ODP: Area Dems run afoul of laws

June 3, 2022

The bylaws of the Democratic parties in Mahoning and Trumbull counties violate state law as well as Ohio Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee rules. That’s according to Bill DeMora, ODP secretary, who recently reviewed the constitutions of both parties as they plan reorganization meetings. Trumbull Democratic officials say they didn’t realize there were problems and will work to correct them, while Kenneth Carano, Mahoning Democratic Party election chairman, said DeMora is going to have to prove there are violations. The issues with the Trumbull Democrats were ...

Party leadership battles loom

May 26, 2022

There will be challenges to the leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties in Trumbull County and a contested race for chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party. There won’t be any issue with Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Thomas McCabe’s re-election. He’s the ...

Ryan, Vance size up each other

May 20, 2022

J.D. Vance and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan clearly are not impressed by each other. During interviews I recently conducted with Vance, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio, and Ryan, his Democratic opponent, they both sort of dismissed each other. “I see him as a fraud,” Vance said of Ryan. “I see him as a guy who’s been in Congress for 20 years, who’s been on nearly every side of every issue. He’s been pro-life a few years ago, and now has come out in favor of unlimited late-term abortion even up to 40 weeks. He was very pro-defund the police when he was running for ...

Local primary winners, losers

May 13, 2022

There were several fascinating storylines from the recent primary election in the Mahoning Valley. While turnout was poor, it was better than expected. It was 25.65 percent in Trumbull County, where county races and local issues were on the ballot. It was 23.04 percent in Mahoning County, where very few races but some key local issues appeared for voters’ consideration. I expected turnout to be better in communities with local issues, but numbers were surprising, particularly in Mahoning County where no countywide races appeared for either Democrats or Republicans. Turnout for ...

U.S. Senate primary drilldown

May 6, 2022

Thanks to the endorsement of former President Donald Trump and a $15 million contribution from a benefactor to a super political action committee, J.D. Vance went from middle of the pack in the often-nasty Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Ohio to nominee. Without Trump’s endorsement, Vance, an author and venture capitalist, would not have won. And without Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder and Vance’s mentor, giving $15 million to Protect Ohio Values, a super PAC supporting the candidate, Trump wouldn’t have given Vance much consideration. Thiel’s contribution was the ...

Trump influence to be tested

April 29, 2022

Possibly taking inspiration from Tommy DeVito, Joe Pesci’s character in the movie Goodfellas, J.D. Vance, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, said: “You’ve got to be yourself. I think that’s one of the mistakes, by the way, that a lot of these clowns have made in the primary where they haven’t learned anything from the substance of how (Donald) Trump governed. They try to act like Trump, but you’re not Trump.” Apparently the other Republicans running for the U.S. Senate nomination in Ohio amuse him. They likely feel the same about Vance, who has been accused of ...