COLUMBUS - While Republicans flee Ohio Gov. John Kasich, at least one politician wants his support: Democrat Richard Cordray.
Cordray, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, released a video Friday saying he would keep Kasich's Medicaid expansion and the private-public economic development group, JobsOhio. Kasich had expressed concern this week that the next governor would ax those programs.
"This message is for those who agree with Gov. Kasich: I am your candidate," Cordray said.
Kasich had endorsed his lieutenant governor, Mary Taylor, in her unsuccessful GOP bid for governor. Since her defeat Tuesday, Kasich has not backed Republican nominee Mike DeWine.
On Wednesday, Kasich said he planned to stay quiet on the race to replace him. "I'm going to be like a former president," he said.
Kasich's endorsement of Taylor was more of a burden than a blessing in conservative parts of Ohio, where Republicans are still infuriated by Kasich's decision to expand state-paid health care to lower-income Ohioans.
DeWine still has time to secure Kasich's endorsement – if he wants it. DeWine's campaign has plenty of Team Kasich ties. One of Kasich's former staffers is running DeWine's gubernatorial bid and several Kasich backers were at DeWine's victory party Tuesday.
Kasich appeals to Democrats and moderates – sometimes more than he does to fellow Republicans. (That's why he has at least considered an independent bid for president in 2020.) Kasich's support could help in a general election much more than it did in a GOP primary.
Cordray has long said he would keep Medicaid expansion intact, but his other promise might surprise Democrats. Many in his party fought against JobsOhio because the economic development organization, funded by state liquor profits, lacks transparency.
JobsOhio offers tax breaks to companies to attract them to Ohio, but those deals are rarely available to the public until after they are inked. As cities placed bids to secure a second Amazon headquarters, the details on Ohio's efforts were sparse.
"I will not get rid of JobsOhio," Cordray said in the video. "Instead, I will work to make sure it fulfills its mission and that it is transparent and effective."
No word yet on what that transparency would look like. DeWine has said he would keep JobsOhio but subject it to public audits like state and local agencies.
On Medicaid, DeWine has said he would work with the federal government to overhaul the current system, which he called unsustainably expensive. That might mean a block grant of money to Ohio to spend as it pleases, likely resulting in fewer people having coverage. Still, DeWine wants to continue drug treatment through Medicaid.
"Ohio has come a long, long way from the economic dark days of Ted Strickland and Richard Cordray, and Mike DeWine and Jon Husted are the leaders with real plans for continuing our momentum and taking the state to the next level," DeWine spokesman Josh Eck said.
What does Kasich think of Cordray's pitch?
"There is no way that Gov. Kasich is going to vote for Elizabeth Warren-backed Richard Cordray," Kasich spokesman Chris Schrimpf said.
Columbus Bureau Chief Chrissie Thompson contributed reporting.