Election 2018: Ohio US Senate Race in Flux

Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel was already a formidable challenger for incumbent Sherrod Brown's US Senate Senate. A number of polls listed Mandel ahead by at least 8 points.

Then Mandel announced last week that he was dropping out of the race, as his wife has a serious health isssue, and the race would draw him away from caring for his sick wife. I honor Treasurer Mandel's commitment to family over career or political future. That decision commands a great deal of respect.

But who will run against Brown?

One name floated just makes me sick: John Kasich. He is termed out for Governor. He has spent the last three years of his political life promoting himself as Democrat-lite, looking for every means possible to expand government, to limit the rights and opportunities.

He expanded Medicaid, and all but pledged to keep Obamacare. He refuses to take a stance against gay marriage, and even boasted about attending a friend's homosexual wedding. Give me a break. He defends "Freedom of worship", which is meaningless, but would force private bakeries to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Where is the freedom of conscience in this?

He also supports a blanket amnesty and has no interest in building the wall. We don't need more RINOs intent on making themselves looking good to the media while the rest of us suffer under the rope of higher taxes and fees, along with the expansion of the state and reduction of our liberties in turn.

Whoever jumps into the race for the GOP ticket, they need to walk in line with President Trump's pro-America, pro-Trump agenda. We just can't have another limp-wristed obstacle to peace and prosperity and American greatness in the US Senate. No more squishes on amnesty, tax reform, repeal of Obamacare.

BREAKING: Ohio GOP Treasurer Drops out of US Senate Race

Friends & Family,

Over a year ago, I launched a campaign for US Senate to make our state and country a better place for my children and yours. Since then, we’ve built a campaign that has us on a path to defeating Sherrod Brown this November. We’ve led him in every public poll and we’ve been the top fundraising Republican challenger in the country.

That being said, I was raised to believe that family always comes first. I still remember the first two words of advice my father gave me when Ilana and I had our first child: “Be there.” These were the same two words his father told him when I was born.

We recently learned that my wife has a health issue that will require my time, attention and presence. In other words, I need to be there.

Understanding and dealing with this health issue is more important to me than any political campaign. For as long as that takes, whether it is months or years, it is important that I heed my dad’s advice and be there for my wife and our kids.

After recent discussions with our family and healthcare professionals, it has become clear to us that it’s no longer possible for me to be away from home and on the campaign trail for the time needed to run a US Senate race.

Therefore, I’m writing today to let you know that I am ending my campaign for US Senate in order to be there for my wife and our three children. This was a difficult decision for us, but it’s the right one.

While unexpected, I accept that this change of course is what God has in store for our family at this time. As we read in the Book of Proverbs, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s God’s purpose that prevails.”

The issues facing our country are profound and I believe we had a voice and perspective better than the current one in the office. At the same time, I think it’s important to acknowledge the respect I have for Senator Brown for having the passion to advocate for his beliefs and, as Teddy Roosevelt once aptly said, the courage to be “The Man in the Arena.”

I will continue to serve out the remainder of my term as State Treasurer and hope to have the opportunity to serve my state and country again in the future. But in the meantime, I must put my family first. I’m grateful for your understanding.

Josh

PAID FOR BY TEAM JOSH, A JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE AUTHORIZED BY AND TO BENEFIT CITIZENS FOR JOSH MANDEL, INC., THE JUSTICE OPPORTUNITY STRENGTH HONOR PAC (JOSHPAC), AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. 145 EAST RICH STREET, SUITE 100, COLUMBUS OH 43215

Ohio Democratic US Senate Incumbent Fearful of Election 2018

Ohio is #7 on CNN's latest "10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2018" list
-- 1/3/2018

Three days into the New Year, and we're already on another list Arthur Christopher.

These lists are worrying to me on several levels. As an Ohioan, I don't want millions of special interest dollars to choose my Senator. I want Sherrod fighting for my family and me in Congress.

And as a campaign manager, making these lists mean one thing: This race will get more 

expensive. The more of these we show up on, the more special interest groups think they have a shot to replace Sherrod with one of their minions.

They'll invest even more to defeat Sherrod -- and we'll have to work that much harder to stop them.

