WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Facing a rare intraparty primary challenge, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine informed the Ohio Debate Commission that he will not participate in this month’s GOP gubernatorial debate.
DeWine is facing a trio Republican challengers in his bid for reelection — former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, former state Rep. Ron Hood and businessman Joe Blystone. The Republican gubernatorial debate is one of four events hosted by the Ohio Debate Commission.
The organization is also hosting a gubernatorial debate between the two leading Democratic candidates — John Cranley and Nan Whaley. The Ohio Debate Commission plans to host the Democratic and Republican U.S. Senate debates.
“We’re obviously disappointed. We convene these debates to help voters and, frankly, to help campaigns and candidates connect with voters across the state. We would welcome the Governor reconsidering this decision,” said ODC Board President Dan Moulthrop.
Recent polling shows DeWine is ahead. A Fox News poll released earlier this week showed DeWine leading with 50% of Republican voters, ahead of Blystone at 21% and Renacci at 18%. The poll sampled 918 Republican voters and had a margin of error of 3%.
The DeWine campaign defended the call not to debate.
“Mike DeWine is the most publicly accessible governor in Ohio history,” his campaign said in a statement. “Gov. DeWine meets with constituents on a daily basis and regularly takes questions from the media. Ohioans know where he stands on the issues and that he is fighting and winning for them.”
The two gubernatorial debates will be held March 29. The debates for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat will be March 28. All four events will be located at Central State University in Wilberforce.
Ohio’s primary will be May 3.
