Author J.D. Vance won Ohio’s Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Democrats nominated the first female nominee for governor in Ohio history, and a leaked decision on abortion sent everyone scrambling.
We break down what it all means on this week’s episode of Ohio Politics Explained.
It’s a podcast from the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau where we catch you up on the state’s political news in 15 minutes or less. This week, host Anna Staver was joined by statehouse bureau chief Anthony Shoemaker.
1) Vance vs. Ryan
Voters will have a choice between author and political newcomer J.D. Vance and northeast Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan this November. The two men won their respective primaries on Tuesday.
Ryan ran away with the Democratic nomination, but Vance was fighting against a much larger Republican field. He won 32% of GOP voters on May 3 after winning Trump’s endorsement in April.
2) Trump congressional candidates had a good night
Vance wasn’t the only Republican to benefit from the former president’s seal of approval. Every Trump-backed congressional candidate won their primary race, including J.R. Majewski who upset state Sen. Teresa Gavarone up in northwest Ohio.
3) Whaley shatters glass ceiling
Former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley is now the first female gubernatorial candidate nominated by one of Ohio’s major political parties.
She will face Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in the fall. DeWine who pulled three primary challengers easily won his primary even though he didn’t break 50% support from his own party’s voters.
4) SCOTUS surprise
Shortly before polls opened in Ohio, news broke in Washington, D.C. Someone had leaked a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that appeared to reverse all federal protections for abortion.
If that draft overturning Roe v. Wade becomes official later this year, it would leave the decision on whether to allow abortions and under what circumstances to individual states.
More:Who gets abortions in Ohio? Unmarried, twenty-somethings in their first trimester.
In Ohio, where Republicans control the statehouse and the governorship, that would likely mean an end to legal abortions except in life-threatening situations.
Listen to “Ohio Politics Explained” on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link in this article.
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