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For Immediate Release:

Monday, February 28, 2022

Columbus, OH — Today, Mike DeWine finally hopped on the bandwagon and realized how beneficial the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act will be for Ohio, as he submitted a proposal to help fund repairs of the Brent Spence Bridge with funding from the infrastructure bill championed by Democrats and opposed by Ohio Republicans, including DeWine’s own Ohio Republican Party chair. DeWine was noticeably silent as Democrats pushed the legislation through Congress and never took a stance on the legislation that will have clear benefits for Ohio workers and our state’s economy. Every Republican member of Congress on the ballot this year in Ohio opposed the legislation.

Now, however, Mike DeWine is happy to hop on board and tout the benefits of the bill for Ohio, since he’s in election mode and looking desperately for any way to possibly fix his ever-hemorrhaging poll numbers.

Thanks to the work of Ohio Democrats, and no thanks to Mike DeWine and his fellow Republicans on the ballot, the Brent Spence Bridge – over which three percent of the nation’s GDP travels every day – may finally receive the funding necessary to repair the bridge for good, which is good news for Ohio workers and our state’s economy.

“We’re glad Mike DeWine has finally seen how valuable the infrastructure bill will be to working Ohioans and our state’s economy, and we look forward to his public statements moving forward that condemn his fellow Republicans for voting against the legislation and thanking Ohio Democrats for getting it signed into law,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes.

This is far from the first time Mike DeWine changed his stance and tried to take a victory lap on legislation championed by Democrats. Earlier this year, DeWine was widely slammed for trying to claim credit for funding secured by the American Rescue Plan, legislation that DeWine and every single Republican in Congress, opposed.

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For Immediate Release:

Monday, February 28, 2022

Politically-Motivated Moves by LaRose Could Cost Ohioans Millions

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Chair Elizabeth Walters blasted Frank LaRose for putting the 2022 primary elections into chaos this weekend by grossly inserting politics into the process and leaving Ohioans to pay the price. This weekend, LaRose played politics with Ohio’s election process, fell in line with fellow Republicans and ordered all 88 county boards of elections to start the process of placing General Assembly candidates on the ballot without final maps in place.

The political moves by LaRose would disenfranchise Ohio voters and could cost Ohioans millions of dollars by likely setting up two primary elections and by moving forward on costly administrative moves to move forward on ballots that don’t reflect what the final districts will likely look like.

“Frank LaRose has clearly now fully embraced attempts by his fellow Republicans to put their thumb on the scales of Ohio elections by trying to skirt the law and force GOP-gerrymandered maps on Ohio voters. We won’t stand idly by while LaRose and his fellow Republicans disenfranchise Ohio voters and force those same voters to foot the bill as LaRose plays political games with Ohio elections. We’re now exploring possible legal action to stop LaRose’s politically-driven directive from moving forward.” 

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  February 25, 2022

Happy Friday, and welcome to “Buckeye Brawl,” a weekly newsletter from the Ohio Democratic Party highlighting the nasty, chaotic, and expensive Republican primary for Senate. This out-of-control primary is making conservatives “deeply worried” about the prospects of Republicans losing this seat.

As the Republican Senate primary continues to sink lower and lower, these GOP candidates are injecting even more nasty personal attacks, more chaos and more money into this race. We’re here to help you keep track of all of it.

Here’s what you may have missed:

PARTICIPATED IN THE PLUNDER. J.D. Vance took a shot at Jane Timken – who owns a significant amount of stock in the Timken Company, which owns several steel mills – for being an out-of-touch millionaire, saying, “I’m the only person who can look Tim Ryan in the eye and say, ‘my family didn’t own a steel mill — they worked in a steel mill.” Vance’s super PAC allies wasted no time piling on to spotlight the company’s business dealings with Putin’s Russia, with one advisor, tweeting, “No candidate has business ties in Russia except for Jane Timken. Her husband’s company has provided steel for their tanks, rail, and military,” and another going even further:  “Worth remembering that the last time Russia invaded Ukraine, Jane and her husband eagerly participated in the plunder.” No matter how hard she tries, Jane Timken just can’t escape Timken.

SMALL AND IDIOTIC. When asked about Timken’s ad saying he was “overcompensating for his inadequacies,” J.D. Vance hit back on the Bill Cunningham Show, saying, “I know Donald Trump. Jane Timken is no Donald Trump. She doesn’t have his charisma, which is why her campaign isn’t doing very well. And when she makes jokes like that, it just makes her come across as small and idiotic. It doesn’t come across as funny. I think it’s ridiculous that she’s trying to distract from the fact that she doesn’t have a message, right? Why is Jane Timken running for Senate? It’s a bunch of RNC talking points, so it’s not surprising she feels like she has to go after me in these ridiculous attack ads.” Ouch, sounds like someone touched a nerve.

POSTER CHILD OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. On the Mark Levin Show, Josh Mandel laid into his GOP opponents for not taking on the establishment, saying, “These people who are running against me, they were nowhere to be found. They did not have the courage to take on Kasich. They won’t have the courage to take on the squishy establishment leaders in Washington. You know, I’ve got a bunch of people running against me in this race who are a bunch of never-Trumpers, pro-impeachment RINOS.” After hammering Timken’s squishy RINO roots for months, Mandel pounced on Senator Rob Portman’s endorsement as proof, calling her “the poster child of the establishment. You know she was the party chairman, you know she provided coverage for DeWine with all his mask mandates and vaccine mandates. This lady actually defended the congressman who voted to impeach Trump. You know, she’s pro-impeachment.” Josh is right about one thing: after failing to gain traction as a MAGA warrior, Jane Timken went back to what she knows best – the establishment. Good luck with that, Jane!

Thanks for reading along – that’s all for the Buckeye Brawl this week. If you have questions, my email is [email protected]. Have a great weekend!

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Chair Elizabeth Walters issued the following statement in support of Ohio’s Ukrainian American community following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

“Ohio Democrats stand strong with Ohio’s Ukrainian American community amid Russia’s unprovoked attack on the nation of Ukraine. Our state is a stronger, richer place because of the Ukrainian Americans who call Ohio home. Our thoughts are with our fellow Ohioans during these difficult days ahead and we stand ready to offer any support we can.” 

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For Immediate Release:

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement as Republicans yet again broke the law in producing and approving GOP-gerrymandered maps.

“Once again, Republicans have failed to understand the assignment. Every time they pass another gerrymandered map, Ohioans pay a steeper cost for the political games Republican politicians are playing with our elections. And it will be a high cost to pay. Ohio Democrats have done their job and produced fair maps. The failure of this commission falls squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. 

“GOP politicians on this committee have proven time and time again that they’re more interested in placating special interest donors and extremists in the legislature than operating within the law. Any statements from them saying otherwise is strictly performative and should be treated as such.” 

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