>> A BLUE WAVE SWEEPS OHIO, NOW WHAT?

>> [ MUSIC ] > >> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

IN THE END, IT WAS WHAT DEMOCRATS DREAMED OF AND WHAT REPUBLICANS DREADED.

THE BLUE WAVE OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES THAT SWEPT THE NATION HIT OHIO JUST AS HARD.

IT RETURNED AN OUSTED SENATOR TO WASHINGTON, OVERCAME CONGRESSIONAL LINES THAT FAVORED REPUBLICANS, AND ELECTED OHIO'S FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR AND ITS FIRST DEMOCRAT TO THE OFFICE IN 20 YEARS.

IN THE END, IT WAS NOT REALLY EVEN THAT CLOSE.

AMY ACTON WON BY EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS, NEARLY 400,000 VOTE MARGIN.

>> THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THIS A WIN IS FOR EVERY OHIOAN WHO HAS LONG --WHO HAS LONGED FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS AGAIN.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WHO -- WHO SOLVE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> AND WHO DO NOT MISTAKE KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> IT WAS A TOUGH RACE.

IT WAS BITTER AT TIMES , IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, BUT THE TIME TOMORROW IS TO HOPEFULLY HAVE , THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP --BRING THIS STATE TOGETHER.

AND I HAVE HOPE AND CONFIDENCE THAT SHE WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BRING OHIO TOGETHER, TO BRING OUR VOTERS AND OUR CITIZENS TOGETHER, TOLEDO OHIO TO THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE.

>> TO BREAK DOWN THIS HISTORIC ELECTION, WE WILL, OUR PANEL, REPORTER JO INGLES FROM OHIO PUBLIC RADIO, REPORTER ANDREW TOBIAS FROM SIGNAL STATEWIDE, OSU LOCAL SCIENTIST HERB ASHER, AND POLITICAL STRATEGIST TERRY CASEY.

TERRY CASEY, WE WILL START WITH YOU, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, THERE IS A DEBATE RIGHT NOW, WAS IT A WAVE OR WAS IT A TSUNAMI?

AND THE QUESTION IS SOMETIMES WAVES COME IN AND GO OUT, SO WE DO HAVE A PREVIEW OF '76 OR CERTAIN OTHER YEARS WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE DESTROYED, BUT DO THEY COME BACK AND BE ABLE TO --OHIO COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE FOR REPUBLICANS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TEXAS WHERE THEY DIDN'T JUST GET THE SUPER MAJORITY CUT, THEY GOT DESTROYED, SO OHIO IS HAVING THE HOUSE AND SENATE STILL REPUBLICAN IS KIND OF GOOD NEWS, IT WILL FORCE MORE BALANCE, BUT WE WILL SEE HOW THE GOVERNOR NAVIGATES IT.

>> SO, DID THE PROBLEM BROOKINS --REPUBLICANS NOT TURN OUT?

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE AND VIVEK LOST BY EIGHT POINTS POINT >> THE ANSWER IS YES AND YES.

I SAW IT ON ELECTION DAY, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TEXTED WITH YOU, THE RURAL AREAS WERE TURNING OUT WELL, BUT NOT GREAT.

AND THEN OF COURSE LATER IN ELECTION NIGHT, WE SAW IN THE RURAL AREAS, REPUBLICANS WON, BUT NOT BY THE MARGINS THEY NEEDED, BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE WAS SUBURBAN AND URBAN WERE DEMOCRATS REALLY ROLL THINGS UP, AND WE COULD SEE MIDDAY ON ELECTION DAY THAT THE CLERMONT COUNTY, THE DELAWARE, THE LAKE COUNTY, THOSE SUBURBAN AREAS WERE NOT GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> SHE GOT 52% OF THE VOTE, AMY ACTON DID.

MAJORITY, BUT NOT THE 61% THAT TED STRICKLAND GOT IN 2006, THE LAST TIME A DEMOCRAT WON THE GOVERNOR.

DID SHE WIN BECAUSE OHIOANS WANT DEMOCRATS OR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT DONALD TRUMP AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY BY ASSOCIATION?

>> YES AND YES.

SHE WON BECAUSE IT WAS A DEMOCRATIC YEAR, BUT SHE ALSO WON BECAUSE SHE WAS THE BETTER CANDIDATE.

YOU START LOOKING AT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF CANDIDATE QUALITY, AND IN MANY RACES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, DONALD TRUMP INTERVENED TO GUARANTEE THAT THE REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE THE WORST CANDIDATE, WHETHER IT WAS KEN PAXTON OR DARLENE GRAHAM IN SOUTH CAROLINA OR NORTH CAROLINA OR IN GEORGIA, SO CANDIDATE QUALITY MATTERS.

I THINK ALONG A NUMBER OF DIMENSIONS, INCLUDING LIKABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND ISSUE POSITIONS, IF YOU WILL.

AMY ACTON HAD AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE CORRESPONDING.

>> AND RAMASWAMY TRY TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF JD VANCE AND THEN BERNIE MORENO, [ INAUDIBLE ] OUT OF NOWHERE, OUTSIDE THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT, AND WON BIG RACES IN OHIO, HE COULDN'T DO IT.

WHY NOT?

>> I THINK THE ENVIRONMENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT YOU KNOW, HE UNDERPERFORMED JON HUSTED, SO I THINK THAT POINTS TO A CANDIDATE QUALITY PROBLEM.

I HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THE AD FEATURING AMY ACTON CAME OUT, WHEN IT CAME OUT AFTER THE ELECTION, WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO NOTE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN, SO I THINK IT DIDN'T HELP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF ANTI-BILLIONAIRE SENTIMENT ON THE RIGHT, AS WELL AS THE LEFT.

THAT HE WAS A BILLIONAIRE WITH A PRIVATE JET.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ADD UP TO IT, AND I THINK THAT IS KIND OF LIKE --THERE IS NEVER ONE ANSWER IMPOLITIC, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS.

>> JO, IT DIDN'T MAKE EIGHT POINTS DIFFERENCE IN THIS RACE, I MEAN, HE DIDN'T LOSE BY EIGHT JUST BECAUSE OF THE AD.

>> NO, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AD PLAYED, IT WAS VERY STRONG, BECAUSE MOST WOMEN EITHER --THEY KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, THEY FELT LIKE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE, THEIR GENDERS WORKED AGAINST THEM.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SYMPATHY, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN, FOR AMY ACTON WHEN THE AD WAS PUT OUT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT DID HAVE AN EFFECT ON IT.

HOW MUCH OF AN EFFECT, WE WILL NEVER KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME AT THAT TIME, AND THESE ARE REGISTERED REPUBLICAN WOMEN, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS THE THING THAT MADE THEIR DECISION FOR THEM.

>> WE STARTED MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK IN THIS RACE TWO MONTHS AGO.

IF REPUBLICANS WERE TO HAVE A DO OVER AGAIN, WHEN THEY HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ] ?

>> WELL, A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY HAS ITS ADVANTAGES, BUT IT HAS ITS DISADVANTAGES.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES HE BITTERLY DIVIDE THE PARTY, SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A PRIMARY, AND THEN PREPARE YOURSELF [ INAUDIBLE ].

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN JON HUSTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY, OR WHAT IF MIKE DeWINE HAD DONE THIS, DONE THAT?

SO, THERE IS A LOT OF QUARTERBACKING.

BUT A WAVE VERSUS A SYNONYMY, WHEN YOU'RE UP AGAINST A SYNONYMY, [ INAUDIBLE ], MAYBE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING BETTER, BUT AGAIN, WHETHER YOU LOSE BY THREE POINTS OR FOUR POINTS OR EIGHT POINTS, A LOSS IS A LOSS.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER.

>> ALL RIGHT, WHILE THE CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR GOT VERY PERSONAL, THE CAMPAIGN OF U. S. SENATE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE ISSUES.

A LIBERAL VOTING RECORD AND FOUR DECADES IN WASHINGTON RAISES SUPPORT FOR DATA CENTERS AND FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

VOTERS REJECTED TRUNK AND RETURNED A LONGTIME SENATOR TO OFFICE.

THIS RACE WAS A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

SHERROD BROWN BEAT JON HUSTED BY FIVE POINTS.

