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J.D. Vance takes center stage ahead of Trump visit
In Delaware Wednesday night J.D. Vance had the stage to himself, taking questions from voters in a townhall hosted by NewsMax. The event, at Ohio Wesleyan’s Chappelear Drama Center, landed right between him securing Donald Trump’s endorsement and the former president’s visit this weekend at the nearby county fairgrounds. The organizers invited all five GOP […]
Vance wondered whether Trump was ‘America’s Hitler,’ says former roommate sharing screenshot
A state representative from Georgia has thrown a wrench into what was supposed to be something of a coronation for Republican U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance. After securing former President Trump’s endorsement last week, Vance was set to campaign with Trump’s son Don Jr. before Trump himself visits Ohio this weekend. Like Vance, Rep. Josh […]
Guns, abortion, China: The evolution of Tim Ryan
Friday morning, Tim Ryan’s campaign released a new TV ad in the Ohio congressman’s bid for the U.S. Senate. The Youngstown area Democrat stands on the hardwood of a basketball gym addressing people lining the bleachers. He talks inflation, supply chain, middle class tax cuts. It’s a notable departure from his previous ad, which focused […]
Trump endorses Vance in U.S. Senate race
Former president Donald Trump has endorsed J.D. Vance for U.S. Senate. The decision comes just a week before Trump visits the state, and ratchets up the intensity in an already hotly contested race just weeks out from the May 3 primary election. Trump’s decision to back Vance was far from assured. The author and investor […]
Sen. Brown visits Chillicothe in bid to keep VA hospital open
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed closing its hospital in Chillicothe as part of a system-wide review to streamline services. The facility serves a broad swath of Appalachian Ohio. In its place, the VA plans to build an outpatient clinic nearby and rely on larger facilities in Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati handle excess […]
State supreme court turns down appeal to compel appearance at trial
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously rejected a prosecutor’s effort to issue warrants, and potentially jail time, to two witnesses in an attempted murder case. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor argued the two were material witnesses to the crime and should therefore be compelled to cooperate. But the Supreme Court determined the prosecutor hadn’t done enough to […]
Assessing J.D. Vance’s border plans
In his first campaign ad of this year’s raucous Senate primary, J.D. Vance stands in a park, a row of homes slightly out of focus behind him, and he looks straight into the camera. “Are you a racist?” he asks, pointing at the viewer. “Do you hate Mexicans?” Voting has begun in Ohio’s primary elections. […]
‘Public safety’ measures that could expand cash bail racing through House
Legislation meant to reverse a state supreme court decision on how judges set bail is progressing rapidly in the Ohio House. The measures could make their way to the floor this week, despite being introduced just 10 days ago. The plan would direct judges to weigh public safety when determining the dollar value for bail. […]
Latest Ryan campaign ad prompts pushback from AAPI community
In staccato repetition, Democratic Senate hopeful Tim Ryan insists the country’s primary challenge boils down to one word: China. But the Youngstown-area congressman’s framing of the issue is raising concerns within the Asian American community. Sharon Kim, from the organization Asian American Midwest Progressives, argued Ryan’s ad conflates legitimate critiques of the Chinese government with […]
Nan Whaley visits 88th county in bid for governor
In Wilmington Thursday, Nan Whaley hosted a coffee date with about 20 supporters at the Kava House. The group lined the walls of a Victorian sitting room with 18-foot ceilings branching off from the coffee shop. The meet and greet marked Whaley’s 88th county visit, crossing every county in the state off her list before […]
Lawmakers roll out proposed constitutional amendment that could increase cash bail
Ohio Republicans may be lining up behind a constitutional amendment requiring judges to consider public safety when setting the amount of bail. The proposal is going before lawmakers as a joint resolution backed by Reps. Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Township, and D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, in the House and Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Huron, in the Senate. They […]
Three takeaways from Ohio Republican Senate debate
In Wilberforce Monday night, all seven of the Republicans vying to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Rob Portman met in a testy but civil debate. Central State University hosted the event, which marked the fourth time in a week and a half that the candidates faced off. With so many meetings in such a short span, […]