Nan Whaley

Gov. Mike DeWine won an easy victory Tuesday night in what will almost certainly be his last campaign in a long career. But it is a victory tainted by the fact that he spent that campaign hiding from not only his opponent, Nan Whaley, but the people of Ohio.

DeWine’s game plan for re-election included a refusal to debate his opponent Nan Whaley, which resulted in the Republican nominee refusing to share a stage with the first woman to ever be nominated for governor by a major party in Ohio.

Traditionally, gubernatorial candidates let voters know where they stand on issues through public debates, but not this year. Incumbent Gov. DeWine has refused to debate Whaley in a televised, statewide event, despite her continued plea for at least one forum. DeWine has also refused sit-down interviews with most statewide reporters since he won the May primary.

Gov. Mike DeWine's re-election campaign is attacking Nan Whaley for supporting the American Rescue Plan, saying it causes inflation. But DeWine has been handing out millions to law enforcement agencies for over a year, without saying the money comes from the American Rescue Plan.

Gov. Mike DeWine declined our offer to join the program, so we talk with Democratic candidate Nan Whaley then our political panel breaks down the race.

Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent governor, wants to make the gubernatorial race about the economy, but his Democratic opponent, Nan Whaley, is banking on outrage from Ohio women voters over the loss of abortion rights to pull an upset win.

How did candidates get to the middle of September without sitting down to talk with each other, asks Jill Zimon, executive director of the nonpartisan Ohio Debate Commission.

Mike DeWine, in his long political career, has debated opponents when he thought it would help him and avoided it when he thought it would do harm.

The candidates for Ohio governor joined — at different times — a forum hosted by regional planners and local government leaders.

Political scientists say careful calculations are being made right now as to whether and how candidates should engage in public debate.