50% TO 45% POINT >> THIS IS YOUR VICTORY.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> CORPORATIONS, BILLIONAIRES TRYING TO BUY THIS ELECTION, YOU KNOW THAT.

BUT AS IT TURNS OUT --AS IT TURNS OUT, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT MORE OF US THAN THERE ARE THEM.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO WIN WITH HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE AND LOSE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY.

I HONOR THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS AND I CONGRATULATE SHERROD BROWN AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WON ELECTIONS TONIGHT IN OHIO, I WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS.

>> BROWN LOST BY THREE JUST TWO YEARS AGO POINT HE WON BY FIVE THIS TIME, WHY THE REVERSAL?

>> THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IS DIFFERENT AND SHERROD WAS PERFECTLY [ INAUDIBLE ] IN TERMS OF HIS LONGTIME RECORD, HAS BEEN PRO-WORKER, PROUNION, FROM MIDDLE CLASS.

HE WASN'T REALLY ANTI- CORPORATION, BUT HE REALLY WAS MAKING THOSE POINTS, SO HE WAS THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS THIS TIME AROUND.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE ABOUT JON HUSTED.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IS THAT THE CANDIDATE MOST PREPARED -- NOT TO SAY I AGREE, BUT TO BE GOVERNOR, WAS JON HUSTED, AND HE WAS RUNNING FOR THE WRONG OFFICE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] YOU COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT DeWINE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO STAY IN COLUMBUS, I'M GOING TO GO FOR GOVERNOR.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] MORE TRUMPET BACKING AT THAT POINT, IT WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED OUT WELL.

IS INTERESTING THING, DON'T FORGET, SHERROD BROWN WON THE SENATE, BUT IT'S ONLY A TWO YEAR TERM, SO HE IS A SHORT- TERM RATTLE, AND THE QUESTION IS THE TIE COULD BE DIFFERENT, COULD BE SIMILAR IN TWO MORE YEARS.

AND ALSO, IF HE WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AT 30, I THINK HE HAS GOT 5.

67 MILLION STILL LEFT IN THE STATE FUND.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN, AND AGAIN, WE FORGET, THE TIE DOESN'T, THE TIDE GOES OUT, WHICH WAY?

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE DEMOCRATS AND TRUNK DO NATIONALLY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, HOW DOES THAT DRIVE THINGS?

>> JON HUSTED NEVER SEEMED TO GAIN TRACTION.

[ INAUDIBLE ] TWO THINGS, THAT SHERROD BROWN WAS A SOCIALIST AND HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE TOO LONG.

THAT TRANSGENDER SUPPORT THAT BROWN HAS DIDN'T REALLY STICK THIS TIME POINT >> NO, THEY DIDN'T.

I THINK YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO YEARS, TERRY, AND TWO YEARS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

TWO YEARS AGO IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE WHEN SHERROD BROWN LOST, TRUNK WAS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND TRUMP WON OHIO BY 11 POINTS, SO YOU KNOW, IT WAS HEADWINDS THERE FROM WASHINGTON , THEY WERE HEALTHY TO GET BERNIE AND MARIE KNOW , SENATOR, IN OFFICE.

AND THIS TIME AROUND, I THINK IT WAS THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE WE SAW PRESIDENT TRUMP COME IN, WHAT, THREE OR FOUR TIMES INTO OHIO IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT WAS A SUBSTANTIAL HELP TO THEM, SO YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WAS THERE TWO YEARS AGO WASN'T THERE THIS ELECTION.

>> YOU WONDER IF TRUMP DOESN'T HURT CANDIDATES, BECAUSE [ INAUDIBLE ] HAD A NICE LITTLE JUMP, WHICH DONALD TRUMP IS REALLY [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> YEAH, I WAS STRUCK AS IT WAS HAPPENING THAT WAS DOING MUCH SMALLER VENUES THAN YOU SORT OF TYPICALLY WOULD EXPECT FROM HIM.

IT'S --YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PROVE A COUNTERFACTUAL.

I STILL THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS A FOLLOWING, THAT HIM COMING HERE GETS PEOPLE INTERESTED.

