It Will Be DeWine Vs. Cordray For Ohio Governor; Cleves Levy Renewal Passes

Hamilton County voters also approved tax levies to support the zoo and libraries.

Mike DeWine (left) and Richard Cordray

(Hamilton County, Oh.) - November’s race for Ohio governor is a rematch of a down-ballot battle from eight years ago.

Richard Cordray was nominated Tuesday by the state's Democrats and Mike DeWine was tapped by Republicans as their candidates in November.

The two met in the attorney general's race in 2010, a contest won by DeWine.

Congressman Jim Renacci rode President Trump's backing to a win in the GOP's U.S. Senate primary, setting up a contest against incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown. 

Ohio and Hamilton County voters passed other ballot issues yesterday. Statewide, voters approved Issue 1, a new constitutional amendment which reforms the way legislative districts are drawn to curb gerrymandering.

Hamilton County voters are throwing their support behind their zoo and library. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County's request for new money passed yesterday with 63-percent of the vote. A renewal levy to maintain the Cincinnati Zoo's funding passed with 78-percent voter support. 

An operating levy renewal passed in Cleves. Village voters approved Issue 6 by a vote of 215 to 104. The levy will generate $205,000 for village operating expenses annually, but without raising village property owners’ taxes. While not as much as had the ballot issue failed, the Cleves levy will actually lower property taxes by $20.25 per $100,000 in valuation compared to the 2013 levy due to expire at the end of this year.