Ohio was once one of the most important states on Election Day, attracting national attention and seen as a swing state. But in the last two presidential elections, former President Donald Trump easily won the state over Hilary Clinton and President Joe Biden.
Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman is now giving Democrats an opening to pick up a Senate seat. Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and author and Venture Capitalist J.D. Vance, R, have been locked in a contentious campaign for months, with polling turning in favor of Vance in recent weeks.
“I think you’re going to see a punishment, a continuing punishment, exacted on upon the Democrats on trade issues,” former Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich told Straight Arrow News. According to Kucinich, Ohio may no longer be a swing state after Tuesday, considering the impact inflation is having on voters.
“I think you have to consider that to a state like Ohio, where steel, automotive, aerospace, shipping helped to build America’s strategic industrial base has seen a lot of that slip away,” he said. “I have a very bad feeling about policies which have put us in this predicament.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, the longest-serving woman in Congress, is facing a challenge from Donald Trump loyalist J.R. Majewski.
“She’s a household word in northwestern Ohio, for sure,” Kucinich said, adding, “If the Republican turnout is strong on Election Day, you could see that race becoming very tight.”
Majewski had been keeping the race tight, but House Republicans pulled advertising for the candidate after an Associated Press Report raised questions over his claims about his military service.
Kaptur defeated Kucinich in a Democratic primary in 2012, when the two long-serving representatives faced off due to redistricting.
“Congressional redistricting is a very political thing. It always has been, and frankly, it always will be,” Kucinich said. “I know a little bit about redistricting, because my district, 10 years ago, was chopped up into four or five pieces. And as a result, it was almost impossible for me to win. But in my case, it wasn’t done by the Republicans. It was done by the state Democrats. Hopefully, you know, in my estimation, Representative Kaptur survives. And I think that will leave Ohio with a total of three Democratic representatives by the time the night is over, with Republicans having 12.”
Kucinich says inflation is the top issue facing Ohioans this election season.
“People remember that because every time you go to the store or you go to buy gas, it hits you in the face again,” Kucinich said. “The Democrats are going to pay a price for that.”