YOU KNOW, AS IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE KNOW HE IS THE PRESIDENT.

HE IS THE PRESIDENT WHETHER OR NOT [ INAUDIBLE ].

I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

THAT IS A THING THAT I WOULD HAVE ASSUMED WAS THE CASE AND I'M NOT SURE.

>> CAMPAIGNS SPENT $500 MILLION ON THIS RACE ALONE .

4 .

6 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED.

SO, IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT IS $109 PER VOTE.

DO YOU THINK ANYONE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD 10 MILLION MORE DOLLARS, [ INAUDIBLE ] ?

>> WELL, PRETTY CLEARLY, MORE MONEY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WOULD HAVE MADE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, BUT AGAIN, THE PROBLEM THAT THE SENATE CANDIDATES HAVE IS THEY'VE GOT TO COME BACK FOR MONTHS ACTUALLY, THEY LITERALLY IN FACT --WHEN I GOT HOME FROM ELECTION NIGHT AT 1:00 A. M. , AND WATCHING THE TV ON THE PHONE RINGS AND IT IS BUDDY FROM POLITICO NATIONALLY, THE PUBLICATION WANTED TO ASK ME ABOUT 2028.

AND THEN LATER THAT MORNING, I GOT NEW YORK TIMES CALLS.

THEY SAID I HAD OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT OHIO, BUT OHIO IS SUCH A SWEET, ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE IRRELEVANT.

SO, WE ARE ALL PUZZLED, BUT AGAIN, ELECTION CYCLES, GOOD OR BAD, HAPPEN EVERY TWO YEARS, TYPICALLY ON THE FEDERAL OR THE STATE, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> SHERROD BROWN TURNS 74 NEXT WEEK.

DID YOU THINK HE RUNS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS?

>> DEPENDS ON THE POLITICAL CLIMATE THEN.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK FORWARD, I THINK ACTUALLY THE POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE QUITE POSITIVE, DEPENDING UPON WHAT TRUMP DOES, DEPENDING UPON WHO THE MINORITY LEADER IS IN THE HOUSE, AND IF THEY ACTUALLY HAVE JIM JORDAN AND STEPHEN MILLER AS THE TWO NEW FACES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY , GOOD GRIEF, I WOULD WANT TO RUN.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2028 SENATE MAP, UNLESS THERE IS A SUPER TSUNAMI IN FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICANS, ALMOST NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THE DEMOCRATS WILL STILL CONTROL THE SENATE AFTER THE 2020 ELECTIONS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] I THINK I WANT TO RUN AGAIN.

>> ON ELECTION NIGHT, [ INAUDIBLE ] ON ANOTHER CHANNEL WITH TIM RYAN, CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTHEASTERN OHIO, AND HE MADE THE POINT , IS IT LOOKS LIKE THE NEW SPEAKER IS GOING TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF LIKE 250.

IT'S EASIER FOR HIM TO DISCARD SOME OF THE CRAZIES WHO WANT TO TAKE HIM OFF ON EXTREMES, SO IF THEY MANAGE IT WELL, I AGREE WITH HERB, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN THE FUTURE.

BUT AGAIN, THE POLITICAL WINDS AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ECONOMY AND THE STOCK MARKET COULDN'T WANTS THINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOWN TICKET DEMOCRATS CAUGHT THE WAVE.

DOWN TICKET REPUBLICANS COULD NOT SHED THE DONALD TRUMP ANCHOR.

DEMOCRATS WON ALLSTATE WIDE OFFICES EXCEPT ONE.

THEY WON BOTH CONTESTED SEATS ON THE OHIO SUPREME COURT, AND THEY NOW HOLD A MAJORITY OF OHIO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, OUSTING THREE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN.

HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO, MIKE CAREY IS OUT AFTER 2 1/2 TURNS, UPSET BY DEMOCRAT DON LEONARD WHO BEATEN THEM BY SEVEN POINTS IN A DISTRICT THAT ON PAPER FAVORS THE REPUBLICAN BY FIVE POINTS.

JO INGALLS ?

>> SO MUCH FOR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER FOR THE REPUBLICANS, THAT'S WHAT WE ASSURED.

