Jim Renacci, pictured here, criticized Gov. Mike DeWine for his COVID lockdowns. | Douglas Coulter
Jim Renacci, pictured here, criticized Gov. Mike DeWine for his COVID lockdowns. | Douglas Coulter
The Atlantic magazine called Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) "the last of the establishment Republicans" and praised him for his early COVID lockdowns. Gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci doesn't think that's anything to be proud of.
"The Atlantic may praise him, but the people of Ohio will never forget the devastation caused by Mike DeWine's lockdowns," Renacci said on Twitter. "Locking down faster than radical Democrats Cuomo and Newsom is nothing to be proud of."
The Atlantic article noted that DeWine "quickly became the nation’s most aggressive governor in confronting the pandemic," acting before California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
In response to DeWine's COVID mitigation measures, Ohio Republicans drafted articles of impeachment against the governor in August 2020, Cleveland.com reported.
Jeremy Pelzer, writing for Cleveland.com, noted, "While the chances of DeWine ... being removed from office are very slim, the articles of impeachment reflect ongoing dissatisfaction from many conservative lawmakers about the governor's coronavirus response."
Rep. John Becker (R-Clermont) listed 10 reasons DeWine should be impeached. This included violating the separation of powers, unconstitutionally forcing businesses to close, failing to plan for and support "more than a million newly unemployed Ohioans," closing schools, and violating First Amendment rights, according to Cleveland.com.
Renacci, 63, is a businessman and former U.S. representative for the 16th congressional district, according to his campaign biography. He is running against DeWine, a fellow Republican, in the 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary on May 3.
DeWine, 75, 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, West Hamilton News reported. That includes stints in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate; he also served as Ohio attorney general and Ohio lieutenant governor.
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