Buckeye Reporter

In a move to strengthen his campaign, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci is appealing to the Republican base and sharing data that shows him ahead of Gov. Mike DeWine in approval ratings.  

"We overwhelmingly want DeWine out of office," a recent Renacci campaign released said. "I am the only conservative candidate who can make that happen. If we conservatives don't vote Renacci/Knopp in May, DeWine stays in power, and worse, loses to the Democrats in November."

A survey of 1,088 likely voters conducted by the Harris Poll and commissioned by the Committee for a Better Ohio found Renacci leading DeWine in the Republican primary by one point. A second survey found Renacci leading Democratic challenger John Cranley by 10 points, and DeWine leading Cranley by two points. 

"If Renacci's lead over DeWine can be narrowed to one percent, the other candidates are only helping DeWine by diluting the conservative vote," the Renacci campaign release said.

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 May 3.

Despite the fact that DeWine is a Republican, his policies have been centrist, earning him praise from moderates and scorn from more extreme Republicans. So, the governor has several primary challengers that claim he cannot defeat a Democratic challenger in the upcoming election. 

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 Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and as Ohio attorney general and lieutenant governor.