COLUMBUS, OH – Republican Congressman Mike Turner has a simple message for Ohioans as he continues to vote for the reckless war with Iran that is raising Ohioans’ gas prices: “No comment.” While Turner doubles down on his support for the war with Iran, and gas prices in Ohio have reached $5.00 a gallon in recent weeks, Kristina Knickerbocker and Ohioans in Ohio’s 10th congressional district are calling him out for it.
“It’s simple why Mike Turner is refusing to comment on his support for the reckless war with Iran that is sky-rocketing Ohioans’ gas prices – he can’t defend his out-of-touch votes,” said Ohio Democratic Party Communications Director Marisa Nahem. “While Turner clearly doesn’t think he’s accountable to Ohio families and doesn’t seem to care that with every vote he is further raising Ohioans’ costs, Ohioans are rallying behind Kristina Knickerbocker who will oppose this reckless war with Iran and actually lower costs for families in Ohio’s 10th congressional district.”
Read more about how Ohioans are slamming Mike Turner for his votes to raise costs – and how Turner can’t even be bothered to comment.
“Mike Turner continues to vote for this war, which means it’s a vote for the Miami people to work harder, to suffer more and to not get their basic needs met,” Knickerbocker said.
Adam Miller, former state representative and current chair of the Ohio Democratic Party Veterans Caucus, joined Knickerbocker’s criticism of Turner’s vote in his opening remarks.
Miller described Turner’s actions in Congress as a sign of “gross negligence” and said that “Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon today because of Mike Turner’s failure.”
Knickerbocker claims that Miami Valley residents face the impact of military actions in Iran through the rising cost of living.
“It is time we have a representative in office that understands the cost we are facing every single day, from rising gas costs to childcare that is completely unaffordable,” Knickerbocker said.
Columbus, Ohio- New reporting from TiffinOhio.net uncovered how Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign continued paying his security firm even after his personal bodyguard was arrested with enough fentanyl to kill 132,000 Ohioans.
Campaign finance records filed with the Ohio Secretary of State show Vivek Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign paid $14,000 to its contracted security firm in the weeks after the firm’s employee — Ramaswamy’s personal family bodyguard — was arrested on federal fentanyl trafficking charges. The final payment came four days after the campaign publicly announced it was dropping the firm.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. Applied to the 264 grams recovered at Salsburey’s home, that ratio yields an estimated potential death toll of approximately 132,000 — a figure the DEA itself uses as a benchmark for seized quantities of the drug.
Despite the arrest, the Ramaswamy campaign continued paying ARK Protection Group. According to Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance records, the campaign paid ARK $12,000 on Jan. 8, 2026 — 9 days after the arrest and the same day the story became widely reported. The campaign had paid ARK a total of approximately $61,971 since April 2025 prior to that payment.
COLUMBUS, OH – Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell is running for Auditor with experience pulling a city out of a fiscal emergency, uncovering waste, fraud, and abuse and addressing those issues to get Maple Heights back on track to grow communities. Blackwell also touts her commitment to working across the aisle, as the Akron Beacon Journalnotes she has “done numerous times as mayor.”
In case you missed it, read more on Annette Blackwell’s message to Ohioans about how she “would focus on problem-solving, advising and relationship building,” including to catch corruption, mismanagement, and fraud early if elected Auditor:
When Blackwell became mayor of Maple Heights 10 years ago, the city was struggling with finances.
The city entered fiscal emergency in 2015, before she became mayor, when it failed to make payments on three loans for sewer projects, Ideastream reported. Four years later, the city was released from the emergency.
Blackwell said this was one year early. It took a lot of effort to turn things around, but that effort came with little help from the auditor’s office.
Blackwell recalled having a “war room” in her home full of papers and documents. There, she found many problems. The city was paying for health care for retired or dead employees and overpaying for a reduced law department, for example.
If elected as the auditor, Blackwell said she would focus on problem-solving, advising and relationship building. The latter, she said, could help prevent corruption and mismanagement before it spirals. It also means catching fraud.
