Category: News

Columbus, Ohio — From farmers to small businesses, Ohioans are facing higher costs and lost profits because of Jon Husted’s reckless tariffs. Instead of fighting to lower costs, Husted has doubled down, saying that critics “are wrong” about the tariffs, they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and “the policies are working.”

See for yourself:

WYSO: Some Northeast Ohio businesses say continued tariffs may cause them to close

• Federally imposed tariffs are causing such a strain on some local businesses that some say they might have to soon close.

• Owner Ami Rizek said she’s limiting price increases and putting the burden of the tariffs on the business. She said she cut staff and hours, and hasn’t taken home a paycheck for herself in months.

• Rizek said she may have to close the store soon if the tariffs don’t end.

• Stephen Kelbach said the same thing about his two locations of The Spice and Tea Exchange, which are locally-owned shops in Chagrin Falls and Hudson selling specialty items that Kelbach said can’t be made domestically.

TiffinOhio.net: Ohio farmers say Jon Husted-backed tariffs are driving them into the red

• Soybean farmers across Ohio say Sen. Jon Husted’s trade policies are pushing their livelihoods to the brink, with rising costs, collapsing export markets, and mounting frustration in rural communities that once backed him.

• Husted has defended Trump and the GOP’s tariffs as “standing up for American workers” and claimed they “haven’t affected the economy negatively.”

• According to new U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates, soybean farmers will face a net operating loss of about $100 per acre this year, a devastating blow for one of the state’s largest export crops.

• Higher costs for seed, fertilizer, and equipment — combined with steep declines in overseas sales — have turned what was once a stable market into a financial minefield.

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The post What Ohioans Are Reading: Ohio Families Are Facing Higher Costs Under Jon Husted appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio — New reporting reveals that Jon Husted is bragging after voting for health care cuts that will strip coverage from nearly half a million Ohioans and put eleven rural hospitals on the brink of closure.

Husted called the devastating cuts “purposeful” and said he “loves doing that kind of stuff,” even as families, seniors, and rural communities across Ohio face losing life saving health care.

See for yourself:

Heartland Signal: Ohio Sen. Jon Husted on fighting to weaken Medicaid: ‘I love doing that kind of stuff’

• While speaking to WTVN 610 news host Mark Blazor last month, Husted reiterated his support for Medicaid cuts in the bill, calling them “purposeful.”

• “[We put] work requirements under the Medicaid program for able-bodied, healthy adults to try to restore the sanctity of that program and the work ethic for America,” Husted said on the Columbus, Ohio radio show. “These things are purposeful, Chuck [sic]. So I love fighting for those things. I love doing that kind of stuff.”

• In practice, Trump’s reconciliation package, also known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” represents the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history.

• These cuts will also have a negative impact on hundreds of rural hospitals, many of which rely on Medicaid funding to operate. Eleven of these hospitals are located in Ohio.

• Husted’s office did not respond to a request to comment and elaborate on his voting record.

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The post Heartland Signal: Ohio Sen. Jon Husted on fighting to weaken Medicaid: ‘I love doing that kind of stuff’ appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

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The post ICYMI: Ohio Patients, Health Care Providers Sound the Alarm on Jon Husted’s Health Care Crisis appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

‘Husted has supported total abortion bans with zero exceptions for over 20 years’

Columbus, Ohio – New reporting highlights how out of touch Jon Husted is with Ohioans on reproductive rights.

Husted has spread dangerous misinformation, recently calling the FDA-approved abortion pill mifepristone “not safe” and pushing to ban its use. He has also backed abortion bans without exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother.

See for yourself:

MeidasTouch News: Jon Husted’s Extremist Record on Abortion Rights is Out of Touch With Ohio

• Two weeks ago, Husted called on the FDA to ban the abortion pill mifepristone when asked about its use, falsely claiming, “A lot of the abortion drugs that are out there are not safe for women, misleading information out there, and we need to make sure that [women] have all the facts.”
• Mifepristone has been approved for use by the FDA for over 20 years. Every major study done on mifepristone has found it to be completely safe for women in the early stages of pregnancy.
• Husted’s stance on mifepristone is consistent with his decades long hostility towards abortion access.
• In 2019, Husted backed a bill in Ohio to ban all abortions with no exception for rape or incest once a “fetal heartbeat” is detected, usually around five to six weeks. Most women do not know they are pregnant until between eight and 15 weeks.
• “This isn’t something new,” Husted said. “[…] this has been my longtime position.”

