Category: News

Columbus, Ohio- Amid increased calls to release the Epstein files, new reporting is taking a closer look at Vivek Ramaswamy’s sudden silence after advocating for the release of the files during his presidential campaign. Ramaswamy has refused to return multiple requests for comment.

READ: Analysis: Vivek Ramaswamy goes silent on past demands to release Epstein files, Howard Wilkinson, 09/10/2025

• Two years ago is not a long time, but Vivek Ramaswamy — now the apparent GOP nominee for Ohio governor — doesn’t seem to remember what he was saying about Jeffrey Epstein in 2023.

• He was all over social media and interviews with conservative talk shows proclaiming he was the “first” and “most vocal” public figure to call for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which people assumed included a list of the child sex abuser’s clients whom he would hook up with under-aged girls.

• For months before that, Ramaswamy was beating the drum for releasing the Epstein files, saying at one point that “Jeffrey Epstein didn’t act alone.”

• But since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January and Ramaswamy launched his campaign for governor — with Trump’s endorsement — there’s not been a peep out of Ramaswamy on the matter.

• WVXU’s requests to Ramaswamy’s campaign staff and strategists for an interview with the candidate went unanswered.

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The post WXVU: Vivek Ramaswamy goes silent on past demands to release Epstein files appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Today, Ohio House and Senate Democrats released their proposed congressional maps. Unlike Ohio’s current maps, where Republicans hold 66% of our congressional seats despite earning just 55% of the vote, Democrats have proposed a map that is more representative of Ohio’s actual political leaning based on recent election results.

In response, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde released the following statement:

“House and Senate Democrats have proposed a map that gives all Ohioans an equal voice in our elections, because Ohio Democrats believe voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. 

We’re calling on Republican legislators to work with us to pass a map that gives voters an equal opportunity to make their voices heard instead of the same partisan process from last time that led us to the gerrymandered maps that are required by law to be redrawn. Democrats are committed to an open, fair process, and that starts with this proposal. Voters deserve an open, fair process and that starts with today’s proposed map.”

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The post Ohio Dems Chair Applauds Democratic Congressional Map Proposal appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Eleven Rural Ohio Hospitals are At Risk of Closing as Medicaid Cuts Take Effect

Historic Medicaid cuts backed by Senator Jon Husted have put rural hospitals in Ohio at risk of closing, according to new reporting from the Athens Post.

According to the report, at least two hospitals are already at risk of closing and many others are “being forced to eliminate parts of the services they provide” in Southeast Ohio, which has the highest rates of Medicaid recipients than any other part of the state.

See for yourself:

The Athens Post: Medicaid cuts pose potential threats to rural Ohio hospitals

• President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law July 4 and includes major cuts to Medicaid, according to a report by the Associated Press. 

• Though these cuts will take time to fully roll out, many worry about potential hospital closures in the near future. Hospitals in rural areas are specifically at risk. 

• The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted research and sent a letter informing Senate Democrats of the effects the funding cuts could have on rural hospitals. 

• Two hospitals located in Southeast Ohio, the Holzer Medical Center in Jackson County and Southern Ohio Medical Center in Scioto County, were named on the list. 

• Counties in Southeast Ohio tend to have higher rates of Medicaid recipients than other regions of the state, according to a 2023 study from Georgetown University.

• Political commentator Lisa Parker resides in Jackson County and commented on the impact these cuts will have on the local community.

• “A lot of these people, I don’t think, have grasped what’s keeping their family afloat are benefits that are being cut, and they’re going to feel these cuts next fall,” Parker said. 

• According to an Associated Press article, around 10 million people are expected to lose their health insurance as a result of this bill.

• Marjie Shew, a farmer in Morgan County, said more people will be uninsured, sharing what she thinks the impact of the cuts will be on the local community members who are on Medicaid.

• “Those people die sooner,” Shew said. “That’s basically what happens, they don’t get the attention they need until they’re debilitated.”

• Cronin mentioned an additional concern for potential closures of rural hospitals. He noted that many businesses in local communities can stay open because a hospital is their biggest employer. 

• “If we lose these hospitals that are anchors to their community, the entire community shifts,” Cronin said. “There are less job opportunities, there’s less money in the economy. And I really think it’s important to look at the entire community effect when we lose something as important as a hospital.”

• Cronin also stated that even without closures, many rural hospitals are being forced to eliminate parts of the services they provide. He specifically mentioned the maternity desert crisis in Ohio, a trend where hospitals are suspending labor and delivery to stay open. 

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The post ICYMI: Husted-Backed Medicaid cuts put rural Ohio hospitals on chopping block appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- In case you missed it, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde penned an op-ed along with Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder warning voters across the country about the redistricting battle that’s coming to their states next. Ohio is the only state required by law to redraw congressional maps this year. Republicans are expected to use the opportunity to silence the voices of voters and further rig Ohio’s maps.

READ highlights from Chair Clyde and Chair Scudder below and check out the full piece here:

• As Chairs of the Democratic Party in Ohio and Texas, we have a warning for the rest of the country: Republicans will do anything they can to stay in power, including subverting basic principles of democracy because they don’t respect the voters.

• Our state parties will make sure voters don’t forget how eagerly Republicans have been willing to sell their votes to save their own seats in Congress.

• Texas was first. Ohio is next. But Ohioans and Texans have never backed down from a fight, and we don’t plan to start now. 

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The post NEW from The Hill: A warning from Texas and Ohio about Republicans’ redistricting power-grab appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – New reports are showing the effects of Washington’s economic chaos on Ohio families. The state’s unemployment rate has jumped to the highest level in four years,  while major employers like Sherwin-Williams are slashing retirement benefits by suspending their 401(k) matching contributions, “citing weak sales amid economic and tariff headwinds.” 

“Unelected Senator Jon Husted’s economic recklessness is hurting Ohio workers,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “The chaotic tariffs he supports are driving up costs for small businesses and manufacturers, making it harder to create and keep good-paying jobs. Husted voted for the largest billionaire tax break in American history, while Ohio workers are facing rising unemployment, higher costs, and threats to their retirement security.”

What Ohioans are reading today in Cleveland.com:

• “Ohio’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in July, marking an increase from June’s 4.9% and a significant jump from 4.3% in July 2024.”

• “The growth of the United States’ GDP is steeply decreasing. And the number of job openings in July came in below the number of U.S. unemployed for the first time since April 2021.”

• “The dips are affecting Sherwin-Williams, one of Cleveland’s flagship employers. The company is poised to pause its contributions to employee 401(k) accounts because of inflation that has decreased DIY demand and tariffs that have increased costs.”

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The post Husted’s Economic Chaos: Higher Unemployment, Rising Costs, and Threats to Retirement Security appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Reporting from the Ohio Capital Journal found that veterans could suffer from Republican cuts to Medicaid that all Republican members of Ohio’s congressional delegation voted for. Veterans in Ohio and across the country have made countless sacrifices to serve our country. Now, Republicans are rewarding them by taking away their healthcare or making it more expensive. 

READ: Ohio’s veterans could suffer from federal Medicaid cuts, 09/02/2025

• Military veterans in Ohio could suffer from the cuts to Medicaid in the federal budget bill signed by President Donald Trump in July. Ohio will see a $33 billion decrease in federal Medicaid spending over the next ten years, part of the $911 billion in total Medicaid cuts across the country for the next decade, according to estimates from health policy research organization KFF.

• The reductions come at a time when more members of the military than ever are coming back from conflict. […]  With reductions in both the VA and Medicaid, veterans on Medicaid expansion may see “more red tape” with increases to the number of times they must prove eligibility.

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The post Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio’s veterans could suffer from federal Medicaid cuts appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- All eyes will be on Ohio Stadium this Saturday as the Buckeyes play Texas in a rematch of last season’s playoff semifinals. But while Ohioans from every walk of life cheer on the Buckeyes, billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy will actually be cheering for Texas after moving his business to Dallas just months before announcing his gubernatorial run.

While Ohioans struggle to make ends meet with just one good job, Ramaswamy decided to move employees with good-paying jobs and their families to Dallas. Instead of choosing to build up Ohio’s economy, he shipped our jobs and talent to Texas.

“Ohioans deserve a governor who will be cheering for them on and off the field. Instead of investing in our state’s future, Ramaswamy chose to kick jobs and business all the way to Texas,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “While Ramaswamy leaves Ohioans on the sidelines, Democrats are throwing flags on the play and organizing to make sure he never becomes governor.”

READ: Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy moving finance firm from Ohio to Dallas 11/05/2024

• Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is moving his financial services firm from Columbus to Dallas. […] The firm already has $1.7 billion under management.

• The company expects most of its Columbus-based staff to relocate to Dallas over the next few months.

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The post Ahead of the OSU Texas Game, Vivek Ramaswamy is Cheering for Texas appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Ahead of a redistricting cycle where Republicans will try to rig Ohio’s congressional districts to compensate for their party’s extreme unpopularity, Ohio Democrats are speaking out. While Republicans try to silence the voters, Democrats will use every available option to make sure all Ohioans have an equal opportunity to make their voices heard at the polls.

READ MORE about what Ohioans are reading ahead of Republican attempts to further rig Ohio’s congressional districts: 

Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Democrats are preparing to challenge GOP congressional maps for 2026 election

• As a nationwide redistricting arms race unfolds, Ohio Democrats say they’re ready to fight back against unfair GOP maps when the battle hits the Buckeye State.

