CLEVELAND — With the primary results in, the races at the top of the ticket come November will get interesting in Ohio.
The battle for the state’s soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat is likely one of the most expensive general elections in the country this year, as the balance of the Senate is in jeopardy. Ohio is considered one of a few places where Democrats could possibly win.
Tuesday’s primary proved the ‘Trump effect’ still carries weight here, as the former President’s endorsed pick, Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance, knocked off six other candidates.
“This campaign I really think was a referendum on what kind of a Republican party we want and what kind of a country we want,” Vance said in his victory speech. He also took a stab at Democratic nominee, Rep. Tim Ryan, for playing to the center.
“Let's be honest, look at his TV ads, look at the things that he's doing, the guy is running as Trump democrat. Right?” said Vance.
“If they want to talk about the past, China is going to continue to eat our lunch. If you want to talk about the last election, if you want to try to undermine democracy, there's absolutely no proof of that,” said Ryan on Wednesday, speaking after a Dayton roundtable, to Vance’s arguments about the 2020 Election. “Let's talk about the future and how we can build that together, as Americans, not as Democrats and Republicans.”
“Democrats probably nominated the best person they could for the seat [in Ryan], but the context and the issues, it would appear skew towards Republicans,” said Matt Dole, an Ohio Republican Political Strategist. “Republicans are going to be more enthusiastic, to turn out to sort of rebuke the national administration. So, Republicans have an advantage there. I would say also on issues, Republicans probably have an advantage this year. Inflation is high and that cuts across every demographic. Democrats are just as annoyed by paying more for gas and groceries and cars and houses and lumber and everything else as, as Republicans.”
“Ohio has become as red a state, as most of the states in the south,” said David Milenthal, a longtime strategist. “How far to the right will (Gov. Mike) DeWine go? How will Nan Whaley reposition herself to run against the DeWine? Um, how far to the right will Ryan go?” he said, as to what he’ll be watching.
While the Governor’s race is likely Mike DeWine’s to lose, Democrat and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley has an opportunity to capitalize on the issues, particularly the role state abortion rights could play come November.
“She is a woman, during a year in which being a woman has just become even more important due to the abortion issue,” he said. “I think she'll be well funded. And I think that she can be a formidable candidate if she takes a breath and figures out how she wants to define herself going forward in the general election.”
Milenthal said the race he sees as most interesting of all, is for Ohio Supreme Court. That’s the branch that will weigh potential future challenges to Ohio’s bans on abortion.
“There will certainly be challenges…litigation is the political strategy,” he said.
More Election coverage:
- Election updates: Gov. Mike DeWine wins GOP gubernatorial bid, will face Nan Whaley; Rep. Tim Ryan, J.D. Vance to meet for U.S. Senate seat
- 'This is our time in history': Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wins Republican nomination in gubernatorial race
- Rep. Tim Ryan wins Democratic nomination for US Senate in Ohio
- J.D. Vance wins Republican nomination for US Senate in Ohio
- Former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley wins Democratic nomination in Ohio gubernatorial race