COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former U.S. Rep Jim Renacci will challenge incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine in the 2022 Ohio Republican gubernatorial primary, Renacci announced Wednesday.
Renacci was a four-term member of the U.S. House from 2011-2019. He opted not to run for a fifth term, instead falling in a challenge to defeat Sen. Sherrod Brown. Renacci lost by a 53-46 margin.
In a campaign announcement video, Renacci took issue with DeWine’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it had on business. While Ohio has lost 132,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, the unemployment rate has dropped from 4.9% to 4.7%, according to federal figures.
“DeWine represented fear over freedom,” he said in a video posted Wednesday. “He cost Ohio big time. So many jobs are gone. Local businesses perished, shutdowns, schools closed.”
"DeWine defied Trump and was praised by Biden,” he added.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, both of whom are Democrats, have also announced their candidacy in the gubernatorial race.
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