OH-15: Confirmed, Pryce to Announce Retirement Today, GOPers Bail On Race
Submitted by Administrator on Wed, 08/15/2007 - 1:46pm.
Been a long last hour as I've been making calls left and right, but the word on the street is that Deborah Pryce is set to release a statement this afternoon announcing her intentions not to run for re-election in Ohio's 15th Congressional District. OH-15 is a district trending Democratic and '06 nominee Mary Jo Kilroy came within 1000 or so votes last cycle of knocking off Pryce. Kilroy is running again this cycle, and today's news bodes very well for putting Mary Jo into the House of Represenatitves.
The story gets better too. Doug Priese, Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party, got word of the retirement yesterday from the Congresswoman's office. In a span of 24 hours the GOP has already had it's top two potential challengers declare they wouldn't touch OH-15 with a stick.
The GOP's dream challenger to replace Pryce is State Senator Steve Stivers. Unfortunately for the Republicans, Stivers turned the Franklin County Republican Party down on the spot yesterday when approached with an offer to run. Since Stivers is up for re-election in the Senate, and approaching an opportunity to serve as Senate President, he views a run for Congress to risky in a district clearly trending Democrat.
Additionally, I've heard the GOP approached former Gubernatorial candidate and Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro to jump into the race. However, like Stivers, Petro officially turned the party down for fear of the district and fundraising concerns in a hostile climate.
Whispers persist that House Leader Jon Hustead, a Kettering Representative (located roughly and hour southwest of the district) may have some aspirations to jump into the race. However, more liklely than not Republicans will have to scrape the bottom of the barrel for a candidate in this race, with sources confirming former Franklin County Commissioner Schott, whom Kilroy bested in 2006 to take his seat, is the only Republican warm to a run.
It's a good day for the Kilroy camp. Make it better and throw them $5, I just did.
It's good news
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/15/2007 - 4:43pm.
And FYI, that's Jon Husted, not Hustead.
my two cents
This is huge news for Democrats in Ohio. If it pans out the way we are hearing, it is going to totally change the congressional election math in the state because this race was in danger of being overshadowed by OH-1 and OH-16. On open seat in the 15th immediately becomes the top priority of the DCCC. This is a district that we can win and hold in the future.
As to a replacement Republican for Pryce, don't count Steve Stivers out. He is the only local Republican who will give Mary Jo the kind of race the Republicans will have to run. Saying no to Doug Priesse is easy because lets be honest...he is Doug Priesse. Stivers has yet to face the pressure of a desperate Minority Leader and NRCC chair, neither of whom can afford to lose the 15th.
My thoughts for now. I'm sure I'll have more when we get more news.