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The post MeidasTouch News: ‘Jon Husted’s Extremist Record on Abortion Rights is Out of Touch With Ohio’ appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

“Soybean farmers will face a net operating loss of about $100 per acre this year”

Columbus, Ohio — Ohio soybean farmers are in crisis thanks to Jon Husted’s reckless tariffs, which are wreaking havoc on markets and sending prices soaring. Husted has said that critics “are wrong” about the tariffs, they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and “the policies are working.”

See for yourself:

Spectrum News 1: Soybean farmers react to China trade deal

• [..] with this year’s soybean harvest already in the books, China has agreed to buy only about half of what it normally would in a year.

• Combined with higher costs and lower crop prices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates soybean farmers will face a net operating loss of about $100 per acre this year.

Dayton Daily News: Area farmers react to China’s pledge to buy U.S. soybeans

• Brian Harbage, whose farm in Clark County’s South Charleston is 50% soybeans, hesitated to proclaim the deal a complete win for the soybean industry.

• “[…] we’re not going to catch up for this year because they haven’t bought any up to this date and now they’re coming to the table late,” Harbage said. “They can’t physically buy enough between now and the end of the year to make up for the losses of this year.”

• Darke County’s Brehm said he questions if the price at which U.S. farmers can sell soybeans will return to previous levels. Soybean prices neared the $18-per-bushel mark in 2012 and reached $16 per bushel in 2021.

• Brehm said what he fears is the price of soybeans increasing by a few dollars and then seed and fertilizer companies raising their prices in response.

• “Then it kind of puts us back to square one,” he said. “That’s the whole problem. That’s like when he was talking about another bailout for us, I was sure hoping he wasn’t going to do that, because that was just another license for the fertilizer companies, chemical companies, everybody else, to steal from us, because then they say, ‘OK, they (farmers) got all this money as a bailout, now we don’t have to really be competitive. We’ll just charge what we want.”

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The post ICYMI: Jon Husted’s Reckless Tariffs are Wreaking Havoc on Ohio Farmers appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Today, Ohio voters are heading to the polls until 7:30pm to decide critical local elections across the state. The results of local races are often the most impactful day-to-day and Democrats are encouraging all Ohioans to make their voices heard.

Voting is open between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm at polling locations across the state. A valid, government issued photo ID is required in order to vote. A list of acceptable IDs can be found here. If you are still in line when polls close, stay in line. If you still need to return an absentee ballot it should be dropped off at your county board of elections by 7:30 pm in order for it to be counted. 

Ohioans with questions or concerns surrounding voting can call 866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.

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The post Today is Election Day in Ohio: Here’s What Voters Need to Know appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio – With open enrollment now underway, an estimated 583,000 Ohioans are bracing for record premium hikes as the ACA tax credits expire at the end of this year.

Senator Jon Husted has repeatedly voted to shut down the government rather than protect affordable health care for Ohioans, even as costs surge and coverage is at risk.

Here’s what Ohioans are reading about Jon Husted’s health care crisis:

Columbus Dispatch: Ohioans’ health insurance was expensive this year. It will cost even more in 2026, Samantha Hendrickson

• It’s time to mentally prepare yourself to be paying even more for health care in 2026.

• Workers under employer-sponsored health insurance are still reeling from the 6% on average cost increase in 2025, but relief isn’t on the horizon. 

• Rates are expected to spike even higher in 2026 – the largest percentage increase since 2010, possibly as much as 9%, and it’s the fourth year in a row health insurance costs will rise.

• By comparison, workers wages grew 4% and inflation is up 2.7% from a year ago.

• For Columbus City Schools classified staff like custodial, transportation and food services workers, health insurance with prescription plans will see a 10% rate increase. For certified employees like teachers, social workers and nurses, the rate increase will be 8%.

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The post What Ohioans are Reading: ‘Ohioans’ health insurance was expensive this year. It will cost even more in 2026’ appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio –  Today, Senator Jon Husted voted for the third time this week to block efforts to rein in the reckless tariffs that Ohio soybean farmers say are driving up costs and creating a mounting crisis across the state. Husted has said that critics “are wrong” about the tariffs, they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and “the policies are working.” 

