Incumbent Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine defeated his main rivals Tuesday night – former U.S. Republican Jim Renacci, businessman Joe Blystone and former state Republican Ron Hood. DeWine will now turn his attention to November, when he will face the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary – former Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley – in his bid for a second term as Ohio’s leader.
The decision-making headquarters is designed by Mike DeWine (@MikeDeWine) won the OH GOP gubernatorial nomination
Invitation to the race: May 3 at 8:17 p.m. ed
More results here: https://t.co/MOUZI5gypR
— Decision DeskHQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) May 4, 2022
Tuesday’s race was the first time since 1978 that an incumbent Ohio governor faced a primary challenge, and his Republican opponents focused most of their criticism on DeWine’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Their criticisms included focusing on his decision to close Ohio’s K-12 schools – the first governor to do so – as well as pandemic-related restrictions and orders. DeWine argued that his decisions related to Covid-19 were based on the “best information at the time” and that his administration “struck the right balance between public safety and enabling people to earn a living.” Apparently Republican voters in Ohio agreed.
Shortly after it was announced that the Republican incumbent would be running in the race, his campaign account tweeted an image of an Ohio state flag with a elementary hashtag used by his campaign, “#WinningforOH.”
#WinningForOH pic.twitter.com/gNzBHA2Wz4
—DeWine | Husted for Ohio (@DeWineHustedOH) May 4, 2022
County-specific Republican and Democratic primary election results can be seen below:

