Democratic Candidates For Ohio Governor To Debate In Cleveland

Four Democrats running for Ohio governor next year are set to debate tonight at the Idea Center in Cleveland. Watch the debate live here. 

Debating tonight are Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, former Congresswoman Betty Sutton, State Sen. Joe Schiavoni and former State Representative Connie Pillich.

Those four hope to win the Democratic nomination for governor in the May 8 primary five months from now.

The event is put on by the City Club of Cleveland, with moderators from the Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau and WKYC-TV.

Another Democrat will enter the race soon. Richard Cordray, the former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief, is expected to announce his bid in Grove City, outside of Columbus, on Tuesday.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill will not be in tonight’s debate.  He has said he plans to run, but not if Cordray enters the race.