Ohio Republican Party
Ohio Republican Party committee votes to support amendment change, oppose abortion rights
The Ohio Republican Party central committee gathered in a downtown Columbus ballroom Friday morning. Ahead of the pledge of the allegiance, one committee member urged her fellows not to pause before “under god.” The members dutifully took her advice; some even ad-libbed “born and unborn” at the end. Party chairman Alex Triantafilou joked “we take […]
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice wants legacy with judiciary, not with party
As Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor takes her leave from the state’s top court position, she takes with her a fierce loyalty to an independent judiciary and fervent belief that she couldn’t have done the job alone. What she’s boxing up with the trash is any desire for partisanship or politics. “You don’t […]
Householder defense in racketeering trial previewed in fight over campaign finance experts
A fight over expert testimony in the felony racketeering trial of former Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder offers a window into the ex-legislative leader’s defense strategy over his alleged role in the $1.3 billion First Energy bailout, political bribery scandal. U.S. attorneys filed a response this week the U.S. Southern District of Ohio court […]
Ohio GOP decides to endorse statewide slate over objections, stays out of Senate race
After a contentious meeting outside Columbus, the Ohio Republican Party has agreed to endorse the full slate of incumbent statewide officeholders. Meanwhile, the party decided not to wade into a crowded race for U.S. Senate — the inverse of the Democratic party’s endorsement decisions just a day prior. But the anger and frustration among activist […]
Republicans sue own party chairman, claim millions in missing funds
Members of the Ohio Republican Party are suing the leader of their party and accusing him of being responsible for $3 million in “missing funds.” The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court against ORP Chairman Robert Paduchik and party treasurer Dave Johnson. Five individuals identified as donors and members of the ORP […]
Former state treasurer Josh Mandel to run for U.S. Senate
Former state treasurer Josh Mandel announced Wednesday he is running for U.S. Senate, becoming the first major candidate to jump into the race to replace Sen. Rob Portman. Mandel, a Republican, served two terms as state treasurer and previously ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Sherrod Brown in 2012. He briefly campaigned to challenge […]
Mailbag: Can Rob Portman be defeated in 2022?
Every season is election season, and it’s time for another Mailbag: Got a question about Ohio politics/government? Send them to [email protected] or tweet them to @tylerjoelb. Do you think U.S. Sen. Rob Portman can be defeated in 2022? – @Meg_Jewell2, on Twitter. Answer: Anybody can be beat, but his seat will be a tough get […]
Not a single HB 6 ‘yes’ vote lost their election. Some ‘no’ votes did.
The scandal surrounding House Bill 6 took out the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. It has dominated the newspages and airwaves for months. It was the subject of countless campaign attack ads. In the end, voters didn’t seem to care. The scandal implicating former Speaker Larry Householder and his effort to get a […]
Keys to the Ohio Statehouse legislative elections
Two years ago, Democrat Jessica Miranda won her state representative seat by just 56 votes — barely enough to fit in a row or two at Madeira High School’s football stadium in her 28th district. A few counties north, Republican J. Todd Smith won his 43rd District seat by 137 votes. Miranda is running for […]
Democrats, Republicans seek to pin Householder scandal on each other
Larry Householder has gone from the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives to the pariah of Ohio politics. The Republican’s name has appeared in advertisements from both political parties this election season, as the two sides have attempted to pin alleged corruption at the Ohio Statehouse on each other. Democrats have accused various Republican […]
Fellow Republicans put DeWine in a bind on coronavirus
With coronavirus cases spiking in Ohio and across the country, Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday found himself in the awkward position of urging Ohioans to wear masks while refusing to comment on his fellow Republicans’ refusal to do so. The governor opened his press conference with the grim news that there were 892 new coronavirus […]
COVID-19 puts final stretch campaigning at a standstill
There will be little to no gladhanding in the days leading up to the March 17 primary election. Political parties and candidates themselves are taking special precautions in Ohio as COVID-19 has forced much of society to a halt this week. Gone are the usual grassroots efforts in the final stretch of campaign season. Jane […]