Democracy Dies in Darkness Sections Home Subscribe Try 1 month for $1 Username Sign In Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Subscribe Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Accessibility for screenreader Politics Analysis Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events by Philip Bump by Philip Bump Email the author April 5 at 2:08 PM Email the author Billionaire Robert Mercer speaks on the phone during the 12th International Conference on Climate Change hosted by the Heartland Institute on March 23, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Oliver Contreras/The Washington Post) We may never know how much money billionaire Robert Mercer put into political activity during the 2016 election cycle. For one thing, the definition of … [Read more...] about The amount Robert Mercer spent on politics in 2016 probably topped $30 million
Ohio political ads
GOP Rep. Chabot Wins Ohio Primary to Face Pureval in Fall
Veteran Republican Ohio congressman Steve Chabot has won his party's nomination as he seeks a 12th term. The west-side Cincinnati congressman handily defeated Samuel Ronan in Tuesday's vote. Chabot faces a tougher challenge in November in the traditionally Republican 1st District. Democrats rallied around Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval for their congressional nomination after his surprise county victory in 2016. Chabot lost to Democrat Steve Driehaus in 2008 as Barack Obama won the presidency but took the seat back from Driehaus in 2010. Redistricting has since added conservative Warren County to the district. Ronan described himself as an Air Force veteran who wanted to help the working class by pushing for universal health care and education. … [Read more...] about GOP Rep. Chabot Wins Ohio Primary to Face Pureval in Fall
Pence to Campaign for Ohio Republican in Special Election Scare
Vice President Mike Pence is headed for Ohio this weekend to help bring victory in yet another special election scare for Republicans, Politico is reporting. Pence is throwing a fundraiser on behalf of state Sen. Troy Balderson, who's locked in a tight race to keep Republican the House seat vacated by former Rep. Pat Tiberi, who quit Congress in January to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable. Balderson's opponent is Democrat Danny O'Connor in the special election on Aug. 7. Like the Pennsylvania dead-red district won by Democrat Conor Lamb earlier this year, Ohio's 12th District was won by President Donald Trump by 11 points in 2016. Balderson won the hotly contested and divided special GOP primary by just 1 point, less than 700 votes. As a result, national Republicans are cranking up the support after factions tore him down during the primary. The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) is opening up a field office in support of Balderson and just spent $250,000 on a TV ad campaign, … [Read more...] about Pence to Campaign for Ohio Republican in Special Election Scare
Ohio House Poised to Pass ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
Ohio's Republican-controlled House is set to vote on a "stand your ground" bill that would remove the duty to retreat before using a firearm in self-defense. House Speaker Ryan Smith told reporters on Tuesday that legislators will likely vote on the bill next week, according to Cleveland.com. He said that he feels "comfortable in saying there's a lot of support for that bill." However, Gov. John Kasich is likely to veto the bill should it reach his desk, having proposed a variety of gun control policies, including tighter background checks, a ban on anyone convicted of domestic violence from buying or owning a gun, and a "red flag" law to allow friends and family members to petition the court to remove firearms from anyone who poses a threat to themselves or others. Smith added that House Republicans have "a lot of consternation" about the bill Kasich proposed, though the policies were recommended by a bipartisan study group, and that many in the GOP have concerns about the "red flag" … [Read more...] about Ohio House Poised to Pass ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
House GOP Super PAC Buys More Ads in Crucial Ohio Special Election
The House Republicans' super PAC has put out two new ads in support of GOP nominee Troy Balderson in the special election for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, the Washington Examiner reported on Monday. The new spots by the Congressional Leadership Fund are part of its $1 million advertising buy for the Aug. 7 election in the district, which was left vacant after Republican Pat Tiberi resigned from Congress in January to take a job in the private sector. One of the ads, which presents Balderson as a pragmatic problem solver, talks about his education record and the other charges Democratic nominee Danny O'Connor with misrepresenting his career in public service. Congressional Leadership Fund is investing more than $100 million overall in the midterm elections in an attempt to protect its 24-seat House majority. Ohio's 12th Congressional District, near Columbus, is the kind of GOP-leaning suburban seat that Democrats hope to win in their bid to take control of the House, as … [Read more...] about House GOP Super PAC Buys More Ads in Crucial Ohio Special Election