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement: 

“Jon Husted has doubled down on his support for the reckless tariffs that are crushing Ohio farmers and ranchers. What’s worse, Husted won’t lift a finger to help Ohio ranchers as the U.S. quadruples beef imports from Argentina. Ohioans see exactly whose side Husted is on, and they’ll hold him accountable next November.”

Jon Husted is abandoning Ohio farmers and ranchers:

Because of the Husted-backed tariffs, Ohio farmers haven’t sold a single bushel of soybeans to China this harvest season. Normally, China buys 25% to 30% of the U.S. soybean crop.

• The Husted-backed tariffs are crushing Ohio family farms, threatening many with “risk of foreclosure and forced auction.”

• Meanwhile, Husted has been silent as a $40 billion taxpayer-funded bailout goes to Argentina and the U.S. quadruples beef imports from the very country undercutting American farmers and ranchers.

• Ohio farmer Chris Gibbs said that farmers are taking major losses because of the Husted-backed tariffs — and it is putting them in a “hell of a mess.”

• The Husted-backed tariffs are costing a Grove City manufacturer millions of dollars in business, potentially threatening hundreds of jobs. When the company reached out to Jon Husted, his only response was that he “passed along” the concern to the administration.

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The post Jon Husted Votes Again to Support Reckless Tariffs Crushing Ohio Farmers appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio-  Less than 48 hours remain until Ohio Republicans will have officially blown past another redistricting deadline without revealing a proposed congressional map or seriously considering other proposals. Republicans are set on running out the clock to pass their extreme, unconstitutional map out of sight, but Democrats are fighting back and making sure Ohioans know what’s at stake.

While Ohioans wait to see exactly how Republicans will try to silence their voices and their votes, here’s what Republicans have been up to:

First, Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Committee spent the month of September holding sham hearings, ignoring voters who travelled from across the state to provide testimony, and stalled the fair, constitutional map Democrats proposed while failing to provide an alternative.

Now, Republicans have spent October waiting to seat the Ohio Redistricting Commission until the last minute and only holding one hearing with no opportunity for public testimony. They’re expected to miss the second deadline in this process with no proposed map. 

Next, the process moves back to the general assembly, where Republicans will likely try to quickly introduce and pass an extreme, unconstitutional map out of sight of voters. Democrats have options in this process and will use every tool available to make sure Ohioans get the fair map they deserve.

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The post Less Than 48 Hours Until Next Redistricting Deadline, It’s Radio Silence from Ohio Republicans appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio – Today, Senator Jon Husted doubled down on his support for reckless tariffs, voting once again against proposals reigning in the tariffs that Ohio farmers say are driving up costs and cutting off markets. Husted has said that critics “are wrong” about the tariffs, they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and “the policies are working.” 

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement: 

“These reckless tariffs are crushing Ohio farmers — and Jon Husted is cheering them on. While family farms struggle to sell each bushel of soybeans, Husted has been silent on a $40 billion taxpayer funded bailout to Argentina, the very country undercutting our farmers. Instead of fighting for Ohio, Jon Husted is selling us out.”

Husted’s reckless tariffs are crushing Ohio farmers:

• Because of the Husted-backed tariffs, Ohio farmers haven’t sold a single bushel of soybeans to China this harvest season. Normally, China buys 25% to 30% of the U.S. soybean crop.

• The Husted-backed tariffs are crushing Ohio family farms, threatening many with “risk of foreclosure and forced auction.”

• Ohio farmer Chris Gibbs said that farmers are taking major losses because of the Husted-backed tariffs — and it is putting them in a “hell of a mess.”

• The Husted-backed tariffs are costing a Grove City manufacturer millions of dollars in business, potentially threatening hundreds of jobs. When the company reached out to Jon Husted, his only response was that he “passed along” the concern to the administration.

• Meanwhile, Husted has been silent on a $40 billion taxpayer funded bailout to Argentina, the very country that is undercutting American farmers while Ohio gets squeezed.

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The post Jon Husted Doubles Down on Reckless Tariffs Crushing Ohio Farmers appeared first on Ohio Democrats.