The fall campaign season is usually a time when political parties come together. But this is 2022, and this is Ohio, and 67 days before the election, there is a leadership fight in the Ohio Republican Party.
On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, host Mike Thompson discusses the tension in the GOP with Karen Kasler, Statehouse bureau chief for Ohio Public Radio.
Called to lead
With a little more than two months before November's midterm election, this should be a time for unifying behind a common cause, a time to let bygones be bygones in order to make sure your party’s candidates finish strong and claim victory. Except, Ohio Republicans have another idea.
The current Ohio GOP chairman is Bob Paduchick, a prominent long-time figure in Ohio politics. He ran Donald Trump’s Campaign in 2016 and seven years later, former President Trump still likes him.
This week, the party’s vice chairman, Bryan Williams, announced he is challenging Paduchick at the party’s planned organizational meeting next week.
Debate prep
The Ohio Debate Commission is the latest organization to release its dates for planned debates for gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, but they may not be much of a debate.
The governors' debate is set for October 10 and would feature Nan Whaley and Mike DeWine. The U.S. Senate debate is two days later and would feature Tim Ryan and J.D. Vance.
But the commission is having a hard time getting commitments from Republican candidates.
Ohio Debate Commission’s executive director Jill Zimon said that traditionally candidates with big leads in the polls still agree to a debate.
Snollygoster of the week
Mike DeWine and J.D. Vance are not immediately saying yes to a debate and apparently not even returning phone calls and e-mails.
If you have a suggestion for next week's Snollygoster of the Week award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.
