Ex-Ohio GOP Guv Bob Taft Back Sherrod Brown!

Former Ohio Republican governor backs Sherrod Brown.

Disgraced Ohio former Republican governor Bob Taft backs a Democrat in the U.S. Senate race. A former rival decided to put country ahead of party.

In an op-ed to the Dayton Daily News, Taft said he is still a Republican but will be putting party aside to vote for the incumbent Democratic senator, who Taft said is “the kind of leader” Ohioans need.

I am guessing that Bob Taft III will be censured by the Ohio Republican Party.

He served two terms from 1999 until 2007. Taft and former Ohio Republican governor John Kasich have denounced former president Donald J. Trump in the past. Kasich endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump carried Ohio in 2016 and 2020. He is likely to carry it in 2024 but not by a large margin like the previous times.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is likely going to win his reelection bid. Ohio, a state that is no longer in play for Democrats is hoping to score at least two victories in the U.S. Senate and ballot measure. 

The longtime Ohio senator has worked the middle and asked for President Joe Biden and national Democrats to have little appearance in this competitive race.

Issue 1 which is a constitutional amendment to make an independent counsel to draw up fair state and U.S. congressional districts and eliminate gerrymandering conducted by Republican state legislators.

Ohio voters codify Roe v. Wade after Republicans bypass Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in trying to outlaw termination. Now Republicans are scrambling to push forward roadblocks to stop the constitutional amendment as well as the gerrymandering initiative.

It's almost over.

Brown is running on this as well as his opponent Bernie Moreno's failures as a businessman and his willingness to back Trump. Moreno promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He supports mass deportations of immigrants, stripping Roe v. Wade, ending student loan forgiveness and MAGAland.

Taft did not mention Moreno by name but said the Republicans need to return to their roots. He oversaw Ohio's demise. Ohio lost six congressional seats since 1990s. Republicans had control of the state except in 2007 until 2011. Ted Strickland was the last Democratic governor of Ohio. Former president George W. Bush, national Republicans, Taft's scandals and J. Kenneth Blackwell being a controversial Black extremist gave Ohio to Strickland once and former president Barack Obama twice.

Taft also said Brown “knows all of Ohio well and understands the concerns and challenges of people across our state” and has always made time for his constituents. Taft added that Brown’s staff is also very attentive to all constituents who contact their office.

Taft touted Brown’s 25 years of experience representing Ohio in public office and noted Brown’s seniority in the Senate has secured him some high-ranking posts, which Taft said is important to Ohioans.

Bernie Moreno is almost out of gas.

The letter is notable since Taft comes from a well-known Republican family. His grandfather, the late Sen. Robert A Taft, became known as “Mr. Republican.” The former governor’s great-grandfather was former President Taft.

The Associated Press noted that the former Republican governor is the only politician to defeat Brown in an election — when Taft defeated Brown in 1990 in his reelection bid for secretary of state.

The Hill has reached out to Moreno and Brown for comment.

Taft was involved in the Coingate scandal. He was convicted of five misdemeanors and spared time in the iron college. He is a lecturer and administrator at the University of Dayton. 

He is the great grandson of former president William Howard Taft, a one term president and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice who was the heaviest man in office. He allegedly weighed over 350lbs during term. He was 245lbs when he became chief justice of the Court.