• But Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chair Kathleen Clyde said Ohio Democrats won’t compromise and vote for a gerrymandered map. “No Democrat should vote for a map that doesn’t represent the will of the voters, and Democrats are unified in our opposition,” 

• Clyde also outlined options if Republicans approved a map that unfairly increases GOP seats in the state. Ohio Democrats could sue, have Ohioans vote on the map using a process called the referendum or pursue another redistricting reform ballot measure.

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Democrats buckle up for congressional redistricting fight

• Ohio Democrats are preparing for a congressional redistricting fight this fall, hoping to stand up to a Republican supermajority and align districts with the voter trends. Meanwhile, prominent Republicans have proposed drawing even more skewed districts.

• “We will fight, we will organize, we will make noise at every step of the process,” said Ohio Democratic Party chair Kathleen Clyde in a Thursday press call with Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder. 

• “Even with a minority status in the legislature, that is part of the process, minority support for the maps,” Clyde said. “We will be pursuing what the voters said they wanted, which is a map where fairness is a key piece of the process.”

Roll Call: At the Races: Maps mania

• The focus on redistricting is set to move next to Ohio. “The path to winning back the U.S. Congress certainly goes through Ohio,” Kathleen Clyde, the chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, said on a Thursday press call.  Clyde said that “all options are on the table” for how Ohio Democrats will fight for fair maps throughout the upcoming process. 

WTVG: Ohio democrats get support from Texas counterparts ahead of redistricting battle, 

• Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, and Kathleen Clyde, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, held a joint news conference ahead of Ohio’s mapmaking process beginning next month. Clyde said all options are on the table for Democrats, including legal challenges or an effort to overturn a map adopted by Republicans at the ballot box.

• She said Democrats will “fight, we will organize, we will make noise at every step of the process.”

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The post WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING: “All Options are On the Table” As Redistricting Begins  appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Last week, Bernie Moreno joined the City Club of Cleveland to participate in their long-standing tradition of public forums explaining his work in Washington to the community. It went so badly for Moreno that Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou told Republicans to avoid City Club events in the future to avoid being held accountable.  

This was Moreno’s first public event since taking office. Outside and inside the event, he faced Ohioans who were angry and Moreno spent his time “unabashedly defending” Donald Trump while working families faced higher costs and bills. He repeated false talking points while ignoring that over 490,000 Ohioans will lose healthcare and 400,000 Ohioans will lose food assistance.

Check out more coverage of Bernie’s brutal visit to the City Club below: 

Cleveland.com: Bernie Moreno faces raucous City Club crowd in first public forum

•  Moreno spent the hour unabashedly defending Trump and his policies. […] Wednesday was the first time Moreno faced constituents and their questions in the seven months since taking office. He has held no public town hall events.

• Moreno, […] repeated familiar Republican talking points used to defend the party’s policies —some of which have proven to be false. Moreno claimed, for example, that there will be no cuts to Medicaid because of the One Big Beautiful Bill and instead claiming that “significant amounts of money” will be added to the program The Congressional Budget Office estimates after the bill passed said it will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $911 billion over 10 years. 

Cleveland.com: Ohio GOP chair urges candidates to boycott City Club after Moreno event 

• The chairman of the Ohio Republican Party says he will urge Republican candidates to avoid events at The City Club of Cleveland following Sen. Bernie Moreno’s treatment in a visit earlier this week.

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The post Bernie Moreno Talked to Voters and It Went So Badly the Ohio GOP Chair Told Republicans to Stop  appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- In case you missed it, last week Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde and Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder held a joint news conference to detail how Democrats are fighting back against extreme Republican gerrymandering in their states. While Texas may have been first, Ohio is next and Democrats are ready to use every option available to fight back.

“Democrats are unified in our opposition. Democrats will use every tool available to stop Republicans from implementing their partisan vision for Ohio and achieve a fair map. Instead of lies and tricks, we will fight for an open process with public input that results in fair maps for all Ohioans,” said Chair Clyde.

“We will not sit aside and allow Donald Trump and the billionaire class to not do the work of the people of Texas,”said Chair Scudder

Ohioans are currently represented by maps the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. In 2024, 55% of Ohioans voted for the Republican candidate, but 66% of our Congressional seats are gerrymandered for Republicans. In a fair, constitutional map, Ohio’s 15 congressional districts would be 8 Republican and 7 Democratic, not 10 and 5, respectively.

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The post ICYMI: Ohio, Texas Democrats Stand Together As Redistricting Fight Moves to Ohio appeared first on Ohio Democrats.