The Ohio Scoop is your weekly campaign fix, filled with the most up-to-date information about Ohio Democrats and everything happening on the campaign trail here in Ohio. We’re here so you can get your political scoop, all in one place.
If you’re new to the list, welcome. You were added because you are one of Ohio Democrats’ best supporters. For those of you who are returning, welcome back.
We had a busy week on the campaign trail, so let’s jump right in.
Supreme Court? More Like “Slay, Queen” Court
USA TODAY Ohio Network/Suffolk Poll recently showed all three Ohio Supreme Court races as “too close to call.”
Three Republican-held seats are up for grabs, and Democrats have no protection needs this cycle. Just ONE pick up would give Democrats the majority on the Ohio Supreme Court for the first time since 1985, ensuring an important firewall against Republican extremism in Ohio. Democrats flipped a Republican held seat in 2020 – we know we can do it again this year. Adding to the momentum, Ohio women are out registering men by 11% and new women registrants are modeled to be Democrats by +15 points.
If you are not supporting this incredible slate of women – Judge Marilyn Zayas, Judge Terri Jamison and Justice Jennifer Brunner – please do so using this link!
With a majority on the Court, Ohio women have a path to restoring some access to abortion care in the short-term.
1 MILLION Votes-by-Mail Expected in Ohio
As of October 2, county boards have already logged absentee ballot request forms from over 614,865 voters, with another month to apply. Women make up over 50% of these voters. If past trends hold, Ohio could exceed 1 million vote-by-mail requests by the end of the cycle.
This is a HUGE deal.
Ohio Democrats are working to chase these ballots to ensure voters return them on time.With our robust GOTV program, Ohio Democrats are texting, calling, and canvassing these voters. Absentee chase mail is also a critical part of our plan, and with this surge of applications, our budget is expanding by the day.
We need help making sure we can fully fund our absentee chase program. Anything you are able to contribute gets us one step closer to electing Democrats like Tim Ryan and our candidates up and down the ticket.
The MomenTIM is Building
Tim Ryan Raises $17.2 Million in Q3
Tim Ryan’s campaign for U.S. Senate announced they raised $17.2 million in the third quarter of 2022, nearly double the campaign’s previous record-breaking haul.
The whopping number is made up of:
105,455 new donors ️- An average online donation of $39.57
- 95% of donations $100 or less
- AND donations came from all 88 counties in Ohio
Meanwhile, J.D. Vance continues to fund his campaign with millions in out-of-state dark money. Most recently, Trump’s new super PAC MAGA, Inc. has made their first TV ad spending in Ohio starting TODAY.
Tim’s unprecedented Q3 numbers come as numerous polls show the race neck-and-neck, or with Tim narrowly ahead. But Republicans continue to funnel millions of dollars into Ohio.
Help Tim close out the election strong. We can’t slip behind now.
Decision Desk HQ moves OH Senate Race to TOSS-UP
Decision Desk HQ has flipped the OH-Senate Race from Lean R to a toss-up.
Along with Ohio’s change, PA and GA’s ratings changed to Lean D and Likely D, respectively. It looks like things are trending nationally against the Republicans.
Ohio’s rating change is thanks to the continued positive polling from Tim Ryan, but we cannot get comfortable.
Mitch McConnell continues to funnel tens of millions of dollars into our state to elect California Vance. Chip in to help Tim Ryan defeat J.D. Vance.
New Ad Alert
“POP A BOTTLE”, the new TV ad from Tim Ryan’s campaign features Tim and his wife Andrea talking about the importance of compromise and finding common ground, both in and out of politics.
The new ad comes as several recent polls (Siena, Marist, and Suffolk University) continue to show the Ohio Senate race in a dead heat just five weeks out from Election Day.
Buckle Up!
Tim Ryan’s campaign for U.S. Senate hit the road this week on the Workers First Express. Early on in his campaign, Tim pledged to travel to all 88 counties in Ohio, a feat he accomplished in April of this year.
To round out the final 32 days before election Day, Tim is taking to the streets yet again to visit every corner of Ohio and cut workers in on the deal.
J.D. Vance a “Craven Shapeshifter”
Former GOP State Representative Joan Lawrence scorches J.D. Vance as a “craven shapeshifter” and a “chameleon who will do anything to get elected” in a new op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch.
J.D. Vance is a total fraud. So much so, Republicans are mobilizing to support Tim. Even Trump knows it. “J.D. is kissing my a**. He wants my support so bad!” the former president said at a rally in Ohio recently.
DeWine Ducks Debates
If you’re new here, you may not know that Mike DeWine has been ducking his responsibilities to debate Gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley. It’s obvious that DeWine doesn’t feel he needs to be held accountable for what has happened to our state over the past four years of his leadership. In case you forgot, DeWine’s track record includes:
- Being named State Official #1 in Ohio’s largest bribery scheme
- Overseeing an illegal redistricting process
- Ripping away abortion rights within hours of the Dobbs decision
- Caving to the gun lobby after promising to “Do Something”
Five polls have shown the Governor’s race in single digit margins. Ohio Republicans are getting scared, Mike DeWine included. He doesn’t want to be held accountable for his actions, so he is refusing to debate Nan Whaley. So, Nan has decided to host her own debates.
Sign up here to be kept up to date about the times and locations of Nan’s debates.
New Ads for OH-1 and OH-13
The DCCC released new TV ads in the race for Ohio’s 1st and 13th Congressional Districts highlighting the dangerous Republican candidates, Rep. Steve Chabot & Madison Gesiotto Gilbert.
“Obsessed” highlights Chabot’s decades-long obsession with ripping away women’s right to an abortion, even in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life.
“Wrong” highlights the serious dangers of electing anti-choice extremist Madison Gesiotto Gilbert. Gesiotto Gilbert eagerly supports extreme anti-choice legislation, including a state law that denied a 10 year-old rape victim in Ohio an abortion.
Greg Landsman for OH-1 and Emilia Sykes for OH-13 are the common-sense choices for these districts.
Flavor of the Week
This week, we asked Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein about his favorite Ohio ice cream and he said…
“I love dark chocolate. Jeni’s darkest chocolate is pretty darn good.”
ICYMI
Editorial: Ohio gives an assist to conspiracy credibility | The Blade
Senators Brown, Casey stump in Steubenville, discuss importance of labor unions | WTOV
LaRose to campaign with Majewski Saturday, says it’s “up to him” to explain military record
Ohio Republican group urges GOP, swing voters to reject J.D. Vance
Until Next Week
We are 27 days away from Election Day on November 8th.
It is GOTV season and we have a lot of work to do to turn out voters on the ground in every corner of the state. We have doors to knock, phone banks to hold, absentees to chase and of course- thousands of unregistered Democrats to register by October 11th. To do this, we need your help and we need it now. Please consider contributing as much as you can to help Ohio Democrats turn out as many Democrats as we can.
As always, thank you for standing with us. I am immensely grateful for your partnership.
Onward,
Emily Feltz
Finance Director, Ohio Democrats