She said her time working with the auditor’s office as mayor and her time as a consultant separate her from LaRose. She’s also willing to work across the aisle with Republicans, which she has done numerous times as mayor.
“I don’t mind being the first person to cross the aisle, because we do our best work together,” she said.
REPORT: Husted took hundreds of thousands from insurers now raising Ohio rates
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Last night, Jon Husted votedagainst two bipartisan proposals to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying critically needed health care to Ohio families and requiring preauthorization for care. Husted has accepted more than $679,000 from insurance companies and their executives who have raised rates on Ohioans in 2026.
Last year, Husted voted nine times against lowering health care premiums for Ohio families. Because of Husted’s votes, health care costs have skyrocketed for an estimated 583,000 Ohioans, forcing tens of thousands of Ohioans to forgo coverage altogether.
Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:
“Last night, Jon Husted refused to ban insurance companies from denying or delaying critical health care to Ohioans. It’s no surprise — Husted voted nine times against lowering premium costs and now 120,000 fewer Ohioans have access to health care. Jon Husted couldn’t be more out of touch with what families in this state are going through, and they will send him packing in November.”
Husted continues dodging basic questions that Ohioans deserve answered
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO — In case you missed it, Ohioans in Steubenville 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, and Westlake, 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 timesas much money from the Epstein co-conspirator than any other sitting Senator.
Alex Taylor, WTRF: Organizers pointed to donations they say are tied to billionaire Les Wexner and criticized Husted’s vote connected to the release of Epstein files. Demonstrators say they believe voters deserve more transparency.
Karen Lloyd, Ohio educator: This isn’t just standard political fundraising. This money came directly from billionaire Les Wexner, a man explicitly named as a co-conspirator in the federal investigation into the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
WTOV Anchor: A group of Ohioans gathered Tuesday afternoon in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse to call out Sen. Jon Husted for taking more than $100,000 from Ohio billionaire Les Wexner.
Missie Jasielum Basich, retired educator: Jon Husted will your hands ever be clean? I think not! Four thousand times Wexner’s name was mentioned [in the Jeffrey Epstein files], the FBI named him as a co-conspirator. This is a shameful trickle down cycle.
Democrats from across the region gathered in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse Tuesday to question the judgment and motivation behind Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted accepting more than $116,000 from a co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein.
At issue is the $116,892 Husted received from New Albany billionaire Les Wexner, who has come under scrutiny for his relationship with Epstein.
“We’re making voters aware that Husted has been accepting money from an Epstein co-conspirator for years,” said Eddie Abdalla, chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party. “If you tie together his vote to not release the Epstein files and the fact that he received a maximum donation from Wexner, it makes you wonder what people are hiding.”
“Right now a profound shadow hangs over the office of Sen. Jon Husted,” Lloyd, a Steubenville resident, said. “It is a shadow cast by more than $116,000 in campaign contributions. This isn’t just standard political fundraising — this money came directly from billionaire Les Wexner, a man explicitly named in the federal investigation into the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.”
“Look closely at the facts and the timeline, because the timing of these events is deeply troubling,” Lloyd said. “Campaign finance records reveal a disturbing pattern. Husted accepted maximum allowable donations from the Epstein associate. Just weeks after securing that financial backing, a critical procedural decision was made to block the public release of the Epstein files.
“Eventually, amid intense public pressure, a vote was taken to release these records, but the initial hesitation and decision to stall happened right alongside a massive influx of cash from the very network under investigation,” she added.
“We cannot change the system that protects the powerful and the rich, but we can replace people like Husted,” Antinone, a Steubenville resident, said during Tuesday’s protest rally.
“Even if he claims he has given back some of the money, it is too late,” she added. “He already voted no on opening the Epstein files.”
Lloyd, a retired teacher, said it’s time for Ohio residents to get answers.
“When you spend nearly four decades in the classroom, you develop a fierce, unyielding instinct to protect the innocent,” she said. “You learn to spot evasion, you learn when someone is hiding the truth. Right now, my instincts as a mother, a grandmother and a teacher are screaming that something is deeply wrong in one of the highest levels of our state government.”
