Government & Politics

Balance of Power: The Politics, Policies and People

2018 was a big election year in Ohio. Republicans held onto all five statewide executive offices including governor and super majorities in both the Ohio House and Senate. But there were a few bright spots for Democrats, among them the reelection of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and the election of two Democrats to the Ohio Supreme Court.With election 2018 over, the focus now shifts to governing. Stay connected with the latest on politics, policies and people making the decisions at all levels affecting your lives.

Ohio Gov. Kasich Delivers a Message to Both his Potential Successors

Ideastream Public Media | By Karen Kasler

Published May 9, 2018 at 6:40 PM EDT

A photo of John Kasich — Gov. John Kasich endorsed Mary Taylor early on in primary race.

Gov. John Kasich had a message for both his fellow Republican and the Democrat who were winners in yesterday’s primary for governor.

Kasich has less than eight months left in office, and said he’s concerned about two of his legacy acts.

“The sanctity, so to speak, of JobsOhio – you can go to the Alex Fishers and the people around the state and they will tell you how critical that operation is. And I feel very, very strongly about the issue of Medicaid expansion.”

Early on Kasich had endorsed Mary Taylor, who said she’d end Medicaid expansion but supported the public private entity JobsOhio. Republican winner Mike DeWine has said Medicaid expansion is unsustainable and he wants to redesign it.

Democrat Richard Cordray wants to keep it. But Cordray has been critical of the lack of transparency at JobsOhio, which DeWine supports, but has also said should be more transparent.