South Franklin News

As the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination heats up in Ohio, state Republicans are rallying around Jim Renacci, after primary opponent Joe Blystone falsely claimed Renacci voted for a transgender bathroom bill while in Congress.

Blystone recently claimed that Renacci voted in favor of an amendment that "would have led to government contractors either accommodating transgender bathroom choice or losing out on federal contracts," according to a press release from Renacci's office.

Brad Parscale, campaign manager for Jim Renacci, spoke about the reason that conservatives are rallying around Renacci. Parscale said, "Ohio conservatives are recognizing more and more that Joe Blystone's so-called campaign for governor is really just a campaign based on lies about Jim Renacci. Jim Renacci is the only accountable, proven conservative Ohio Republicans can trust to take on Mike DeWine and the establishment."

A fact check conducted by The Ohio Press Network found that "Renacci did not vote for a transgender bathroom bill because no such bill came before Congress."

The claim by Blystone's campaign originally came in a Facebook video posted by the group Blystone for Governor of Ohio. 

The Renacci campaign was not alone in calling out the falsehood. Ohio Republicans quickly came to his defense and released a letter that read, "Too often, when politicians cannot win on their own merit, background, or ability, they spread false statements or rumors. One false statement put out by opponents of Republican Jim Renacci falsely claims Congressman Renacci voted for transgender bathrooms, allowing men in women's bathrooms, and that he would allow men to compete in women's sports."

The letter was signed by several conservative organizations throughout the state, including Ohio Value Voters, Strongsville GOP, Protect Ohio Children, several pastors, and others.

Renacci, 63, was elected to represent Ohio's 16th District in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Tea Party Movement, serving in that role from 2011 to 2019. He endorsed Donald Trump over then-Ohio governor Jim Kasich in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

Joe Blystone, owner of Blystone Farm and Blystone Agricultural Community, Inc., will face off against Renacci and incumbent Governor Mike DeWine in the May 3 GOP primary election.

DeWine, 74, is one of the longest-serving public officials in state history and has been in elected office for 41 years. He was chosen by Kasich to replace him as governor in 2019, and previously served in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate, and as Ohio lieutenant governor and attorney general, according to West Hamilton News.