CLEVELAND, Ohio -- U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci's increasing interest in running for governor raises a question: Who would run to replace the Wadsworth Republican in Congress?
Renacci's oddly shaped 16th District takes in turf from Wooster up to the Cleveland suburbs.
GOP leaders redrew the boundaries to favor him and to squeeze out Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton in an incumbent-versus-incumbent fight. Since beating Sutton in a relatively close race in 2012, Renacci twice has coasted to re-election against marginal opposition. An open seat could attract a top-tier Democrat, though most of the early speculation focuses on Republicans.
New Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken lives in the district -- a fact that adds to the intrigue. TimkenSteel, the manufacturer run by her husband, is based there, too. Timken is not interested in the seat, a spokesman said. But her familiarity with the region makes her counsel valuable to potential candidates. The seat also could be an alternative for at least a couple of Republicans who are aiming for a spot on the statewide ticket but facing competitive primaries.
Among the Republican mentioned as possibilities ...
Mary Taylor: Yes, the lieutenant governor also is exploring a run for governor. But some Republicans might drop hints that she should run for the Renacci seat instead. That would clear some of the traffic jam in a gubernatorial primary field that, besides Renacci, is likely to include Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted.
Republican operatives eager to assess the lay of the land recently tested eight potential candidates with 400 likely GOP primary voters in the 16th District. The poll identified each by title -- "Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor," for example -- and had a margin of error of about 5 percentage points. Taylor was the best-known of the bunch and led the hypothetical field, at 18 percent. But State Rep. Tom Patton of Strongsville wasn't far behind, at 13 percent. And a plurality of respondents -- 21 percent -- said they were undecided at this stage.
Tom Patton: A base in the Cleveland suburbs gives the former state senator -- now in the Ohio House after being term-limited -- some crossover appeal with Democrats. It also affords him more access to the state's largest media market, which reaches much of this district.
Frank LaRose: The state senator from Copley is eyeing a run for secretary of state but told cleveland.com this week that the seat would "be something I'd have to look at" if Renacci runs for governor. LaRose, who worked on Gov. John Kasich's presidential campaign, was lukewarm on Donald Trump but took a job on the inaugural staff. He was third in the poll, at 12 percent.
Rob Frost: The chairman of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party considered a run for Congress in a Cleveland-Toledo district five years ago and lives just outside the 16th, though residency is not a requirement. He said this week that it would be inappropriate to discuss potential candidates until Renacci makes his intentions clear, though he had kind words for Patton, one of his county's top Republicans. Frost registered at 11 percent in the poll.
Christina Hagan: The state representative from Alliance is a favorite among conservatives and had some tough words for Kasich last year after the governor vetoed a measure that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. She enthusiastically backed Trump for president last fall. A recent memo circulated among political operatives in Columbus suggested Trump's political team could back Hagan for the seat. She registered at 8 percent in the poll.
Larry Obhof: The Medina legislator recently took over as Ohio Senate president. He is well-respected among his Republican colleagues. But how willing would he be to seek higher office so early in his leadership term? He tied with Hagan at 8 percent in the recent poll.
Scott Wiggam: The former Wayne County commissioner recently succeeded longtime lawmaker Ron Amstutz in the Ohio House. He registered at 6 percent in the poll.
Kristina Roegner: Like Hagan, this state representative from Hudson is one of the most conservative members of her caucus. She polled at 2 percent in the recent survey.
Ron Amstutz: After term-limits forced him from the legislature, Amstutz became a Wayne County commissioner. He was not included in the poll, but given his high profile in the district and his past interest in the seat -- he considered running in 2008 -- he's worth mentioning,
As for the Democrats ...
A name to watch: Dean DePiero. The former Parma mayor and state legislator now lives in Strongsville. He said he has been encouraged to look at the race and "will be weighing my options" if Renacci, whom he thinks is strong in the district, doesn't seek re-election.
And how about Betty Sutton? With the change in presidential administrations, she recently left her federal job running the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. Several Democratic sources said she is talking with party leaders about running for governor in 2018.
"Like many Ohioans, I have been in deep thought about the future of our state and nation," Sutton said via email this week. "As one who has spent her life fighting for working families, it's clear that we have more work to do and I am considering what I can do to help."
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