OH-SEN: Renacci Wins Weak Plurality

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The immediate past chair of the Richland County GOP voted for Brown.

ION: Gibbons is hiring staff tied to Kasich.

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Renacci could probably beat Mandel in a primary, but honestly, if Gibbons somehow beats Mandel, he'd do a lot better in the general. Renacci would probably do about the same, if not somewhat worse.

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Take the source with a grain of salt.

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Take the source with a grain of salt.

I dont think hes running at all

I hope not, but I assume he'll run for something eventually. And it would likely have to be something statewide since he moved back to Columbus and not Middletown. It would also have to be sooner rather than later because the sheen of Hilbilly Eligy will wear off.

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I doubt Vance winds up as anyone's LG. Husted, DeWine, and Renacci should all be bending over backward to put a woman on the ticket. He might make sense for Taylor, but she should drop out. Still, Ohio rarely elects Senators to more than two terms -- though I think Brown will make it to a third -- so Vance could run for damn near anything in 2022, 2024, or 2026.

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Gibbons out with a new ad where he aligns himself with Trump.

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Mandel has put together a "faith team" and is seeking to overturn the 1954 Johnson Amendment which bans religious organizations and charitable groups from openly supporting candidates

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Mandel has put together a "faith team" and is seeking to overturn the 1954 Johnson Amendment which bans religious organizations and charitable groups from openly supporting candidates

I mean I'm not necessarily against this in any way, churches should have the same right to political activities unions have.

I definitely disagree, the most political a church should get is the sermon. But honestly, the 501(c)3 bit is much worse. Mandel just wants to cloak himself in as much dark money as possible.

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Mandel has put together a "faith team" and is seeking to overturn the 1954 Johnson Amendment which bans religious organizations and charitable groups from openly supporting candidates

I mean I'm not necessarily against this in any way, churches should have the same right to political activities unions have.

I definitely disagree, the most political a church should get is the sermon. But honestly, the 501(c)3 bit is much worse. Mandel just wants to cloak himself in as much dark money as possible.

you could make that argument that tons of non-profits shouldn't be able to get political, its kind of silly that a church cant but a union can, neither of which pay taxes. And in every state church membership is voluntary.

I personally take a very strict stance on the separation of church and state. And unions are inherently political. I also strongly believe we need to get money out of this politics, which has nothing to do with me being some Godless lefty. I'm sure churches helmed by people like Otis Moss III and William Barber II could raise as much money as, if not more than, those churches helmed by people like Chris Olsteen and Jerry Falwell Jr.

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What Malcolm X said.

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I still think its Tilt D. It would be tilt R with any of the other statewide republicans

Husted maybe, but otherwise, I don't think so. He's beat DeWine before and would do so again, while Taylor and Yost would be even less of a challenge. Kasich, as you've said, would have some trouble making it through his own party's primary. Portman vs Brown would be a bloodbath, but that obviously isn't happening, and Voinovich is dead, bless his soul.

Brown has to be in top form, but Republicans underestimate his campaign prowess at their own peril.

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I still think its Tilt D. It would be tilt R with any of the other statewide republicans

Husted maybe, but otherwise, I don't think so. He's beat DeWine before and would do so again, while Taylor and Yost would be even less of a challenge. Kasich, as you've said, would have some trouble making it through his own party's primary. Portman vs Brown would be a bloodbath, but that obviously isn't happening, and Voinovich is dead, bless his soul.

Brown has to be in top form, but Republicans underestimate his campaign prowess at their own peril.

Underestimating him would be foolish yes, and frankly I hope Republicans overestimate him and put more resources than Necessary to beat him. He's a very good possible Presidential Nom and should be nipped in the bud now before he has a chance to run.

The wife beating allegations would probably sink a presidential nod. Which is why i think he'd never actual run

Sherrod's ex-wife is a family friend and those allegations were exaggerations made as part of a very bitter divorce. They're both over it. Larke Recchie and Sherrod do fundraisers together for Pete's sake.

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Perennial candidate, Don Elijah Eckhart, has entered the Republican primary, JD Vance has officially ruled out a run after much deliberation, and Michael Gibbons wrote an op-ed slamming Mandel as unelectable.

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This also isn't a thread to discuss any presidential aspirations Senator Brown may or may not have.

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Mandel internal poll:

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Link.

I don't know what to make of that, but Eckhart and Ackison are jokes. Gibbsons could crack 10%, if he gets lucky.

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Brown has raised another $2.6 mil, bringing his total CoH to $8.3 mil. Mandel hasn't released his latest quarterly filing yet, but had $3.35 mil CoH as of his last filing.

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Has there been one poll worthwhile poll of the general race yet?

Nope. The race has been fairly quiet the past month or so. Guess both Dems and the GOP were focusing on the local elections.

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The Franklin County GOP endorsed businessman Michael Gibbons over sitting Treasurer Josh Mandel by a vote of 85-16. Quite surprising and a bad look for Mandel. Over the past 40 years or so, only 2 candidates not endorsed by the Franklin County GOP have gone on to win statewide primaries.

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The Franklin County GOP endorsed businessman Michael Gibbons over sitting Treasurer Josh Mandel by a vote of 85-16. Quite surprising and a bad look for Mandel. Over the past 40 years or so, only 2 candidates not endorsed by the Franklin County GOP have gone on to win statewide primaries.

I dont think it shows him gaining momentum, it just confirms what many suspect, that he's been a Kasich plant this whole time.

I think it just further demonstrates how much everyone hates Mandel

Agreed. 85-16 is too big a margin for it to simply be Gibbons is the Kasich surrogate in the race.

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Safe D

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I bet Renacci drops out of the Governor's race and runs for this.

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Wow. His wife must have a really serious illness for him to drop out.

She's just about as ill as FitzGerald's son was when the whole Irish prostitute scandal dropped.

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Wow. I'm tempted to say this race is lean D now(from tossup)

This was already Lean D even with Mandel.

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Wow. His wife must have a really serious illness for him to drop out.

She's just about as ill as FitzGerald's son was when the whole Irish prostitute scandal dropped.

Oh?

That's my personal guess. If she is actually sick, I obviously wish her well.

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Republicans only have tell February 7th 2017 to find a candidate. On another note I wonder if Kasich would reconsider running he still is popular enough in Ohio that he may have a shot against Brown.

Oh no 🤦‍♂️ if kasich runs I honestly don’t know what I would do.
Any chance that Jim Jordan or some congressman jumps in?

Kasich isn't going to run, and there's no way in Hell Jordan does. Renacci or Taylor will switch from running for Governor to Senator, or they put up no-name Gibbons, who despite being a "self-funder" only has $670 COH.