If Sherrod is going to come out of this election victorious like we did in 2012, we need you Arthur Christopher. Sherrod needs to know we can count on you over the next ten months.

Are you all-in? Let Sherrod know you'll have his back throughout 2018 by adding your name >>

Thanks!

Justin

Justin Barasky
Campaign Manager
Friends of Sherrod Brown

Endangered Incumbent in Ohio Has Lost Touch with Working-Class Roots

Ohio US Senator Sherrod Brown knows that he's a big target in 2018.

Pro-worker conservatism has resurged in his state, and his party, the Democratic Party, has completely lost touch with the working-class base which had propelled them into power during the Clinton and Obama Administrations.

Obama made identity politics more important than the needs of everyday citizens, and that's why Democrats have seen their numbers decimated across the country for the last ten years. When they start caring about Americans and America again, they will have a chance at political prominence.

At any rate, Senator Brown has not indicated that he cares about working Americans at all. In fact, he seems more interested in keeping his job, even though he has done little to nothing to ensure that Ohioans hold onto their jobs.

His latest plea for money follows from an AP report listing him as not only an endangered incumbent, but the final domino to fall to GOP dominance in the state of Ohio:

"Ohio Republicans have a chance to complete their statewide domination in 2018 by unseating a Democratic U.S. senator" -- Associated Press, 12/23/2017 It's up to us to stop this, Arthur Christopher. We can't fight back against Republican attacks, or the special interest groups that finance them, without hitting goals. And as of right now, we're in danger of missing our final FEC goal of the year. And just in time, too -- because we're about $29,112 short of our $200,000 goal, and we need all the help we can get. All the Republican heavy hitters want Sherrod gone. Sherrod's a huge problem to the special interests that finance Republican campaigns, so they think he has to go. That's why they made him the "Hunted Democrat" by spending $40 million against him in 2012. That's why these groups are circling like sharks, looking for any weakness they can exploit to defeat Sherrod. And if we start missing goals, that may be just the weakness they need. This is your chance to have twice the impact. If at all possible, give in the next 48 hours. Thanks, Team Sherrod Vote for Josh Mandel for US Senate! Election 2018!

Embattled Democratic Incumbent Fundraises Against Tax Cuts?!

Now this is desperation at its worst.

Tax cuts are not just a success for the Republican majorities in Congress, but their bill will bring further tax relief by repealing the individual mandate in Obamacare. People have been pushed out of the insurance market because of the high costs, and forcing people to by a product which they did not want only made matters worse.

Instead of joining with the tax cuts, US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio denounces tax cuts for working families.

What is he thinking? Does he want to have a genuine chance of getting re-elected in the Rust Belt? If he really cared about working Ohioans, he would have readily jumped in with everything he had to help pass the tax reforms.

I kid you not: he is trying to fundraise in opposition to Middle Class tax cuts!

Late last night, Republicans forced their tax plan through the Senate. And in the cold light of day, Ohio families have to deal with the consequences. Don't let anyone fool you -- this tax plan is a travesty. It raises taxes on the middle class and lowers rates for the rich. It repeals critical parts of the Affordable Care Act and gives corporations brand new tax breaks. If nothing else, this defeat shows us how important elections are. We can't afford to slip up. We can't afford to let our guard down. We have to win in 2018. I need your help Arthur Christopher. Our final FEC deadline before the Election Year is coming up in less than two weeks. We cannot miss our $200,000 goal. If you can, rush in a contribution. This tax scam isn't done yet. I will fight like hell to protect hard working families. I hope I can count on you.

More Winning: Democratic US Senator Losing in Key Rust Belt State

The winning never stops.

I promise, though, Mr. President, I will never get tired of winning.

Never.

I want more winning! I want all of the loser GOP RINOs who do not support our agenda to step out of office. They need to resign, they need to go away very quickly and never darken our doorsteps again.

The victories awaiting the Trump Republican Party will be YUGE against the vast majority of Democratic US Senators up for re-election next year. The Democratic Party faces a horrendous battleground map, having to defend 23 seats, and at least ten of them are in states which either Trump or Trump and Romney one during the two previous election cycles.

One of the targeted US Senate seats is Ohio!

