© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
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.

Renacci Chides Kasich, Channels Trump in Concession Speech

Mark Arehart
/
WKSU
Congressman Jim Renacci gives his concession speech at Wadsworth's Galaxy Restaurant in the race for U.S. Senate.

Ohio voters elected Democrat Sherrod Brown to a third senate term Tuesday night. He beat Republican challenger and Congressman Jim Renacci.

A mood of cautious optimism to start the evening at the Galaxy Restaurant in Wadsworth quickly turned somber for Renacci supporters when the race was called. But a roar of applause still rang out as Jim Renacci took the stage for his concession speech where he called out Governor John Kasich for dividing the Ohio Republican Party by not supporting President Trump’s agenda.

"We have an agenda of growth. We have wage rates going up. We have unemployment going down. (These) are the policies that I’m proud to be behind. And I’m very proud to be behind this president."

The Wadsworth Republican was originally a candidate in the crowded Ohio governor’s race, but dropped out to run for the Senate in January. Sherrod Brown’s campaign outraised Renacci’s by more than $20 million.

When asked what’s next for him after he leaves elected office this January, Renacci said he’s going to “take a little break” from politics and worry about what’s next sometime in the future.

Mark Arehart joined the award-winning WKSU news team as its arts/culture reporter in 2017. Before coming to Northeast Ohio, Arehart hosted Morning Edition and covered the arts scene for Delaware Public Media. He previously worked for KNKX in Seattle, Kansas Public Radio, and KYUK in Bethel, Alaska.