • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is sounding like a debate-dodger. The Republican incumbent hasn’t agreed so far to debating his Democratic challenger, former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. He hasn’t ruled out formal debates, but he keeps talking about alternatives such as newspaper endorsement meetings.
  • Apparently, people should have taken the opportunity to ask the governor about Ohio infrastructure needs while he was eating a sauerkraut ball or admiring the 4-H Club members’ market lambs.
  • “I don’t think there’s been any governor that’s ever had more press conferences than me,” DeWine also said. That might be true, and DeWine has usually been accessible to the news media over the years.
  • But that’s not the point.
  • Debates are an opportunity for voters to compare and contrast candidates in real time; seeing how they answer each other’s challenges to their records, how quick they are thinking on their feet when hit with unexpected questions that go beyond their talking points, and how clear they are on their visions for the state.
  • And they can produce defining moments, such as the angry nose-to-nose confrontation this year between former state Treasurer Josh Mandel and businessman Mike Gibbons that made them look decidedly un-senatorial during a Republican primary debate for the Senate nomination.
  • So why is DeWine, who at 75 has been running in campaigns in Ohio since Whaley, now 46, was a baby, balking at debating? “If Mike DeWine is afraid to debate me and defend his record as governor, why is he even running for-election?” [Nan] Whaley asked in a Sept. 2 tweet.

###

Will Frank LaRose Stand Behind His Fellow Secretary of State Candidates?

Columbus, OH — Frank LaRose loves to talk out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to election security, claiming Ohio elections are secure but also winking and nodding at MAGA Republicans who believe the lies they’ve been told about election stealing. It’s been a tough line for LaRose to walk, having told Cleveland.com “I think it’s irresponsible when Republicans say an election was stolen and don’t have evidence,” after Trump lost in 2020.  

Now, however,  LaRose is now in a leadership role for a committee dedicated to supporting Republican Secretary of State candidates, which includes numerous election deniers. So the question for LaRose is, does he support his fellow Republican Secretary of State candidates and their election lies, or will he actually stand up for election integrity and use his leadership on the committee to condemn his fellow Republicans?  

Here’s a sample of the lies the Republicans in his organization are spewing:  

Arizona Secretary of State Nominee Mark Finchem falsely claimed Trump Won Arizona: 

  • NBC News: Finchem falsely claimed Donald Trump won Arizona in 2020 and then turned around and introduced resolutions to overturn the certification of election results in three Arizona counties.  
  • New York Times: The paper called Finchem “instrumental;” in arranging fake Arizona electors after the 2020 election in order to decertify state results. These actions are now under investigation by the Department of Justice 

Nevada Secretary of State Nominee Jim Marchant insists votes have not been counted for decades:

  • New York Times: Marchant was selected as an “alternate” on the state’s electors and pledged to refuse to certify the election of President Joe Biden. He also admitted he would decertify Dominion Voting Machines and demand all paper ballots be counted by hand. 
  • Associated Press: Marchant rallied supporters throughout his primary by telling them their vote “hasn’t counted for decades.” 

Michigan Secretary of State Nominee Kristina Karamo claimed Trump would be President by 2022 while spreading Q’Anon conspiracies: 

  • MLive Grand Rapids: Karamo posted on Twitter that Donald Trump would be President again by 2022. She later claimed her account was hacked and the Tweet was deleted. 
  • CNN: Karamo baselessly claimed widespread voter fraud in Michigan in 2020 that stole a Trump victory after also claiming she saw fraud firsthand. 
  • The same report from CNN indicates Karamo spoke at a QAnon conference in Las Vegas in 2021. 

“Frank LaRose holds a leadership position at a committee that exists to support Republican Secretary of State candidates, which this year includes numerous election deniers. Will he use his leadership position to condemn their lies, or will he continue to only look out for his own political aspirations instead? If LaRose can’t even call out his fellow Republicans when they lie about elections being stolen, he has no business leading our state’s elections process,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes.  

###