NE Franklin News

The former Republican Congressman challenging debate-shy Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in May's GOP gubernatorial primaries last week invited DeWine to a private debate without an audience, protesters, or interruptions.

Jim Renacci posted the debate challenge to DeWine in a Friday, March 18 statement on his campaign website.

"If DeWine is worried about getting booed by protesters, then I challenge him to a debate without a live audience and without interruptions," Renacci said in the statement. "DeWine hiding from tough questions by the Ohioans whose livelihoods he destroyed and voters he's let down is simply inexcusable."

Republican primary voters in Ohio "deserve a real debate not just about DeWine's record, but about our competing plans for the future of Ohio," Renacci said. He added that he looked forward to "an independent moderator and group willing to host the policy debate under this format and invite the governor and the other candidates to a real gubernatorial debate, but a gubernatorial debate without the governor is not a gubernatorial debate."

Renacci, 63, is an accountant and businessman who represented Ohio's 16th Congressional District from 2011 to 2019.

DeWine, who turned 75 in January, was the handpicked replacement of then term-limited Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich to succeed him in 2019. DeWine now is one of the longest-serving elected officials in Ohio's history. He has spent more than 41 years in elected office, including positions in the state and U.S. Senates and the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as Ohio's attorney general and lieutenant governor, according to West Hamilton News.

DeWine and Renacci are expected to face off in the May 3 GOP gubernatorial primary. The winner will appear on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election.

Debates for Republican and Democrat candidates for U.S. Senate and governor are scheduled for March 28 and 29 at Central State University in Wilberforce. They are expected to air live over radio and television across Ohio and on the Ohio Debate Commission's website.

DeWine has refused to participate in the gubernatorial debates, the Buckeye Reporter said in a news story published last week, which referred to the Ohio Capital Journal's coverage. No other candidates have turned down the debate commission's invitation to debate ahead of the state's May 3 gubernatorial primary, and the commission said "no reason was given" for DeWine's decision.

"We're obviously disappointed," Dan Moulthrop, commission board president and City Club of Cleveland CEO, said in Ohio Capital Journal's March 11 news story. "We convene these debates to help voters and, frankly, to help campaigns and candidates connect with voters across the state. We would welcome the governor reconsidering this decision."

The following Thursday, March 17, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Renacci also pulled out of the gubernatorial debate, citing DeWine's decision not to show up.

"There is no such thing as a gubernatorial debate without the governor," Renacci spokesman Tom Weyand said in The Cincinnati Enquirer's news story. "Jim will show up on any stage that the governor is on to discuss any issue."

This year's gubernatorial primary isn't the first time DeWine has opted out of debates in an election year. In its coverage of the controversy, Yahoo News noted that DeWine refused to debate Republican Mary Taylor in 2018. The news outlet also cited DeWine's comments to reporters that the debates were not worth the time.

"One hour with four people, I'm not sure really adds a whole lot to what the public knows about Mike DeWine or public policy debate," DeWine said. "It might be an entertaining hour, not sure how productive an hour."