Abortion, Trump and Mike DeWine’s COVID-19 policies on the minds of Ohio voters today – The Columbus Dispatch

The breaking news that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v Wade, Gov. Mike DeWine’s COVID policies and former President Donald Trump, who put three justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, were on the minds of Ohio voters as they went to the polls in Tuesday’s primary election. 

For Democrats, the fear that a leaked Supreme Court opinion appearing to overturn the landmark abortion decision known as Roe v. Wade was at the forefront of their minds as they vote in primaries for governor and the U.S. Senate. 

For Republicans, especially those who support former President Trump, the big question was whether they could support J.D. Vance, the candidate he picked for U.S. Senate. And whether his lack of an endorsement in the Republican governor’s race – the only statewide race where Trump didn’t pick a favorite – meant anything more than a casual snub. 

Republicans still split on Senate race

In the race to replace U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Republican voters were divided among the seven candidates on the ballot.

Joseph Davidoski, 67, of Anderson Township said Trump’s endorsement of J.D. Vance helped him decide. 

But others weren’t so sure about the “Hillbilly Elegy” author, citing his past comments criticizing Trump as “a total fraud” and labeling some supporters “racist.”

“I’ve heard some things about Vance that I just didn’t really care for,” said Kerrie Clark, a part-time online teacher from Grove City. “I know he was endorsed by Trump, but I don’t know. There’s something about him that didn’t sit right. Maybe that sounds crazy, but when something doesn’t sit right with me, I just can’t go with them.”

She chose Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons. 

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Jerry Sparks, 52, of North Canton, was “absolutely” influenced by the former president, but he voted for former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken because “she’s fit for the job” and “follows Trump.”

And Warren Harding, 46, of Anderson Township, chose state Sen. Matt Dolan because he was the only Republican who didn’t chase Trump’s endorsement. 

“It’s nice to see certain candidates that just aren’t beholden to a person rather than ideals that I think would benefit society as a whole,” Harding said, adding he feels traditional Republican values have been lost.

Tim Ryan has strong support 

U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan has consistently led the pack in the Democratic Senate primary, and voters on Tuesday agreed, saying they thought the moderate from northeast Ohio would have the best chance in November. 

“I like Morgan (Harper), but she needs to get into office someplace before she goes for Senate,” said Mary Ellen Burns, a retired teacher from the Westgate area near Columbus. “It’s like jumping into the big leagues right away.”

Mike Credur and Larry Hall, a central Ohio gay couple who have been together for 29 years, also picked Ryan and worried the Supreme Court might reverse their rights next. 

“The Republican Party is slowly turning everything back 50,100 years,” Credur said. “They’re just taking away human rights. It’s the most unpatriotic party I’ve ever seen in my life and I’m 67-years-old.”

Women for Nan Whaley

As soon as the news spread that Politico had a copy of a draft Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Democrats across Ohio started reacting, especially in the race for governor.

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“It has never been more important to elect a genuinely pro-choice candidate to be Ohio’s next governor,” former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said in a statement. “If you care about reproductive rights, we need your vote tomorrow–full stop.”

Whaley has always supported abortion access, but her challenger for the Democratic nomination to be governor, former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, started his political career as a “pro-life Democrat.” A fact Emily’s List hammered when he entered the race last year. 

Any Democrat who goes into the voting booth today has abortion at the center of their thoughts, and that certainly advantages Nan Whaley.” University of Cincinnati political professor David Niven said. 

Cranley, who started supporting abortion access after having children with his wife, called the news from Washington “an outrageous attack on the dignity and freedom of all women.”

But voters in Cranley’s backyard appeared to be breaking his opponent. 

Laura Knight, 41, of Anderson Township down in Southwest Ohio, picked Whaley specifically because of her stance on abortion and women’s rights. 

Many still like Mike DeWine

Gov. Mike DeWine took criticism from his own party during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but GOP voters said they were still supporting him in the primary. 

“I think Mike DeWine has done a pretty good job with everything during his term,” Harding said.

And so did Sparks who wore a ball cap depicting a handgun and the words “Protected by the 2nd Amendment” outside the North Canton Civic Center. 

Even Democratic voters Sara and Robert Frato, who picked Whaley for governor, said they appreciated DeWine’s leadership during the pandemic. 

“We are not Republican, but we felt DeWine did a good job,” Sarah Frato said.

DeWine is facing former Congressman Jim Renacci, farmer Joe Blystone and former state Rep. Ron Hood in the GOP primary for governor.

Hood ran a low-level campaign, and Blystone didn’t raise a lot of money. Still, the political newcomer had supporters in Marion County.

Dane Williams, 19, voted for the first time on Tuesday and picked Blystone because he was “definitely a guy who isn’t in it just for the money.”

“He is not a shill for the other party. He is for the people, by the people,” Williams said. “He cares about the people. He’s not run by the government, strictly the people.”

This story will be updated as we talk with more voters across Ohio today.

Anna Staver is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. It serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.