The incumbent, a reckless progressive Democrat named Sherrod Brown, has been consistently under water ever since polling began against his presumptive challenger Josh Mandel. Check out his latest plea for money:

I am down in the polls. Yes Arthur Christopher, I do mean "polls" plural. Three polls of the 2018 Senate race in Ohio have shown us behind. I’m asking you to rush in a $5 contribution to my campaign. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Mandel: 45% Brown: 42% -- Gravis Marketing, 5/3/2017 Mandel: 49% Brown: 44% -- People's Pundit Daily, 5/6/2017 Mandel: 50% Brown: 42% -- People's Pundit Daily, 7/9/2017 One bad poll could be a fluke. Two could be a coincidence. Three bad polls could be a trend -- one we need to turn around. As time goes on, we'll have to contend with more and more challenges. We'll be facing attacks from my likely opponent and his billionaire special interest allies. Let's make sure we do all we can now to turn this trend around. Give $5 or more toward our $300,000 FEC end-of-quarter goal. We need to harness that power now. Give $5 or more toward our $300,000 goal.Our average online contribution is $27. We build our campaign $27 at a time. It might take longer than having billionaires cut huge checks, but it works. We won in 2012 with grassroots power. Final Reflection This is excellent news. The Senate Conservatives Fund has already placed their winning bets on Josh Mandel, and he has consistently polled within 3 to 8 points ahead of Brown--and the election year has not entered into full swing yet. Ohio is a working class state looking for good people who want to help them pay their bills, provide opportunity, and ensure basic public safety. Brown's record in Congress has done just about everything to undermine all of those simply necessities which government should be providing.

More Winning: OHIO GOP Mandel 8 Points Ahead of Regressive Leftist Sherrod Brown

The winning never ends for Republicans, and more specifically conservatives out to Make America Great Again.

Josh Mandel, Ohio's State Treasurer, never ran away from Trump, and stumped for our President.

Now, he's seeking a rematch against regressive leftist Sherrod Brown, who never should have won the seat in the first place.

Ohio is not Massachusetts, yet Brown votes more than 90% of the time with arch-liberal Elizabeth Warren. She is not even popular in her own Bay State, and yet Democrats across the country are following the same failing pattern of voting more and more progressive, even leaning into proto-communist votes and policies.

This is untenable. Ohio has turned into a ruby-red battleground for Republicans. So much so, that the Republican supermajority voted to override liberal Republican Governor John Kasich's Obamacare obsessed budget.

More winning, especially in the Buckeye State.

And I can't wait to see Josh Mandel as the next US Senator from Ohio!

Arthur, I wanted to share some good news regarding State Treasurer Josh Mandel (R-OH), our endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio. The latest PPD Buckeye State Battleground Poll shows Mandel expanding his lead over liberal incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in one of the most important Senate races in the country. The survey shows Mandel leading Brown by 8 points, 50% to 42%, which is roughly the same margin that President Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by in Ohio last year. Please help Josh Mandel defeat Sherrod Brown. "It is extremely bad news for any incumbent to be trailing his challenger by this much, this early, let alone one who is now polling at 50%,” said Richard Baris, head of the PPD Poll and Election Projection Model. “We have a long way to go before the 2018 midterm elections, but if Sen. Brown doesn’t do something to turn this around, he’s going to lose this rematch.” This is great news for conservatives, but we know that Sherrod Brown and his liberal allies are going to dump millions into Ohio to save him so we must keep pushing to help Mandel raise money. Thanks to your generous support, SCF has now raised over $221,000 for Josh Mandel. These funds have been transferred directly to his campaign to spread his message of freedom and opportunity. Please help us win this race by donating to Josh Mandel's campaign through SCF. Also, please consider making a contribution to SCF to help us do even more to support this outstanding conservative candidate. Sherrod Brown is one of the vulnerable Democrats we're working to defeat in 2018 and Josh Mandel is the ideal candidate to replace him. Mandel is a proven conservative, he has strong grassroots support throughout Ohio, and he can win with your support. Thank you for being part of our team. Sincerely, Ken Cuccinelli II President Senate Conservatives Fund @KenCuccinelli / @SCF