Buckeye Reporter

Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci has won the endorsement of the Right to Life Action Committee of Ohio (RTLACO).

"I take this endorsement very seriously," Renacci said in a statement. "Life is one of the most important issues in my campaign. It is, was, and will always be, my priority to protect the human life God creates. As governor I promise to respect the sanctity of life and support the rights of the unborn."

Renacci's running mate, Joe Knopp, was inspired to seek the position of lieutenant governor when he noticed the disparity between Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's priorities to churches compared to abortion clinics during the pandemic shutdown, according to a March 29 press release.

“The church I attend in Dayton, Ohio, is two miles down the road from the abortion clinic," Knopp said in the release. "I wasn’t able to attend my church during COVID, however, the abortion clinic was open the entire time and that was Governor DeWine’s responsibility."

The RTLACO rescinded their endorsement of DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in November 2020, pointing to DeWine's appointment of a pro-abortion health director, as well as the fact that he allowed abortion facilities to remain open while forcing churches and businesses to close, the release stated.

"The pro-life communities in Ohio have been betrayed," RTLACO stated in a letter. "We are withdrawing our pro-life endorsement and issuing a vote of no confidence in your leadership and in that of Lt. Governor Jon Husted."

After withdrawing their support for DeWine, the RTLACO endorsed Renacci.

Right to Life (RTL) is an organization dedicated to defending the lives of the unborn through education and legislation, according to its website. There are more than 3,000 local RTL chapters in the United States, as well as 50 statewide affiliates and the national federation.

According to the Cincy Reporter, Renacci stated that if elected, he will appoint an Unborn Child Advocate. He said the advocate would be a "high priority position."

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.

DeWine, 74, was former Ohio Gov. John Kasich's choice to replace him as governor in 2019, according to West Hamilton News. 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 lieutenant governor.