COLUMBUS — Campaign finance reports at the state level filed Monday show Republicans are in control of key races. 

What You Need To Know

  • Recent campaign finance reports show Republicans running for state office holding a significant fundraising advantage over Democratic foes

  • In a rare primary challenge against a sitting governor, Mike DeWine holds a massive advantage over a pair of GOP opponents seeking to unseat him

  • Former southwest Ohio mayors John Cranley and Nan Whaley are battling for the Democratic nod, with Cranley holding more money on hand despite Whaley raising more money

Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, has two candidates on his side of the aisle trying to take his job. However, the latest campaign finance reports suggest that will be tough sledding for Jim Renacci or Joe Blystone. DeWine has more than $9 million in cash on hand and received more than $3 million between August and Monday.

The other two have raised less than a million dollars combined. Renacci also loaned his campaign nearly $5 million on top of the $1 million he previously loaned.

"Donations are a good marker of approval ratings by party regulars, particularly the ones that are really involved and have the money to spend. And the fact that they're not really funding Jim Renacci as a viable challenger tells us a lot about how in the primary they go," said Baldwin Wallace University political science professor Thomas Sutton, Ph.D.

As for the Democrats running for governor, former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley outraised former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley by nearly $250,000. Yet Cranley has about $100,000 more to play with heading into the last 90 days before the May primary.

Sutton thinks Whaley is the stronger candidate but again, it will be tough for either of them to beat DeWine.

"Without scandal, without a bad economy, we tend to just reelect whoever is in office and in Ohio, that tends to be Republicans. So unless something unusual happens between now and November, I think the advantage is definitely for Mike DeWine," Sutton said.

In the race for Ohio attorney general, Republican Dave Yost raised more than $500,000 last year and has more than $2 million on hand.  Ohio State Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, D-Parma, just got into the race in December, so he does not have nearly the fundraising dollars or cash on hand.

Sutton sees Yost keeping his job.

"Yeah, I do. Dave Yost has certainly made a public presence of himself, with various lawsuits that he's filed related to the pharmaceutical industry related also to some things related to the federal mandates related to COVID and vaccines. So he's got a public presence, he's got much more name recognition," said Sutton.

The other key race is for chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Republican Justice Sharon Kennedy outraised Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner by more than three times and has nearly five times more money on hand.

"I am surprised by that. I think it does demonstrate some weakness, either in the fundraising capabilities of Brunner or the Democratic Party in general, which I think is in a pretty weak position statewide," Sutton said. 

Sutton believes with the urgency Democrats have to hold on to their seats in Congress, the down ticket races will not get the attention or dollars needed to win any of these races. All candidates running for statewide office must file by Wednesday.

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