Ohio Primary Election Recap

High Stakes for Independent Agents in the November General Election

With the primary election behind us, the slate of candidates for the general election has been established.

In the highly anticipated US Senate race to replace retiring Senator Rob Portman (R), the seven candidates on the Republican side spent a combined $75 Million on the campaign. Ohio Republican voters elected “Hillbilly Elegy” author JD Vance. He will face 10-term Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan in November.

Like their politics, the candidates come from polar opposite sides of the state. Vance hails from Middletown in Butler County (SW Ohio) and Ryan is from the Youngstown area in the Mahoning Valley (NE Ohio). This race is expected to draw high campaign spending, and national interest and be a contentious campaign. It is considered to be one of a handful of competitive races that will decide the control of the US Senate.

In the Governor’s race, Ohio Republicans voted for incumbent Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to seek another four-year term. They will face former Mayor of Dayton Nan Whaley and Cheryl Stephens from the Democratic party in November. On a historical note, Nan Whaley is the first female candidate for Governor from a major party in Ohio’s 219-year history.

All Supreme Court of Ohio candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries. For the open position of Chief Justice, Republican Justice Sharon Kennedy is set to face Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner. Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Justices Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer will be opposed by Democratic Appeals Court judges Marilyn Zayas and Terri Jamison, respectively.

This November the election takes on increased importance since Ohio voters will be deciding the philosophical balance of the Court. After 15 years of a Court grounded in judicial restraint, the Court is trending towards an activist philosophy reminiscent of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

On June 14 OIAPAC is hosting an event to support the campaigns of Justices Kennedy, DeWine, and Fischer. We strongly encourage you to participate, please contact Lauren Reid, OIA’s Government Affairs Manager, Lauren@ohioinsuranceagents.com for more information.

In addition, all 99 Ohio House seats, half of the seats in the Ohio Senate and all statewide offices, including the governor, who appoints the director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, are on the ballot. We cannot emphasize enough just how important the outcome of these races are to you and your clients.

While agents may not all share the same political views, they do share the same underlying values and passion for protecting the independent agency system so that Ohioans have a choice in coverage that meets their unique insurance needs. OIAPAC supports candidates with pro-business views that promote a strong economy and competitive insurance marketplace. Please contribute to support your profession today!

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