AGP Executive Report

Governor’s Race: Vivek Ramaswamy promised property-tax and utility cuts at a Miami County GOP picnic, as a recent poll showed him trailing Democrat Amy Acton by six points. Early voting is brisk in several northwest Ohio counties. Senate Fight: Republican Jon Husted faces Sherrod Brown in a close race, with Elon Musk giving $7 million to help Husted. Betting Crackdown: Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio will pursue companies offering sports prediction bets despite state restrictions; the Casino Control Commission has issued cease-and-desist letters. School Choice: An Ohio appeals court ruled the state’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, while another report says Ohio spent more than $1 billion on private-school vouchers in the latest fiscal year. Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court will review the federal home-distilling ban in a case involving Newark, Ohio, resident John Ream, after appeals courts split over its constitutionality.

Midterm Momentum: New Ohio polls show Democrats leading in the Senate and governor’s races, while Vivek Ramaswamy trails Amy Acton by six points in a Bowling Green State University survey. Early in-person voting is nearly four times higher than at this point in 2022, and Vice President JD Vance is returning to Ohio to rally Republicans as both parties target close races. Ohio Ballot: Voters will decide whether to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution, alongside local school, mental-health and public-service levies. Courts and Policy: An Ohio appeals court ruled the EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, raising questions about its future. The NCAA has sued Gov. Mike DeWine over his order allowing colleges to disregard new athlete-eligibility rules. Federal Cuts: New SNAP rules shift more administrative costs to states; Ohio estimates an immediate $67 million funding loss.

Governor’s Race: A new Bowling Green State University poll puts Democrat Amy Acton six points ahead of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, as candidates and party figures step up campaigning ahead of Ohio’s Nov. 3 election. Early Voting: Rallies across Central Ohio and Muskingum County are urging voters to cast ballots early, while turnout is reported higher than at this point in 2022. State Policy: The NCAA has sued Gov. Mike DeWine over his order allowing some college athletes an extra season of eligibility. Separately, an Ohio appeals court ruled the state’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, intensifying a debate over school choice. Education and Taxes: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed new federal education and adoption tax credits at a Columbus roundtable. Local Ballot: Elyria City Schools is asking voters to approve an 8.9-mill operating levy to help address a multimillion-dollar deficit after cutting nearly $9 million in costs.

Governor’s Race: Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 50% to 44% in a new Bowling Green State University poll, widening her advantage from three points last month. Still, 55% of voters expect Ramaswamy to win. Early Voting: “No Kings” rallies drew crowds across Ohio on Saturday, with organizers urging voters to cast ballots early and recruit election volunteers ahead of Nov. 3. School Choice: An Ohio appeals court ruled the EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional; students can keep using vouchers for now as the case moves forward. College Athletics: The NCAA sued Gov. Mike DeWine over his order allowing some Ohio athletes an extra year of eligibility, challenging the state’s authority to override its rules. Senate Contest: Ohio’s race is among the country’s most expensive, with crypto-backed Fairshake spending millions more to defeat Democrat Sherrod Brown as polling shows Democrats gaining ground.

Campaigns: A new Bowling Green State University–YouGov poll puts Sherrod Brown six points ahead of Sen. Jon Husted, 48% to 42%, and Amy Acton six points ahead of Vivek Ramaswamy, 50% to 44%, in Ohio’s governor’s race. School Choice: An appeals court ruled Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, challenging a system that serves more than 140,000 students. The program remains in place while the case is appealed. College Sports: The NCAA has sued Gov. Mike DeWine over his order allowing some Ohio college athletes a fifth year of eligibility, arguing it conflicts with federal and state law. Election Watch: Early voting is underway, with Ohio voters also set to decide whether to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution.

College Sports: The NCAA sued Gov. Mike DeWine in federal court over his order allowing some Ohio athletes to compete for a fifth season, escalating a dispute over eligibility rules. Election Security: Ohio’s Secretary of State’s office received a suspicious letter containing powder, now under federal investigation. Early voting is running well ahead of 2022 levels, while voters will also decide whether to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution. Senate Race: Democrat Sherrod Brown raised $23.1 million in the latest quarter, nearly five times Republican Jon Husted’s $4.8 million, as outside spending makes Ohio’s contest the nation’s most expensive Senate race. School Choice: An Ohio appeals court ruled the state’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, raising new questions about its future. Rural Health: DeWine announced $92 million in federal funding for rural hospitals, health networks and maternal care.

NCAA Lawsuit: The NCAA sued Gov. Mike DeWine in federal court, challenging his order allowing Ohio colleges to give some athletes a fifth year of eligibility. The case adds a new front to an already widening fight over college sports rules. School Vouchers: An Ohio appeals court ruled the EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, raising questions about its future; Akron students can keep their vouchers for now as the case proceeds. Election Security: Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters sent to election offices and lawmakers. A letter addressed to Ohio’s secretary of state was intercepted, and officials are reassuring voters as early voting continues. Ohio Senate Race: Sherrod Brown outraised Sen. Jon Husted nearly five to one in their latest fundraising reports. Ohio’s early-voting turnout is also nearly four times the level at this point in the 2022 midterms.

Ohio Election Watch: Early in-person voting is nearly four times 2022 levels. In the U.S. Senate race, Sherrod Brown outraised Jon Husted nearly 5-to-1 in the latest reports. Voters will also decide Issue 3, which would put a photo-ID requirement for in-person voting in the state constitution. Election Security: The FBI is investigating suspicious mailings to election offices and lawmakers; Ohio’s secretary of state says a white-powder package addressed to the office was intercepted. Schools & Medicaid: An appeals court ruled Ohio’s expanded EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, raising questions about school funding. A state audit also faulted the Medicaid department for weak planning and oversight of its modernization project. Local Decisions: Trenton residents are weighing a proposed Amazon data center after company representatives met with the community. East Palestine: Gov. Mike DeWine and Husted visited to discuss a regional first-responder training center at Youngstown State, funded by a $20 million Norfolk Southern grant.

