Cleveland Reporter

Jim Renacci’s campaign has released a 30-second TV ad in which he criticizes Gov. Mike DeWine for allegations of scandal.

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 22.

“The 30-second spot hits Governor Mike DeWine for the corruption, incompetence, and government overreach that have defined his disastrous term in office while highlighting the brand of conservative, accountable leadership Jim Renacci will deliver as Governor,” Renacci’s campaign stated on Renacci's website.

DeWine has been governor since 2019.

“While the Primary is still months away, the Renacci campaign is supplementing its rapidly growing statewide grassroots operation with this early, introductory television ad framing the clear choice that voters have between Renacci and DeWine," Renacci's campaign states. 

"While DeWine has been plagued by an endless stream of corruption scandals and voter outrage over his recklessly liberal policies, GOP base voters have been powering Jim Renacci’s surging campaign to defeat DeWine. And while there’s no question that Mike DeWine will spend every cent of the special interest insider cash funding his quest to hold on to power, Jim Renacci has made clear that between small dollar grassroots donations and his own personal funds, his campaign will have the resources it needs to take down DeWine and deliver the conservative leadership Ohio families need and deserve,” the campaign stares. 

DeWine and groups supporting his campaign received $1 million in funds from FirstEnergy when the energy provider was lobbying the state government to bail out two nuclear reactors. FirstEnergy allegedly gave $61 million in bribes to politicians including former House Speaker Larry Householder.

While he was not directly implicated in the scandal, DeWine has been accused of looking the other way — as several of his staffers have been caught up — rather than launching a true investigation into the massive corruption scandal.

The corruption scandal is a centerpiece in opposition to DeWine’s continued governorship.

Renacci has joined the state’s Democrats in focusing on DeWine’s intermingling personal friendships and lobbying contacts in the Ohio statehouse.

“It’s hard to keep up with all of the corruption scandals Mike DeWine finds himself at the center of. DeWine’s statehouse is mired in bribery schemes, shady dealings involving multi-million dollar contracts for friends of the governor and the biggest public corruption scandal in state history, Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party, said in a statement on the party's website. "Ohioans deserve answers, and while DeWine seems to believe he’s above the rules, Ohio Democrats won’t stop pushing for them until DeWine is held accountable."

Renacci, 63, is an accountant and entrepreneur who once owned the Columbus Destroyers Arena Football Team. He won election to U.S. Congress in 2010 as part of the Tea Party movement, and later endorsed Donald Trump over then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the 2016 primary for president.

Renacci announced his bid for governor in June.

DeWine, 74, was Kasich's choice to replace him as Ohio governor. 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.

The full text of the ad:

"Corruption. Critical Race Theory. Illegals flooding into Ohio. DeWine’s reign of terror must end. This is Jim Renacci and I’m running for governor because we need stop Mike DeWine from dragging Ohio down in the gutter. DeWine’s mask and vaccine mandates - not on my watch. I’m running for governor because I am worried about our children and grandchildren’s future. Let’s make Ohio great again. Join me at jimrenacci.com."