Ohio GOP chair Kevin DeWine orchestrates unopposed primary for anti-gun cousin Mike

By Chad D. Baus

On April 18, 2009, Republican Prosecutor Dave Yost announced he would seek his party's nomination for attorney general in 2010, saying Ohio needs "a prosecutor, not a politician" in the state's top law enforcement job. Today, he will announce a decision that ensures his party will nominate a politician after all.

According to the Dayton Daily News, Yost will announce his plans to abandon his long campaign for attorney general, and accept a carrot offered by Ohio GOP chair Kevin DeWine - a party-backed run for state auditor. The announcement will come at a 2:30 press conference at the Ohio GOP headquarters in Columbus.

The show of support for Yost by Chairman DeWine stands in stark contrast to the tepid reaction Yost received as a candidate running for attorney general against DeWine's cousin Mike. It also contrasts sharply with the way news of former Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee Seth Morgan's own bid for auditor was handled. In that case, the Ohio GOP didn't even bother to publish his press release on its Web site.

For his part, Morgan has indicated he plans to remain in the race. Morgan's spokesman told the Daily News, "we welcome the challenge."

And so, while it took quite a bit of wrangling, Ohio GOP chairman Kevin DeWine has finally succeeded in clearing the primary field for his anti-gun cousin's bid to become the next attorney general while also setting up a primary race for auditor that will ensure at least one pro-gun Republican will not make it through the primary process.

The move also sets up a situation where a pro-gun Democrat, Attorney General Richard Cordray, will face an anti-gun Republican, former Senator Mike DeWine, in a statewide race this November.

In 2006, pro-gun Democrats were chosen by voters in all but one statewide office - the seat pro-gun Republican Mary Taylor recently forfeited when she decided to accept gubernatorial candidate John Kasich's invitation to become his running mate.

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