Election Security: The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious letters sent to election offices and congressional offices nationwide. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said a letter intended for his office was intercepted by the Postal Service. Early Voting: Ohio turnout is nearly four times higher than during the first five days of the 2022 midterms; Clark County is on track to exceed its 2022 total by at least 200%. Education: An appeals court ruled Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, citing its impact on public schools and lack of oversight. The program can continue while the case moves to the state Supreme Court. State Oversight: A state audit faulted the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s modernization effort for weak planning, contract management and use of data. Campaign Trail: Barack Obama is set to campaign in Ohio for Democrats Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton, as voters weigh close statewide races and Issue 3, which would add photo ID requirements for in-person voting to the state constitution.

Statewide Races: Republican Frank LaRose and Democrat Annette Blackwell are making their cases to become Ohio’s next auditor, while GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told a Columbus forum he opposes data-center tax breaks and wants executions to resume. Voting Watch: Ohio has recorded 320,770 early votes, including 235,887 in-person ballots, as turnout runs well ahead of the 2022 midterm pace. The FBI is investigating a suspicious powder-filled letter intercepted on its way to Secretary of State LaRose’s office. Local Ballots: Franklin County voters will choose between Kelly Green and Chris Junga for probate judge; Delaware County will decide on a transit sales tax and an open commissioner seat. Statehouse: Ohio unveiled its first Statehouse monument depicting real women, honoring generations of women who shaped the state’s history.

Campaign Trail: Ohio’s U.S. Senate and governor’s races are drawing national attention as polls show a tight contest and voter dissatisfaction with Trump. Barack Obama plans to rally in Cleveland on Oct. 24 for Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton. At Trump’s Youngstown rally, a woman protester was punched; no charges have been filed. Voting: Early turnout in Warren County more than doubled the first four days of voting in 2022. Voters will also decide Issue 3, which would put Ohio’s photo ID requirements in the state constitution. Data Centers: Opposition is becoming a major election issue: 21 Ohio ballot measures across 18 communities would restrict or block new data center projects.

Midterm Scramble: Ohio Democrats are outperforming Republicans in early voting. Former President Barack Obama plans to campaign in Cleveland for Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton on Oct. 24, while President Trump rallied in Youngstown for Jon Husted and Vivek Ramaswamy. The rally drew scrutiny after a protester was punched and Trump mocked her. Data-Center Fight: Opposition to power-hungry data centers is emerging as an Ohio campaign issue. Sen. Jon Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have urged states to consider making data centers cover grid costs, was blocked from fast-track passage. State Government: Gov. Mike DeWine signed an order allowing Ohio colleges to grant athletes from the 2022 high school class a fifth year of eligibility. State tax revenue also came in more than $200 million above projections.

Ohio Campaign Trail: Donald Trump rallied in Youngstown for Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, attacking Haitian and Somali immigrants as supporters chanted “deport.” A protester was punched in the crowd; Trump mocked her instead of urging calm. Data Center Fight: The AI boom is emerging as a major Ohio campaign issue, with 20 data-center-related ballot measures across 17 jurisdictions this November and backlash shaping the Senate race between Husted and Sherrod Brown. Voting Watch: Early in-person turnout is rising across the state, while federal election-crime charges include three noncitizens accused of illegal voting in Ohio. State Policy: Gov. Mike DeWine has directed Ohio EPA to begin the process of ending Northeast Ohio’s E-Check vehicle emissions program.

Ohio Campaign Trail: President Donald Trump returned to Youngstown for his second Ohio rally in 10 days, urging voters to back Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The frequent visits underscore Republican concerns about close races, including Husted’s contest with Sherrod Brown. Voter Mood: A Bowling Green State University poll found Democrats narrowly ahead in both the governor’s and Senate races, while 61% of likely voters said the country is on the wrong track. Election Watch: More than 170,000 Ohioans have already voted early, with officials reporting higher turnout than in past elections. Three noncitizens were charged with illegal voting in Ohio, part of a multistate federal election-crimes probe. Data Center Backlash: Piqua voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to limit a proposed Meta data center and whether to recall three city leaders, as concerns over local impacts cut across party lines.

Data Center Backlash: Opposition to AI facilities is becoming an Ohio election issue. Near Grove City, a seven-generation farming family rejected a developer’s offer for land, while President Trump’s support for data centers has alienated some voters. Ohio Midterms: Trump rallied Republicans in Youngstown as Sen. Jon Husted faces a tight race against Sherrod Brown. GOP-aligned groups have spent more than $54 million attacking Brown, and the data-center fight could complicate Husted’s campaign. Voting and Election Rules: Early voting figures point to Democratic gains in some of Ohio’s most Trump-friendly counties. The state is also pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case over prediction markets as officials move to curb election-related betting.

Ohio Midterms: Early-voting figures suggest Democrats are gaining in some of Ohio’s most pro-Trump counties, as tight statewide races draw national attention. Trump is due in Youngstown to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy; Ramaswamy has vowed to end sanctuary-city policies. Gambling Policy: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton supports considering online casino gambling in Ohio, but has not outlined safeguards. A New York Times investigation reported that DraftKings used promotions to encourage customers likely to gamble and lose more. Kennedy Center Lawsuit: Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty’s challenge to decisions by the Trump-controlled board faces a new fight: the Justice Department is invoking executive privilege to block questions about Trump’s role, while a judge ordered the center to provide more financial records. Regional Projects: The OKI council approved $65 million in federal funding for 37 Greater Cincinnati-area transportation projects, including work on Victory Parkway and the Western Hills Viaduct.