Jeremy Pelzer

Nominate your favorites for the 2025 Sloopys – Capitol Letter’s annual Ohio political awards It’s the most wonderful time of the year: time to let us know which Ohio politics and government officials are most deserving of the 8th annual Sloopys.

Time to fill out the most important list of the 2025 holiday season: Your nominees for the 8th annual Sloopys, cleveland.com's yearly political awards.
Nominations accepted through Monday 12/8. Voting then runs through Monday 12/15; winners announced Friday 12/19 www.cleveland.com/news/2025/12...

Democrats gear up to ask Ohio voters to smack down any GOP redistricting plan But getting such a repeal measure on the statewide ballot – much less convincing a majority of Ohio voters to pass it -- is easier said than done.

Dems have been touting a potential alternative: seek a voter referendum on any map passed GOP lawmakers in November. But Dem leaders are worried they couldn't collect the ~250K voter signatures (in the middle of winter!) needed to put a repeal measure on the ballot. www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

Ohio Democrats considering GOP redistricting proposal to make two districts more conservative Democratic lawmakers have yet to give final approval to the deal, which would give Republicans an advantage in 12 of Ohio’s 15 congressional districts.

Ohio Democrats are mulling a GOP redistricting plan to make two Dem-held US House seats more red & a third more blue:
#OH01 (Landsman) would flip from D+7 to R+1.9
#OH09 (Kaptur) would go from R+7 to R+10.5
#OH13 (Sykes) would go from D+0.1 to D+3
No final deal yet
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

Major U.S. sports leagues looking to seek nationwide ban on ‘microprop’ betting, Ohio governor says Gov. Mike DeWine said he won't wait much longer before seeking an Ohio ban on "microprop" bets, which have been at the center of recent gambling scandals.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is spearheading an effort by six major U.S. pro sports leagues to seek a 50-state ban on "microprop" betting, per Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

DeWine says if the leagues don't act soon, he'll move to ban such bets in Ohio
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

Tim Ryan inches closer toward Ohio governor race, but won’t yet commit The Democratic ex-congressman has told his inner circle to put a campaign plan together, but he hasn't yet decided whether to enter the governor's race.

Ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has told his inner circle to start putting an Ohio gubernatorial campaign together, his comms adviser confirms. However, the Democrat still hasn’t decided whether to enter the race www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

Ex-Ohio GOP Chair Matt Borges, convicted of role in HB6 scandal, leaves prison early One-time Ohio GOP chair Matt Borges was convicted of attempting to bribe a Republican operative in 2023 as part of the HB 6 scandal. Following his release from federal prison Wednesday, he will spend ...

Ex-Ohio Republican Party Chair/lobbyist Matt Borges has left federal prison, a little more than two years into his 5-year sentence for his role in the House Bill 6 scandal www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

From ‘Do everything I can’ to ‘Yeah, I don’t know’: DeWine retreats on redistricting reform promise Gov. Mike DeWine vowed last year to push through an Iowa-based redistricting reform measure. Now, he just hopes lawmakers will eventually look at the idea.

From "Do everything I can" to "Yeah, I don’t know": Gov. Mike DeWine retreats on redistricting reform promise www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

Columbus-area lawyer joins Democratic race for Ohio attorney general in 2026 John Kulewicz, a retired attorney and Upper Arlington City Council member, is the second Democrat who has filed to run for Ohio AG next year.

John Kulewicz, a retired attorney and suburban Columbus city council member, has filed paperwork to join the Democratic race for Ohio attorney general in 2026.

Diverse group of power players rally behind pardoned Ohio politician’s Supreme Court appeal More than 70 prominent leaders, including former U.S. attorneys general and corporate executives, warn that upholding PG Sittenfeld's corruption conviction could criminalize routine campaign donations...

Dozens of power players from both sides of the aisle are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn ex-Cincinnati City Councilman PG Sittenfeld's corruption conviction -- from ex-U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to former Ohio Gov. Dick Celeste. www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08...

Sherrod Brown formally announces U.S. Senate comeback bid “Ohio workers don’t have a voice in Washington," Brown said. "And I want to come back and be that voice."

Sherrod Brown formally announces comeback bid, enters Ohio's U.S. Senate race www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08...

Political newcomer aims to spend millions to beat Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary Fred Ode, an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Columbia Station in Lorain County, says he’s jumping in the Senate race to help save the country.

A Northeast Ohio millionaire says he's entering Ohio's Democratic U.S. Senate primary and is ready to spend millions of his own money to beat Sherrod Brown www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08...

Sherrod Brown to run for U.S. Senate in 2026, challenging Jon Husted Brown’s decision, which comes after months of speculation, gives Ohio Democrats perhaps their best hope of unseating incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Husted.

BREAKING: Sherrod Brown has decided to run for U.S. Senate in 2026 against Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, ending months of speculation about his political plans www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08...

First Ohio Democrat steps forward for potential 2026 U.S. Senate run State Sen. Casey Weinstein says he’s considering a run for U.S. Senate next year – but only if ex-U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown doesn't enter the race.

State Sen. @senatorweinstein.bsky.social becomes the first Ohio Democrat to publicly consider a run for U.S. Senate next year www.cleveland.com/news/2025/06...

Ohio Democrats choose stability over shake-up with new party chair Ex-state Rep. Kathleen Clyde is the new chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, which has been struggling for years to fight a descent into political irrelevance.

Ohio Democrats choose stability over shake-up with new party chair Kathleen Clyde
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/06...

Ohio Supreme Court justice confirms unprecedented move to challenge colleague’s seat Republican Justice Pat Fischer confirmed he'll try to unseat fellow Justice Jennifer Brunner, the lone Democrat left on the state’s high court.

Republican Ohio Supreme Court justice confirms unprecedented move to try to unseat the court's lone remaining Democrat www.cleveland.com/news/2025/05...

Democrat Tim Ryan eyes 2026 Ohio governor’s race despite earlier denials Democratic ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is “seriously considering” running for Ohio governor in 2026 as he ramps up TV and in-person appearances, according to a close adviser.

Ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is "seriously considering" running for Ohio governor in 2026, a close adviser says. The 2022 Democratic US Senate nominee is also ramping up TV and in-state appearances.
Right now, the only Democrat in the #OHgov race is @amyactonoh.bsky.social www.cleveland.com/news/2025/05...

"That’s just not a way to govern": How Ohio’s budget process blindsides the public -- and even lawmakers themselves www.cleveland.com/news/2025/04...

Ex-lawmaker Jay Edwards enters crowded GOP primary for Ohio treasurer in 2026 The move by the Athens County Republican sets up a potentially contentious Republican primary for treasurer with two other legislative veterans.

NEW: Ex-state Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) has filed to run for Ohio state treasurer, ending months of speculation about his 2026 plans and setting up a crowded, four-way GOP primary next year. www.cleveland.com/news/2025/04...

Ohio AG Dave Yost: State has little power to claw back $600M from Intel Intel's on track to not meet the conditions of a $600 million state grant to help build a $28 billion computer-chip complex in Ohio, but the state's top lawyer says it would be tough to recoup the mon...

Ohio AG Dave Yost: Even though Intel is on track to not meet the promises it made to land $600M in state grants for its $28B Ohio chip complex, the grant agreement is so broadly written that state officials will have a hard time clawing the money back www.cleveland.com/news/2025/03...

Thoughts and prayers to Senator Smith as he attempts the impossible tonight

Dr. Amy Acton launches Democratic campaign for Ohio governor in 2026 Acton, who has been hinting at such a run since last summer, is the first Ohio Democrat to launch a 2026 gubernatorial campaign.

Dr. Amy Acton, who launched a run for Ohio governor in 2026 on Tuesday, is expected to be a good fundraiser, and she has better name ID than most other Ohio Democrats. But will her COVID-era fame be a blessing or a hindrance? www.cleveland.com/news/2025/01...