2018 Ohio Governor Voters Guide

Richard Cordray (D) vs Mike DeWine (R)

Governor | Election | Nov 6, 2018

The Candidates

Richard Cordray

Richard Cordray

Democrat

Mike DeWine

Mike DeWine

Republican

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Richard Cordray (D)

Legal. Women should have the right to make their own personal decisions.

Campaign Finance

Limit political donations from corporations & unions?

Climate Change

Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?

Drugs

Legalize or decriminalize marijuana? Support Ohio Ballot Issue 1, which reduces first & second arrests for simple drug possession to non-jail time misdemeanors? Related, how to best address opioid crisis?

Education

Increase funding for K-12 & pre-K education?

Richard Cordray (D)

Yes. Advocates increased funding for universal pre-K ($140 million per year) & more equitable funding of primary & secondary schools.

Increase state funding for higher education?

Richard Cordray (D)

Yes. Proposes free community college for all Ohioans. Expand Columbus State Preferred Pathways program that guarantees admission to partner 4-year colleges & enables students to easily transfer credits.

Support privately operated but publicly funded charter schools & programs like vouchers which allow parents to help pay for private schools?

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Health Care

Support or Repeal ACA, aka Obamacare? Accept ACA’s Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Richard Cordray (D)

Supports ACA. On Medicaid expansion, 700,000 Ohioans have access to health care “who will not have it if it goes away.”

Mike DeWine (R)

Repeal ACA, believes could still keep pre-existing condition coverage. “Medicaid expansion is financially unsustainable,” but would keep for now with added work requirements.

Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Immigration

Support DREAM Act (DACA), allowing “Dreamers” who grew up in US after arriving illegally as children, to achieve legal status?

Richard Cordray (D)

Yes. Embrace DACA recipients & create pathways to citizenship for all immigrants who love & respect our nation.”

Mike DeWine (R)

Co-sponsored 2005 DREAM Act, & let DACA recipients apply for driver’s licenses, but defended Trump’s executive orders on immigration.

LGBT Rights

Support LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage and protection from discrimination on sexual orientation?

Richard Cordray (D)
Mike DeWine (R)

Support HB2, bill requiring transgender people to use bathroom corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate?

Richard Cordray (D)
Mike DeWine (R)

Labor

Enact right-to-work law, eliminating the right of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?

Richard Cordray (D)

No. “Would do everything to stop.”

Net Neutrality

Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Renewable Energy

Government support for renewable energy?

Voting Rights

Support stricter voting rules such major voter purges, even if they prevent some people from voting?

Other candidates include: Constance Gadell-Newton (Green Party), Collin Hill (Independent), & Travis Irvine (Libertarian). Due to limited space, we can’t include candidates polling at less than 15%, but encourage you to check out their websites.