Category: News

Husted has now voted NINE TIMES to support Iran war & NINE TIMES to raise health care costs

COLUMBUS, OHIO — This week marked the ninth time that Husted has voted to support the expensive and unnecessary war in Iran, doubling down on a foreign conflict that has sent energy and food prices soaring for Ohioans. 

During his first year and a half in office, Husted has demonstrated a penchant for taking harmful votes over… and over… and over. Last year, he voted nine times against lowering health care premiums, letting premiums double or triple for half a million Ohioans and kicking more than 120,000 off their health insurance altogether. 

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

“For Jon Husted, screwing over Ohioans once isn’t enough. When it comes to making life more expensive for Ohioans, backing another foreign conflict in the Middle East, and voting against lowering health care costs, Jon Husted has voted for it all nine times — proving how out of touch he really is.” 

While Husted keeps voting to make everything more expensive, he also can’t help himself from insulting hardworking Ohioans struggling because of his votes:

• Husted insulted hardworking Ohioans, claiming that families struggling to make ends meet are “not very experienced at navigating the real world.”

• Husted blamed Ohioans working harder than ever, complaining that their “work ethic is broken.”

• Husted’s solution to the affordability crisis was that Ohioans should just “earn more” money to make ends meet.

• When asked what he was doing to address rising gas prices for his constituents, Husted responded: “What do you want me to do?” 

• When a truck driver asked about soaring diesel costs, Husted brushed him off and responded by asking if he was comfortable with Iran being a nuclear power. 

• Husted has claimed that he thinks the war is “good news for the global economy” and going “much better than anyone thought it would.”

• When asked about the pain that Ohio families are feeling at the pump, Jon Husted’s campaign “declined to comment.”

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REPORTING: Husted Took $116,892 From Les Wexner, Including A Max Donation Just A Few Weeks Before Blocking Epstein Files Release

LIMA, OHIO — Today, Ohioans in Lima called out Senator Jon Husted for taking more than $116,000 directly from Epstein co-conspirator Les Wexner, including a maximum donation just a few weeks before he voted to block the release of the Epstein files. 

The rally in Steubenville comes as Husted continues to dodge questions and accountability after voting against the release of the Epstein files. Recently, Husted ran away from a reporter when asked why he accepted money from an Epstein co-conspirator. 

Ohioans have also protested Husted in Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown, Westlake, and Steubenville, and Husted was called out for being a “pedophile protector” at an event in Norwalk. Husted is the only Senator up for re-election to take Wexner’s money, and has taken 10 times as much money from the Epstein co-conspirator than any other sitting Senator.

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The post Ohioans in Lima Call Out Jon Husted For Taking More Than $116k From Epstein Co-Conspirator appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Husted refuses to back stock trading ban for members of Congress 

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting from NBC 4’s Colleen Marshall reveals that Jon Husted “sold stock worth nearly $60,000” when he was serving on the board of directors of Heartland Bank after being appointed to the U.S. Senate.

WATCH HERE: 

Transcript: 

Colleen Marshall, NBC 4 Columbus: “We’ve reported before that Husted and his wife made investments in Heartland Bank stock and then in March of 2022, he was appointed to the Heartland Board of Directors, a position for which he received a six-figure salary. Questions were raised back then about a possible conflict of interest because of his economic role within the DeWine-Husted administration — he was serving on the bank board while he was Lieutenant Governor. 

Colleen Marshall, NBC 4 Columbus: [Husted] was on the board when Heartland merged with German American Bank and Husted sold stock worth nearly $60,000. He resigned from the board when he was appointed to the U.S. Senate and his most recent financial disclosure shows a $27,000 payment from the bank at that time.

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

“Jon Husted refuses to ban stock trading in Congress because he’s personally enriching himself while having access to insider information. While Ohio families are struggling to afford the basics, Husted is cashing in while in office. Ohioans deserve a Senator focused on making life better for them — not enriching themselves.”

Read more about Jon Husted’s corruption:

• Husted’s personal financial disclosure reveals that he profited off of nearly $60,000 in stock sales as part of an insider deal with Heartland Bank. 

• Husted’s disclosure also reveals that he received a sweetheart payout from Heartland Bank after leaving the board — giving him a full year’s salary for just one month of work.

• Husted has long been under fire for secretly joining the board of Heartland Bank while serving as Lt. Governor, in a move that was called “loaded with potential conflicts of interest.”

• In February, NBC 4 reported that Husted refused to back a stock trading ban for members of Congress, while reporting that his wife had investments of up to $15,000 in Intel Corporation stock.

• In a recent interview, Husted admitted to meeting with Intel about the status of the company’s Ohio manufacturing project, suggesting he had access to non-public information.

• As Husted profits off insider information, he continues to insult struggling Ohioans as “not very experienced at navigating the real world” and consistently dismisses the mounting affordability crisis by telling Ohioans to fix their “work ethic” and to simply “earn more” money to make ends meet.

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COLUMBUS, OH – Following breaking news late last week that FBI agents raidedthe Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a nonprofit organization focused on voter registration, civic engagement and community organizing, and visited the homes of current and former staff and volunteers, Ohio Democrats are forcefully speaking out and demanding more information on these actions by federal law enforcement.

Last week, Ohioans also saw Republicans in Columbus pass a resolution that will place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot codifying existing photo voter ID requirements for political gain, and a separate piece of legislation, creating new burdensome requirements for voters to provide an actual copy of their driver’s license or state ID when voting by mail, effective in November 2027. 

While the FBI seemingly has not responded to requests for comment on last week’s raids of an Ohio voting rights organization, read more:

Columbus Dispatch: ​​FBI raids Ohio voting rights group office in Cleveland

• Agents questioned volunteers and civil rights leaders with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative across the state, looking for evidence of alleged voter fraud, Ohio Organizing Collaborative Board Member Prentiss Haney said. MS NOW first reported about the raid on the nonprofit, which helps register voters and fights for ballot access.
• Haney estimated more than 100 agents questioned people currently and previously affiliated with the group across Ohio, including in Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.
• “They were knocking on their doors. They were calling and demanding people to come outside without warrants and using political intimidation tactics, accusing them of alleged voter fraud,” Haney said. “Yes, there was a raid, but there was not just a raid. It was a full onslaught.”
• Ohio Democrats, including members of Congress, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and the state party, called the raid troubling and wanted more information.

Signal Ohio: What to know about the Ohio Organizing Collaborative after FBI searches

• Reports of the raid drew a swift round condemnation from many prominent state Democratic politicians, including U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown of Cleveland, governor candidate Amy Acton, U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, Secretary of State candidate Allison Russo and Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde. They all said Ohioans should feel safe registering to vote in November.

WOUB: An Ohio voting rights group says it was raided by the FBI

• Key Democrats are speaking in support of OCC… Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde… also expressed concern over the situation. “With Election Day approaching, it is critical that eligible voters feel confident that they can register, cast a ballot, and participate in our democratic process without fear or confusion,” Clyde said in a statement.
• Multiple attempts have been made to get a comment from the FBI but the agency has not responded.

Daily Signal: Ohio Group Gets Visit From FBI Over Voter Fraud Investigation

• The Ohio Organizing Collective describes itself as having a vision “to organize everyday Ohioans, building transformative power organizations for racial, social, and economic justice” as well as “build a democratic multi-racial populist governing coalition in Ohio.”
• Thursday’s raid has drawn the outrage of Ohio Democrats, including Reps. Shontell Brown and Joyce Beatty, as well as Democrat nominee for governor Amy Acton and former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is running against Republican Sen. Jon Husted in the 2026 special election. Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathleen Clyde also spoke out, as did Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.

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The post ICYMI: “Key Democrats” Continue To Voice Outrage After FBI Raids Ohio Voting Rights Organization appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- It was another week to forget for Vivek Ramaswamy. He’s showing Ohioans why they can’t believe a single word he says, from lying about his record on COVID-19 while making more money for himself, to failing to keep Ohio families and their children safe, to ignoring the opioid crisis, and failing to protect their healthcare.

More money, more problems: Reporting from Politico revealed Vivek Ramaswamy’s company Roivant spent $70,000 lobbying the federal government for the development and approval of COVID-19 drugs. Ramaswamy wanted to “segregate” Americans based on immunity status and made more than two billion dollars off of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohioans can’t believe a word Ramaswamy says after he scrubbed his record on the pandemic and lied to Ohioans all while lining his own pockets.

Bodyguard blues: New reporting from TiffinOhio.net revealed that Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign continued paying his security firm even after his personal bodyguard was arrested with enough fentanyl to kill 132,000 Ohioans. Ramaswamy giving a pass to criminal drug traffickers isn’t just dangerous; it’s disqualifying.

Start spreading the news: Longtime New Yorker Vivek Ramaswamy had a great time watching the Knicks game from his private jet. Donation records listed Ramaswamy as a New York resident as recently as 2019, and his company’s executives are still based there. He allegedly attempted to celebrate with the Knicks in their locker room following their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was denied in humiliating fashion.

Ramaswamy’s running mate “gave in” on child marriage: Legislation banning child marriage failed to advance in the Ohio Senate thanks to the opposition of Ramaswamy running mate Senate President Rob McColley. After McColley said legislation to end child marriage in Ohio needed “further exploration,” he “gave in” to arguments against the bill made by members of his caucus. Ohio families can’t trust Ramaswamy and McColley to keep their kids safe.

With Friends Like These: Vivek Ramaswamy and his best friend Dr. Oz are both known for their focus on making healthcare more expensive and less accessible for working families. After Ramaswamy called Medicaid and Medicare “mistakes,” Oz called Medicaid expansion, which has allowed millions more hardworking Ohioans to afford health insurance, a “program with great danger.” Does Ramaswamy agree?

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The post This Week in #OHGov: Bodyguard Blues & More Clues About Why Ohioans Can’t Trust Ramaswamy appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Husted has voted eight times to back expensive and unnecessary Iran war

COLUMBUS, OHIO — In a new interview this week, Jon Husted doubled down on his support of the Iran war that is crushing Ohioans with skyrocketing food and energy prices. 

• Husted claimed the military aspect of the war “went very well,” even though the Strait of Hormuz remains shut down and gas prices have soared.

• Husted admitted the conflict that he has voted to support eight times has caused gas prices in Ohio to skyrocket.

• Husted refused to answer what his red line would be to support ending the war, including if he supported sending in American ground troops.

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

“Jon Husted could not be more out of touch with Ohioans who are getting crushed by soaring gas and diesel prices because of the endless war he supports. Instead of actually working to lower costs, Husted is backing more money for war overseas while insulting his constituents and lecturing Ohioans to work harder.”

Husted’s comments continue his long trend of insulting hardworking Ohioans who are getting crushed by soaring costs caused by policies he supports:

• When asked what he was doing to address rising gas prices for his constituents, Husted responded: “What do you want me to do?” 

• When a truck driver asked about soaring diesel costs, Husted brushed him off and responded by asking if he was comfortable with Iran being a nuclear power. 

• When asked about the pain that Ohio families are feeling at the pump, Jon Husted’s campaign “declined to comment.”

• Jon Husted has claimed that he thinks the war is “good news for the global economy” and going “much better than anyone thought it would.”

• Husted promised that higher prices would be “returned” as soon as the U.S. was “done” with the war in Iran, even though experts have asserted that gas “won’t return to pre-war levels any time soon.”

• Husted argued that Ohioans getting crushed with skyrocketing prices just have to “remain strong,” as gas in Ohio “remains astronomically high.”

• Jon Husted has voted eight times to continue the war in Iran while costs continue to skyrocket.

• Jon Husted continues to insult struggling Ohioans as “not very experienced at navigating the real world” and consistently dismisses the mounting affordability crisis by telling Ohioans to fix their “work ethic” and to simply “earn more” money to make ends meet.

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The post NEW INTERVIEW: Jon Husted Says Iran War Going ‘Very Well’ While Ohioans Get Crushed With Skyrocketing Costs appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde issued the following statement on reports of FBI raids on an Ohio voting rights organization:

“The reports of FBI raids involving civil rights leaders and their staff are deeply concerning. Organizations that help eligible Ohioans register to vote and participate in our democracy play an important role in our communities.

“With Election Day approaching, it is critical that eligible voters feel confident that they can register, cast a ballot, and participate in our democratic process without fear or confusion. Ohio’s democracy is strongest when every eligible voter is able to make their voice heard.”

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Columbus, Ohio- New reporting from Politico’s Influence newsletter revealed that Vivek Ramaswamy’s company spent more than $70,000 lobbying the federal government for the development and approval of COVID-19 drugs. Federal lobbying records show Ramaswamy’s company spent approximately $50,000 lobbying the National Institutes of Health and the Executive Office of the President as well as approximately $20,000 lobbying Congress.

This new reporting from Politico follows bombshell reporting from the Associated Press that revealed Ramaswamy pushed for a national COVID-19 registry to segregate Americans based on immunity status. Ramaswamy’s company profited over $2.2 billion from the COVID-19 vaccine. He served on Ohio’s COVID-19 response team, then paid a Wikipedia editor to scrub his involvement. 

“Scam artist Vivek Ramaswamy has given Ohioans yet another reason to not believe a word he says,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “His extreme proposal to ‘segregate’ Americans based on immunity status, his billions in profit from the COVID-19 vaccine, and now his massive investment in lobbying the federal government are all more proof that the only person Vivek Ramaswamy is looking out for is Vivek Ramaswamy.”

READ: FIRST IN PI — RAMASWAMY’S COVID LOBBYING:

• A biotech company founded by Vivek Ramaswamy spent more than $70,000 in 2020 and 2021 to lobby the federal government for the development and approval of COVID-19 drugs, Jacob reports.

• Acton’s campaign says Ramaswamy’s rhetoric contradicts his actions as a biotech executive at the time. Democrats have also criticized another one of Ramaswamy’s companies that pushed for a national COVID registry that would have segregated Americans based on COVID-19 vaccine status during the pandemic. Ramaswamy also reportedly paid to have his role on the state’s COVID response team scrubbed from his Wikipedia page.

• Ramaswamy’s campaign and Roivant didn’t respond to requests for comment.

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The post NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Company Spent Over $70,000 Lobbying the Federal Government for Development & Approval of COVID-19 Drugs appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting out today shows that Jon Husted’s senior advisor and general counsel has “maintained a paid consulting relationship” with an Ohio lobbying firm — receiving $22,652 in income in addition to his federal salary.

Previous reporting revealed that the same senior advisor in Husted’s office worked as an opioid and utilities lobbyist whose clients “made millions” off the FirstEnergy corruption scandal, which resulted in a billion dollar bailout for utilities that’s contributing to families paying thousands of dollars more on their energy bills.

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

“We’ve always known Jon Husted was corrupt, but he’s not even trying to hide it anymore — his senior advisor is currently working as a consultant for a lobbying firm who helped pass the corrupt FirstEnergy bailout for utilities that’s contributing to families paying thousands of dollars more on their energy bills. Ohioans deserve better, and they will vote Jon Husted out in November.”

READ MORE: 

NOTUS: Top Jon Husted Senate Aide Kept Working for Ohio Lobbying Firm

• A top aide to Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio maintained a paid consulting relationship with an Ohio lobbying firm while serving as the senator’s senior adviser, according to a federal financial disclosure filing.

• Sean Dunn, who has served as Husted’s senior adviser and counsel since February 2025, disclosed working as a consultant for Statehouse Impact Group — a Columbus-based government relations and lobbying firm.

• The disclosure — part of Dunn’s certified personal financial report covering calendar year 2025 and submitted to Congress on May 14 — shows Dunn received $22,652 from the firm while he also worked in Husted’s office.

• Husted’s office did not respond to questions about the nature of Dunn’s work with Statehouse Impact Group.

• Anne Griffin of Columbus, Ohio, filed a formal complaint on May 29 with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, asking for it to investigate both Dunn and Husted, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by NOTUS.

• The complaint also implicates Husted directly, arguing that the senator bore primary responsibility under Senate rules to prevent conflicts of interest among his staff and appears to have failed in that duty. 

• The complaint asks the committee to investigate both whether Dunn received improper compensation and whether Husted was aware of the arrangement and failed to act.

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COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde issued the following statement on Ohio Republicans’ rushed and harmful legislation that will disenfranchise eligible Ohio voters:

“While Ohio’s elections are safe and secure, let’s be clear what this push is really about: a partisan power grab by Republican politicians who are so desperate to cling to power that they are willing to make it harder for eligible voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Ohio’s elections are free from widespread fraud, with Republican leaders themselves praising them as the ‘gold standard.’

“Ohio Democrats are committed to safeguarding Ohio’s elections while ensuring every eligible Ohioan can cast a ballot free from unnecessary barriers. Instead of wasting time on legislation aimed at solving a problem that does not exist, Ohio Republicans should focus on lowering costs and addressing the real challenges facing Ohio families.”

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