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David Skolnick

Yost’s predictable exit from race may not be last goodbye to politics

The Ohio governor’s election is more than 17 months away, but I have already written a considerable amount of articles and columns on it as candidates come and go. Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, is the latest to go after coming to the realization that he wasn’t going to beat Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy biotech entrepreneur who has the endorsements of the Ohio Republican Party, President Donald Trump and several prominent Ohio and national Republicans. It did not take that long for Yost to read the room, announcing his withdrawal from the race May 16. It came a week ...

Ramaswamy backing shows Trump’s control of Ohio GOP

Not that there was any doubt, but the Ohio Republican Party’s unprecedented endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy for governor about a year before the primary shows that President Donald Trump has total control over the state GOP. The president strongly backs Ramaswamy’s campaign for governor. When the wealthy biotech entrepreneur officially declared his candidacy on Feb. 24, Trump wasted no time in enthusiastically endorsing him. Trump’s endorsement carries more weight in Ohio politics than anything else — and his influence with the state Republican Party is second to ...

Issue backers count on poor turnout for primary election

When the bar is set so low, getting a little above it or a little below it isn’t much of an accomplishment. Right before the election, Stephanie Penrose, Trumbull County Board of Elections director, expected turnout in the county at 10%. She said: “We’ll be lucky to break 10%. Nothing is really driving turnout. Turnout will be really low.” Penrose, who is always optimistic about turnout projections, added: “I hope a bunch of people will show up on Election Day and prove me wrong.” Trumbull’s turnout was 11.17%. Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of ...

Issue backers count on poor turnout for primary election

When the bar is set so low, getting a little above it or a little below it isn’t much of an accomplishment. Right before the election, Stephanie Penrose, Trumbull County Board of Elections director, expected turnout in the county at 10%. She said: “We’ll be lucky to break 10%. Nothing is really driving turnout. Turnout will be really low.” Penrose, who is always optimistic about turnout projections, added: “I hope a bunch of people will show up on Election Day and prove me wrong.” Trumbull’s turnout was 11.17%. Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of ...

Power of incumbency brings Joyce big bucks

Once in Congress, raising money becomes considerably easier. The longer you’re there, the more cash you collect — particularly from political action committees as they love winners and those who they view as allies or at least those who can help them. U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, is serving his seventh two-year term representing the 14th Congressional District, which has Trumbull as its second most-populous county behind Lake. Joyce’s campaign always has excelled at raising money. Serving on the House Appropriations Committee and as chairman of the Financial Services and ...

AG Yost won’t stand down in 2026 race for governor

In the 2026 Republican primary for Ohio governor, Attorney General Dave Yost finds himself facing an uphill climb against Vivek Ramaswamy, a wealthy biotech entrepreneur who’s never held elected office. As many Republicans, including in Ohio, have found out, it’s not what you know but who you know that leads to victory. In 2022, political newcomer J.D. Vance, a venture capitalist best known for writing his life’s story at the age of 31, emerged from a crowded Republican field to capture the party’s nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. Donald Trump’s endorsement of ...