2018 Ohio Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Mike DeWine: Supports "fetal heartbeat" law (abortion ban after 6 weeks).     Mike DeWine: Supports heartbeat bill (no abortion after 6 weeks).     Richard Cordray: Women's right to make their own personal decisions.     Betty Sutton: Constitutionally protected decisions about personal health.     Dennis Kucinich: Change of heart: I support a woman's right to choose.     Joe Schiavoni: I trust women to make their own medical decisions.     Richard Cordray: Support abortion rights; fight for Planned Parenthood.     Jim Renacci: Opposes abortion and gay marriage.     John Kasich: Cut $1.3M in funding for discredited Planned Parenthood.

Budget & Economy     Mike DeWine: Make Ohio a low tax, low regulation state.     Jon Husted: Liberation from Feds can reduce other problems.     Richard Cordray: A look back at the recession demands common sense reforms.

Civil Rights     Mike DeWine: Opposes sexual identity in anti-discrimination laws.     Richard Cordray: Long-term supporter of gay marriage.     Mary Taylor: Disallow minors to initiate gender transition without parent.     Mary Taylor: Running-mate Nathan Estruth led anti-gay-rights campaign.     Nan Whaley: Presided over one of first Ohio gay marriages.     Joe Schiavoni: LGBT students are like everyone else.     Nan Whaley: Being young & female in politics offers unique leadership.

Corporations     Richard Cordray: Ran Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.     Richard Cordray: Nurture small businesses rooted in local communities.     Richard Cordray: Developed guidelines to protect consumers from data breaches.     Jim Renacci: Reduce the corporate tax rate to 25%, and individuals too.

Crime     John Kasich: Spared 7 death-row inmates; executed 15 more.     Ted Strickland: Spared 5 death-row inmates; executed 17 more.     Connie Pillich: Worked as public defender, and challenged predatory lenders.     Jim Renacci: Opposes capital punishment.     John Kasich: Black Lives Matter means the system doesn't work for them.     John Kasich: Police must understand challenges of black community.     John Kasich: Ban the box: no criminal history check on job applications.     Richard Cordray: Endorsements by law enforcement reflects his efforts as AG.

Drugs     Mike DeWine: Opposes recreational marijuana; opposes Ballot issue 1.     Richard Cordray: Can't arrest way out of opioid crisis.     Mike DeWine: Keep low-level drug use a felony instead of a misdemeanor.     Richard Cordray: Make low-level drug use a misdemeanor; treatment not prison.     Richard Cordray: We cannot arrest our way out of opioid crisis: tackle causes.     Mary Taylor: Focus on prevention and reducing the supply of drugs.     Nan Whaley: Ohio's heroin epidemic caused by drug companies.     Jon Husted: If #1 in jobs & education, Ohio wouldn't be #1 in opioids.     John Kasich: No mixed message: don't do opioids & don't do marijuana.     John Kasich: 2016: Legalized medical marijuana, with tight regulations.     Mike DeWine: Age-appropriate discussions in Kindergarten thru 12th grade.

Education     Mike DeWine: Supports charter schools; supports vouchers.     Mike DeWine: Improve college affordability; new STEM funding.     Richard Cordray: More funding for universal pre-K; no funding charters.     Richard Cordray: Free community college for all Ohioans.     Richard Cordray: Future job skills begin with investment in education system.     Jim Renacci: Top-down, one-size-fits-all approach has proven ineffective.     Dennis Kucinich: Charter schools are a multi-billion dollar boondoogle.

Energy & Oil     Mike DeWine: Challenged Obama's Clean Power Plan.     Richard Cordray: Climate change threatens Great Lakes & Ohio farms.     Richard Cordray: Clean energy provides jobs AND improves air quality.     John Kasich: Balance low-cost & environment by pursuing all sources.     John Kasich: Supports Keystone XL, clean coal; and "smart grid".     John Kasich: No state bailout for aging nuclear plants.     John Kasich: Nuclear power is yesterday; natural gas represents tomorrow.     Jim Renacci: We cannot afford to halt or discourage domestic exploration.     Joe Schiavoni: Continue oil, gas exploration, but safer fracking.     John Kasich: Keep state mandate on renewable energy.     Sierra Club: Mandated renewable energy standards instead of voluntary.     Sierra Club: Renewable energy creates jobs AND improves air quality.     John Kasich: Mandate that electric utilities use at least 8.5% renewables.     John Kasich: All-of-the-above approach, with stepped-up fossil fuels.     John Kasich: Open more federal lands to oil and natural gas exploration.

Environment     Jim Renacci: Reduce Washington's adversarial red tape on farms.

Families & Children     Mike DeWine: Religious employers may exclude contraception from insurance.     Richard Cordray: Require contraception as part of all employer health plans.     Richard Cordray: Focus on kitchen table issues & improving family life.     Jon Husted: American family is broken without two loving parents.     John Kasich: Re-prioritize family planning funds away from abortion.

Government Reform     Mike DeWine: Opposed McCain-Feingold bill limiting political donations.     Mike DeWine: Supports purging voter rolls.     Richard Cordray: Limit political donations from corporations & unions.     Richard Cordray: The right to vote is vital to our democracy.     Jon Husted: States should police elections, not Feds.     Jim Renacci: End campaign contributions that lead to government contracts.     John Kasich: A handful of billionaires should not decide who is president.     John Kasich: Deal with fundraising influencing voting decisions.

Gun Control     Mike DeWine: Supports stand-your-ground; opposes bump stock ban.     Richard Cordray: Universal background checks & bump stock ban.     Richard Cordray: Wants gun control laws at both state and local levels.     Jon Husted: Endorsed by gun group, supports "right to protect".

Health Care     Mike DeWine: Repeal ObamaCare; add work requirements to Medicare.     Richard Cordray: Expand Medicaid and ObamaCare.     Richard Cordray: ObamaCare saves lives and improves health.     Nan Whaley: Medicaid crucial to helping addicts; don't throw people off.     Jim Renacci: Competition & tort reform instead of ObamaCare.

Homeland Security     Joe Schiavoni: Against military transgender ban.     Connie Pillich: Advocate for veterans, financially and community.     Jim Renacci: Ensure Armed Forces have resources they need; end sequester.

Immigration     Mike DeWine: Supports DREAMers; but let President decide.     Richard Cordray: Pathways to citizenship for all immigrants who love America.     Jim Renacci: Supports border wall for Mexico plus temporary travel ban.

Jobs     Mike DeWine: Let states decide on minimum wage.     Richard Cordray: No right-to-work law (keep mandated union dues).     Richard Cordray: Raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.     Richard Cordray: Endorsed by unions: Give control back to workers.

Principles & Values     Connie Pillich: Announced candidacy on route of Cincinnati Women's March.     Mary Taylor: Served as Director of Insurance, while Lt. Governor.     Jim Renacci: OhioFirst: the day of the career politicians needs to change.

Social Security     Richard Cordray: Develop consumer tools to use with Social Security decisions.

Tax Reform     Mike DeWine: Supports Trump tax cuts; exempt capital gains taxes.     Richard Cordray: Trump tax cuts were a terrible deal that helps the wealthy.     Richard Cordray: Does not back tax bill; not enough benefit to middle class.     Nan Whaley: Shift tax burden to rich.     Jim Renacci: Our tax code is broken; comprehensive reform needed.

Technology     Mike DeWine: Preserve Net Neutrality (tiered access to Internet).     Richard Cordray: Supports Net Neutrality (equal access to Internet).     Jon Husted: States must focus on high tech future.

War & Peace     Nan Whaley: U.S. should take in Syrian refugees.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Betty Sutton Ohio Democratic candidate for Lt.Governor Connie Pillich Ohio Democratic candidate for Governor Dennis Kucinich Ohio Democratic candidate for Governor Jim Renacci Ohio Republican candidate for Governor (switched to Senate race) Joe Schiavoni Ohio Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor John Kasich Ohio Republican Governor Jon Husted Ohio Republican candidate for Ohio Governor Mary Taylor Ohio Republican candidate for Governor Mike DeWine Ohio Republican candidate for Governor Nan Whaley Ohio Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor Richard Cordray Ohio Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio Sierra Club Ted Strickland Ohio Former Democratic Governor (2006-2010)