Basich agreed. “Ohio, we deserve better — we can clean up this cycle,” the Adena resident said. “I challenge everyone to be good people, even better people every day. Men, speak out against pedophiles and their terrible crimes and the people who support them. Women, speak up for equality and a better life.”
Tuesday’s protest was the fifth similar event held around the state. Previous rallies were in Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown and Westlake.
COLUMBUS, OH – Following the Ohio Democratic Party State Central Committee meeting in Columbus today, Chair Kathleen Clyde issued the following statement:
“Ahead of this critical midterm election, Ohio Democrats are united behind a strong Democratic ticket and a clear mission: lowering costs and ensuring every Ohio family can thrive. While Republican corruption in Columbus and Washington has driven up costs and left Ohioans falling behind, Democrats are focused on delivering the relief and opportunity families deserve.
“I look forward to continuing to Chair the Ohio Democratic Party and serve alongside incredible leaders throughout our state as we work together to elect Democrats up and down the ballot who will lower costs, protect our freedoms, and get our state back on track.”
Official business at the State Central Committee Meeting included: swearing in members to the Central Committee and voting on Ohio Democratic Party Chair.
Husted has voted eight times to back expensive and unnecessary Iran war
COLUMBUS, OHIO — In new interviews last week, Jon Husted continues to insult concerned Ohioans who are getting crushed by high gas prices caused by the war in Iran he has voted eight times to support.
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.”
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.”
REPORTING: Husted Took $116,892 From Les Wexner, Including A Max Donation Just A Few Weeks Before Blocking Epstein Files Release
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO — This week, Ohioans in Steubenville 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, and Westlake, 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 timesas much money from the Epstein co-conspirator than any other sitting Senator.
Columbus, Ohio- The Cleveland Cavaliers had a disappointing week as their season came to an end, but so did Vivek Ramaswamy. He had another terrible week with visits from politicians who helped cause hundreds of thousands of Ohioans to lose healthcare, a brutal rejection from his favorite basketball team, and was named the “most unlikeable” candidate for governor in recent memory.
“Most Unlikeable”: A new piece by Cleveland.com’s Brent Larkin named Ramaswamy the “most unlikeable” candidate for governor in recent memory. Larkin wrote that Ramaswamy is such a weak candidate that he threatens to “take down the entire ticket” when Ohioans reject his extreme scams in November.
Medicaid & Medicare Were “Mistakes” Caucus Meeting: This week, Ramaswamy welcomed the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services Administrator Dr. Oz to his home. Under Oz’s tenure, over 300,000 Ohioans could lose access to Medicaid and Ohioans everywhere have seen their healthcare costs skyrocket. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy has continued to dodge responsibility for calling Medicaid and Medicare “mistakes.”
Locker Room Low: Vivek Ramaswamy was ridiculed online after attempting to get into the Knicks locker room to welcome his fellow New Yorkers to Ohio. He was quickly turned away by security, but has once again gained national attention for exactly the wrong move on the court and on social media. We’ll be keeping a close eye out for him courtside at Knicks games this fall- just a short private jet ride away!
Columbus, Ohio- New York billionaire scammer Vivek Ramaswamy crashed out online after reporting claimed the New York Knicks rejected his attempt to enter their locker room following their win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ramaswamy’s rant is a dramatic change of tune from his Wall Street Journal op-ed earlier this year where he announced his departure from social media.
Donation records list Ramaswamy as a New York resident as recently as 2019.
His company Roivant Sciences still has an office in New York, where the CEO and Executive Office are based.
“Vivek Ramaswamy’s week has yet again been dominated by another embarrassing misstep for a candidate who can’t open his mouth without revealing how little he thinks of Ohio,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Ramaswamy’s most humiliating meltdown to date is unfortunately par for the course for a candidate who can’t stop lying to Ohioans, thinks our workers are lazy, and says Ohio is ‘not the best’ state.”
