Mike DeWine to have pro-gun primary challenger (despite Ohio Republican Party's best efforts)

By Chad D. Baus

Just two weeks to the day after Ohio GOP chair Kevin DeWine worked to orchestrate an unopposed primary for his anti-gun cousin Mike by enticing pro-gun candidate Dave Yost to drop out of the race for Attorney General, the Dayton Daily News is reporting that Hardin County attorney Steve Christopher has announced that he will challenge DeWine.

From the story:

"I feel like the moderates and conservatives need to have a candidate for attorney general who’s not a professional politician and a liberal, which DeWine and Cordray both are," Christopher, 51, who is part of the Tea Party movement, said by phone.

The incumbent attorney general is Democrat Richard Cordray.

Christopher said he is a township trustee in Hardin County where he lives on a farm near Forest. He has law offices in Kenton and Findlay in Hancock County, where he filed his designation of campaign treasurer form.

"The overriding theme (of the campaign) is that we need a conservative on the ballot, someone who understands the constitution," said Christopher.

Last week, Christopher contacted Buckeye Firearms Association about his potential candidacy, noting he is "a life member (sustaining) of the NRA," a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association (OGCA) and Pheasants Forever. He informed BFA that he is a strong supporter of concealed carry, and is himself an Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL)-holder.

In addition to his 26 years experience as trial lawyer, Christopher has served an Adjunct Professor at Ohio Northern University (where he attended law school) since 2007. He has also served as an acting judge in the Hardin County Court since 2005.

The married father of three children, Christopher is a founding member of the Hardin County Tea Party. He has done volunteer legal work for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a Christian legal foundation that often opposes the anti-gun ACLU.

For gun owners looking for a pro-gun alternative in the Republican primary this May, the news of Mr. Christopher's candidacy is going to be a welcome one.

Christopher is in need of volunteers to help circulate petitions to get him on the Republican primary ballot. Email him at [email protected] if you'd like to get involved.

Voters who oppose anti-gun Mike DeWine's candidacy can also help by telling family, friends, neighbors and anyone else who will listen that if they cherish their Second Amendment freedoms, they will do everything in their power to ensure that Mike DeWine is permanently retired from politics in the Buckeye State.

Download this flyer. Forward this op-ed. Discuss it any time you're with a group of people. If Ohio gun owners don't stand up to this threat, they'll live to regret it.

Chad Baus is a Member of the Fulton County, OH, Republican Central Committee and Vice Chairman of Buckeye Firearms Association.