Buckeye Reporter

Ohio ranks fourth in the country for drug overdose deaths, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

More than 5,000 Ohioans lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2020. The only states to surpass Ohio in drug overdose deaths were California, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

"Mike DeWine has had nearly four years to lead Ohio on the right path," said Jim Renacci, gubernatorial candidate. "Instead, Mike DeWine has led Ohio to out-of-control Medicaid spending, burdensome regulations, skyrocketing drug overdoses, and blue state-level tax burdens. For a state led by a  Republican governor, Ohio deserves better."

DeWine, 74, was John Kasich's choice to replace him as Ohio governor in  2019. He is one of the longest-serving public officials in state history, having been in elected office for 41 years. That includes stints in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and as Ohio attorney general and Ohio lieutenant governor.

On his campaign website, Renacci highlights a report from the website WalletHub, ranking Ohio as the nation's top state for Medicaid spending  as a share of the state budget. That same study found the quality of  Ohio's Medicaid program to be ranked just 22nd.

He cites another study showing Ohio the as third most regulated state.

Jim Renacci is a businessman and former U.S. representative for the 16th congressional district running against DeWine, a fellow Republican, in the 2022 GOP  gubernatorial primary on May 3.

"Ohio ranks in the top ten of worst-taxed states," Renacci's website says. "A report from the Tax  Foundation found that Ohio ranked in the top ten most-taxed states for  income taxes and business taxes."