Jim Renacci And Congressman Bill Johnson Speak In Marietta

MARIETTA, OH — Yesterday Jim Renacci dropped by to speak at the executive committee monthly meeting of the Washington County Republican Party. Renacci is a former U.S. Congressman for Ohio who recently tried to unseat U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. The county GOP was packed with a veritable who’s who of local Republicans. Even southeast Ohio’s U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson was there to hear Renacci speak.

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Before he did speak, Congressman Johnson fielded a couple of questions about major upcoming races that will be taking place in Ohio soon. One is the Senate race to see who will take over for Republican Senator Rob Portman since he’s announced he won’t be seeking reelection in 2022. Contenders on both sides of the aisle are lining up for that primary. Congressman Bill Johnson said Republicans need to back whoever ends up winning the primary.

“When that primary is settled we need to all get behind whoever wins that primary and get them across the finish line.”

He said if the Democrats are going to throw a lot of money at that race and if they pick Tim Ryan to not take him for granted.

“I’m telling you right now, he’s very smooth, and confident when he speaks on the debate stage. He won’t necessarily answer the questions that he’s asked, but he’ll give an emotional response when deflecting the question.”

When Renacci did finally speak, he addressed the elephant in the room, his recent failed Senate race. He said he didn’t want to run against Senator Brown, and that he was happy where he was. He had made the statement that the only way he would run was if the president asked him personally.

“I got a phone call from the President of the United States. He asked me to come to Washington. He said to me, Renacci I need you in the Senate race. I said Mr. President I wanna stay in the race for the governor, I’m winning, I can win this! He goes, I don’t care, I need you in the Senate race.”

He said that was one of the few regrets of his life. Not doing what the president wanted, but jumping into a Senate race against such an established candidate with so little time.

But he’s running for governor again and says that regardless of what the Ohio Republican establishment wants, he commissioned a private poll, and the people of Ohio do not want Mike DeWine again.

“This is just among Republican voters. It told me this, 16% of Republicans are going to vote for DeWine again.”

However, 14% are likely considering voting for DeWine. Right now, 35% said they are never going to vote for Governor DeWine again, 15% said they aren’t likely to vote for DeWine again, 30% will likely vote for DeWine again.

“If you ask the people who were polled, these are Republicans only, primary voters, do you think Governor DeWine is a liberal, moderate, or conservative, 74% believe he’s a liberal or moderate.”

He brought up how friendly the mainstream media and Governor DeWine are.

“Here’s a governor who’s on TV every single day with Cuomo. It’s him, Cuomo, and some time Gavin Newsome. Two Democrats and a Republican. Always on CNN and MSNBC. While he’s shutting the state down.”

He said that with DeWine at the wheel, Ohio has lost its way. His plan? Do what he did in business. See what’s working better in other parts of the country, and bring those models here. Renacci finished by saying that in his opinion, DeWine isn’t qualified to be the Governor of Ohio. He said DeWine has voted like a left-leaning moderate and not a Republican.

The Republican primary race for Ohio governor will take place in spring 2022.

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