Secretary of State Jon Husted and Attorney General Mike DeWine have campaign war chests of about $2.5 million ahead of the contest for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018, in which both of them are seen as likely candidates.
And Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, also given a strong likelihood of entering the race to succeed the term-limited Gov. John Kasich has a federal political action committee with more than $1.1 million in it, her political consultant reported.
According to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday in Columbus, Mr. Husted reported a war chest of $2,515,455, including $851,912 raised during 2016. Mr. Husted’s largest contributions are $12,500. Mr. Husted’s campaign said he outraised all Ohio officials during the midyear and final annual reports for 2016.
“Today’s filing further emphasizes the momentum and enthusiasm behind Jon Husted’s vision for Ohio’s future,” said Avi Zaffini, spokesman for Husted for Ohio. “From reducing spending so that his office can function for two years without using any taxpayer dollars to his optimistic vision for Ohio’s future, Jon Husted has earned the trust Ohioans have in him.”
Mr. DeWine’s account contains $2,514,481, including $975,768 raised in 2016 and January, 2017. The largest single contribution is $90,000 from the Summit County Republican Party. Other than that, his largest contributions were for $12,532, which is the maximum individual contribution for a one campaign cycle.
Local contributing political action committees include the Toledo law firm Spengler Nathanson for $500 and Mannik & Smith Group Inc. of Maumee for $2,500.
Dave Luketic, the manager of Mr. DeWine’s exploratory committee, sent out a fund-raiser letter Tuesday that claims 95 percent of Ohioans know who Mr. DeWine is and 71 percent have a favorable view of him, according to a poll by the group American Freedom Builders.
“Mike DeWine works tirelessly every day to protect Ohio's families and move our state forward. Not surprisingly, recent polling and strong support from donors and grassroots supporters show that Mike DeWine remains the most popular leader in Ohio,” Mr. Luketic said. “Today’s report clearly shows his strength and support in Ohio.”
The reports filed with the secretary of state cover the period July 1 through Dec. 31, 2016.
Ms. Taylor has no active campaign account because her last two campaigns were as Gov. John Kasich’s running mate. However, she heads a nonprofit PAC that can spend money to promote her ideas and name, but not her candidacy.
None of the three has made their candidacy official.
Ms. Taylor’s group, Onward Ohio, a 527 nonprofit political action committee, has raised a total of $1,149,950, according to a statement from her political consultant, Todd Olsen.
Mr. Olsen said she had 89 contributions ranging from $50 to $250,000. He said most of her contributions were amassed in the last two months of 2016. The committee went into 2016 with $125,021 and added $865,000, Mr. Olsen said. The committee spent $63,222.
The three contributors of $250,000 were Charles “C.J.” Betters of Aliquippa, Pa., a real estate manager and developer; Tony & Gary Didado of Akron, owners of an electrical contracting firm, and Tony George, restaurant developer and chairman and CEO of the George Group in Cleveland, a supporter of Donald Trump in the election last year.
Also considering a run for the GOP nomination is U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R., Wadsworth), whose district includes suburbs of Cleveland and Akron. He has not formed a state campaign committee.
Many Democrats are believed to be studying the 2018 race for governor, but none has raised anywhere near the money that Republicans have raised.
Potential candidates include Rich Cordray, head of the U.S. Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, who is barred from political activity while holding his position; former northeast Ohio U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D., Barberton), former State Rep. Connie Pillich (D., Cincinnati), and Youngstown-area U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D., Niles).
Ohio Democratic Chairman David Pepper said the party is starting a process to vet candidates for 2018. The party was embarrassed by the poor showing of its 2014 gubernatorial candidate, then-Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.
“We heard loud and clear from our stakeholders and Democrats ... state that we need strong statewide candidates for 2018. We need a gubernatorial candidate with an effective message and the ability to raise enough money to make sure Ohio voters hear that message,” Mr. Pepper said in a prepared statement.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.
First Published February 1, 2017, 5:00 a.m.
