Ohio: Race Taking Shape

The open party gubernatorial primary races are now devolving into lesser events.  When Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted joined together to form a unified ticket, all of the air seemed to elapse from what was a contested campaign.  Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor remains in the race, but she is quickly becoming a non-factor.  The Ohio Republican Party leadership, for example, officially endorsed Mr. DeWine on a 59-2 vote, as reported here yesterday.
 
Yesterday, we witnessed another Democratic candidate falling in line behind former Attorney General Richard Cordray.  Previously, ex-US Rep. Betty Sutton ended her gubernatorial effort and agreed to form a ticket with Mr. Cordray.  Now, state Rep. Connie Pillich (D-Cincinnati) has ended her own statewide operation.  Ms. Pillich announced in a joint event with Mr. Cordray that she will support the unified Democratic ticket.  Remaining in the race are state Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D-Mahoning Valley), former state Supreme Court Justice Bob O’Neill, and ex-US Representative and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland).
 
A DeWine-Cordray campaign would be a re-run of the 2010 race the two ran against each other for Attorney General.  In that election, Mr. DeWine won a 47-46% victory, unseating then-incumbent Cordray.

--Jim Ellis