Former Ohio attorney general and treasurer Richard Cordray, who resigned last week as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will announce no later than next week that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor, multiple sources told The Dispatch.
And, riding polling portraying them as the top contenders for the Republican nomination for governor, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted are teaming up as a ticket in a powerhouse move consolidating their support.
The DeWine-Husted ticket features the GOP patriarch in the top slot, with Husted taking the No. 2 as lieutenant governor candidate — a launching spot for a potential run for governor if they win.
The announcement of the formation of the ticket will come on Thursday at events in Dayton and Columbus, a source with knowledge of the agreement told The Dispatch on Wednesday evening.
In the wake of the news, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who also is seeking the GOP nomination, scheduled an announcement about her campaign for 3:30 p.m. Thursday. A spokesman wouldn’t comment on what the announcement would be.
Cordray’s widely expected announcement of a gubernatorial run was confirmed by three Democratic sources who said they had spoken with the Grove City resident about his bid.
Other sources also said that Cordray was expected to announce his run next week. He lost his bid for re-election as attorney general to DeWine by about 1 percent of the vote in 2010.
While I like the other Democratic candidates running for Governor (Betty Sutton, Connie Pillich and Nan Whaley), I am more excited about Cordray’s candidacy because we’re going to have both a real Populists running for re-election for the U.S. Senate (Sen. Sherrod Brown (D. OH)) and a real populist running for Governor and there’s nothing sweeter than getting the ultimate chance to stick it to Trump in Ohio.
What makes Ohio interesting is it could be the year of rematches. As the article pointed out, Cordray could be headed towards a rematch against DeWine if DeWine wins the nominee. However, it depends if Republican voters want some from part of the John Kasich branch or a Trumper like this clown:
U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, a Republican from Wadsworth running for governor, said Tuesday that suing drug manufacturers over the opioid epidemic was not a solution to the ongoing drug problem in Ohio.
Several localities as well as Attorney General Mike DeWine - another Republican candidate for governor - have sued drug companies, accusing them of lying about the addictive nature of opioids to get doctors to prescribe the pain medications. The suits have mostly broad bipartisan support.
But Renacci said during a speech at the City Club of Cleveland that suing the drug manufacturers wouldn't alleviate the problem.
"If you don't like the drug situation and say, 'Well I'm going to sue the drug manufacturer,' well the next time if there's a car accident, are you going to sue the car manufacturer? The next time someone uses a gun, are you going to sue the gun manufacturer?" Renacci said. "The answer isn't in suing the manufacturers. The answer is to really get to the core of the problem and to talk to the people who have been associated with those problems."
It remains to be seen. The long shot rematch would be if Sutton and Renacci ended up winning their parties’ nominees but who knows what the odds are of that happening. Personally, once Cordray announces, I would like to see Sutton drop out of the race and offer to be Cordray’s Lt. Governor. That would be a sweet ticket. We also have the potential rematch between Brown and scumbag Treasurer, Josh Mandel (R. OH). Ohio is going to be a big state to watch. It went to Trump for sure but guys like Brown and Cordray are the true Rust Belt populists who have what it takes to win. Until Cordray launches his campaign website, let’s make sure Sherrod Brown is ready to go. Click here to donate and get involved with Brown’s re-election campaign.