Scandals roil OH-9 GOP primary in final 8 days
Eight days from the May 5 primary, three of Ohio's 9th Congressional District Republican candidates — Derek Merrin, Josh Williams, and Madison Sheahan — are facing damaging headlines.
Articles by Dave Miller
Click brands Watson 'the Arizona Kid' — but he himself moved here from Indiana
State Rep. Gary Click is closing his primary campaign by branding challenger Eric Watson "the Arizona Kid." Click himself moved to Ohio from Indiana in 2006 — about a year before Watson's family marked 175 years in Seneca County.
Merrin campaign tied to smear site targeting rival Williams in OH-9 GOP primary
A website attacking state Rep. Josh Williams carries digital fingerprints linked to a consultant paid by Derek Merrin's campaign — and carries no disclosure identifying who paid for it, according to reporting by the Toledo Blade.
Sandusky County prosecutor backs judge she cleared of $33K audit finding
Sandusky County Prosecutor Beth Tischler formally abated a $33,300 state audit finding against Judge Brad Smith — with Ohio Attorney General approval and no repayment required — before publicly backing his re-election campaign. Both are on the May 5 primary ballot.
Running mate's withdrawal cripples Ohio GOP governor bid
Stuart Moats filed paperwork Wednesday to withdraw as Heather Hill's lieutenant governor running mate — a move that, under Ohio law, disqualifies the Hill ticket from receiving valid votes in the May 5 Republican primary for governor.
Gary Click reportedly snubbed at Ramaswamy's TPUSA event
State Rep. Gary Click attended Vivek Ramaswamy's Turning Point USA event at Ohio State on Tuesday — touting his perfect TPUSA score on Facebook. He sat in the crowd, didn't take the stage, and left alone.
Ramaswamy cuts himself a $25M check for Ohio governor bid
The Republican gubernatorial candidate's $25 million personal check made up 83% of his campaign's 2026 fundraising. Democrat Amy Acton's 76,000 Q1 donors averaged $29 each.
Ex-Ohio GOP candidate Daniel Kalmbach now faces life felony
Miami-Dade prosecutors escalated charges against ex-Ohio GOP candidate Daniel Kalmbach to a life felony kidnapping count and 1st-degree aggravated battery.
Before he was elected, Gary Click paid to defend the bailout at the heart of Ohio's bribery scandal
Click's campaign paid for pro-HB 6 ads in 2019 during the referendum window, before Householder's arrest exposed the $60 million bribery scheme behind the law.
Touching claims, $180K texts: inside the Ohio GOP governor ticket brawl
A day after Heather Hill dropped running mate Stuart Moats, their feud has turned into a public brawl — with allegations of inappropriate touching, a $180,000 salary demand, and dueling personal attacks.
New evidence pulls Jon Husted deeper into Ohio's $60M bribery scandal
New AP reporting adds fresh dark money documentation and previously unreported texts to the mounting evidence contradicting Sen. Jon Husted's denials.
Republican candidate for Ohio governor drops running mate 17 days before primary election
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Heather Hill announced Saturday she is dropping running mate Stuart Moats, who called her allegations "complete lies," 17 days before the May 5 primary.
