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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, […]
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Nan Whaley unveils plan for Appalachia
While Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his state of the state address, Democratic hopeful Nan Whaley was in Chillicothe laying out her vision for Appalachian Ohio. She spoke Thursday alongside Mayor Luke Feeney of Chillicothe and Athens mayor Steve Patterson. Whaley’s plan would direct investments to the 32-county region in South and Eastern Ohio to address […]
Vance brings “No B.S.” tour to New Albany
In between debates, Republican U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance is continuing his “No B.S.” Tour around the state. Wednesday he visited the New Albany Mellow Mushroom to talk to a crowd of about 50. With so much in flux due to redistricting, it might come as a surprise that Ohio’s primary election is right around […]
Police hiring database measure gets hearing
More than a year after its introduction, a measure establishing a statewide database for police officer hiring got its first committee hearing. Still, the proposal may be a longshot in the GOP-controlled House. For years, reformers have called for such a database. They invoke officers like Timothy Loehmann, who shot and killed Tamir Rice in […]
In Ohio Republican Senate debate, candidates draw sharper distinctions
In the race’s first statewide televised debate, the five leading Ohio Republican U.S. Senate candidates sparred over a handful of major issues. Unlike last Friday’s forum, actual sparring didn’t come up. Still the confrontation between former state treasurer Josh Mandel and investment banker Mike Gibbons hung over the evening. The moderators opened by asking both […]
Ohio Republican Senate candidate forum devolves into near fight
The leading candidates for the Ohio Republican U.S. Senate nomination met in Gahanna Friday. Two of them nearly came to blows. The candidate forum hosted by FreedomWorks didn’t make it through opening statements before former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel began attacking investment banker Mike Gibbons. The other candidates, state Sen. Matt Dolan, former GOP chair […]
House GOP leader on Supreme Court impeachment: ‘All options are on the table’
A ranking House Republican left open the possibility of impeaching the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, which this week rejected Republicans’ third proposed legislative redistricting map. During a private GOP caucus phone call Thursday, House Majority Leader Bill Seitz and Rep. Jon Cross voiced support for impeaching Justice Maureen O’Connor, according to a […]