Cincy Reporter

In a live video, Jim Renacci, a Republican challenger to Gov. Mike DeWine, delivered a response to the governor's March 23 State of the State address.

"This is Ohio's time! People are returning to the heartland," DeWine said in the speech. "They are coming to Ohio because we have lower taxes, a strong business climate, and a good regulatory environment -- made better by recently enacted Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senators (Kristina) Roegner and (Rob) McColley ... There is simply no better place to raise a family than Ohio! No better place to live."

This contradicts United Van Lines' National Movers Study released in January, which found that Ohio was among the top 10 states people moved out of in 2021. Other states that experienced a significant population loss in 2021 include New Jersey, Illinois and New York.

"I would agree with a couple things the governor said," Renacci said in the video on Facebook. "Ohio, there's no better place to raise a family. I 100% agree. The problem is families are leaving. We're the seventh-most left state in the country, and that's not something we should be proud of. Gov. DeWine says now is the time to seize the moment, and I would tell you now is the time to remove Gov. DeWine."

Renacci, 63, is an entrepreneur and accountant, his campaign biography said. He was elected to Congress in 2010 as a member of the tea party. During the 2016 presidential primary, he backed former President Donald Trump over John Kasich, who was Ohio's governor at the time.

DeWine will face off against Renacci in the May 3 GOP gubernatorial primary, Ballotpedia reported. The winner will go on to appear on ballots for the general election on Nov. 8.

DeWine, 74, was endorsed by Kasich in 2019 as his replacement for governor, West Hamilton News reported. He's been in office for 41 years, which is among the longest periods served in Ohio's history. He has held jobs in the state and U.S. senates, in the U.S. House of Representatives, as Ohio lieutenant governor, and as Ohio attorney general.