AND YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE DEMOCRATS PERFORMED WELL, BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT TOP OF THE TICKET, IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN THIS TIME.

AND WE SAW DELAWARE COUNTY WHERE I LIVE, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRADITIONALLY A VERY REPUBLICAN COUNTY, IT FLIPPED BLUE.

AND THERE WERE HOUSE SEATS THAT WERE LOST.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LOCALLY, KIND OF THING.

AND SO YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST --I THINK IT'S THE TIMING, HONESTLY, MORE THAN ANYTHING.

>> ANDREW, YOU MENTIONED THAT JON HUSTED DID BETTER THAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

DO YOU THINK VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND HIS ADS HURT THE OTHER STATEWIDE REPUBLICANS LOST BY EVEN A NARROWER MARGIN IN SOME OF THOSE RACES, LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE AND TREASURER?

>> YES.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO THINK THAT, SO IF THERE IS A QUESTION ON ELECTION NIGHT WHETHER VIVEK'S AD HURT JON HUSTED, I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR IT WAS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RATE THAT IS DECIDED BY ONE OR TWO POINTS, ANYTHING CANNOT UPGRADE EVEN IF IT IS NOT THE DAMAGE IT DID, LIKE THE ABSENCE OF [ INAUDIBLE ] EFFECTS, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE GOVERNOR CANDIDATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE, NOT THE WEAKEST ONE.

CLEARLY, HEATHER --HE WASN'T HELPING ANYBODY WITH THE NUMBERS HE GOT.

>> SO, HERB, EIGHT DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS FROM OHIO ARE SENATE REPUBLICANS.

THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE [ INAUDIBLE ].

SO, ARE THE MAPS FAIR?

>> [ LAUGHTER ] KNOW.

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS COUNT UPON A TSUNAMI OCCURRING, BUT AGAIN, SO MANY DEMOCRATS ARE CHUCKLING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE --AND REMEMBER, THE REPUBLICANS HAD --IT'S NOT LIKE TEXAS WHERE THE PRESIDENT FORCED THEM TO.

REPUBLICANS HAD A REDISTRICT, THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO GO FROM 10 TO FIVE TO 12 TO THREE.

REMINDER, DONALD TRUMP SAID HE WANTED TO GET TO 13-2, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT AND THEY HAD A COMPROMISE.

AND THEN YOU HAD AN ELECTION, WHICH THE DEMOCRATS FIELDED SOME GOOD CANDIDATES WHO WORKED HARD.

BUT I THINK MOST OF US WERE SHOCKED ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS WON A MAJORITY OF THE U. S. HOUSE SEATS.

I THINK A LOT OF US WERE SHOCKED ABOUT THE STATEWIDE OUTCOME, AND THE REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY HURT THEMSELVES A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE PARTY LABEL ON THE BALLOT FOR SUPREME COURT?

THEY DID THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE DEMOCRATS WINNING SUPREME COURT RACES WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS SOUNDING NAMES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] AND I DO BELIEVE THIS YEAR, THAT HELPED ACTUALLY THE DEMOCRATS WIN BOTH SEATS.

>> AND ON THE CONGRESSIONAL THING, MAYBE THIS WILL FINALLY BURY THE MYTH THAT THESE INDICES ARE THE HOLY GRAIL AND THAT THERE ARE ABSOLUTE, BECAUSE CLEARLY IN CAMPAIGNS, INDICES ARE A FACTOR, BUT THE CAMPAIGN YOU RUN AND THE TIDE OF THE YEAR IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

YOU GO BACK TO '82 WHEN DEMOCRATS WON BIG VERSUS '84 WHEN REAGAN AND REPUBLICANS WON.

THE YEAR, THE CANDIDATES, THE CAMPAIGNS MATTER AS MUCH IS INDICES.

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, TERRY, IS [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO HAS +21 POINTS CAN BE A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST HER?

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

>> BUT YOU COULD DRAW THAT DISTRICT AND MAKE IT A +5 LIKE CARRIE HAS AND IT COULD BE COMPETITIVE.

>> YOU COULD, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THE TIDES CHANGE, AND AGAIN, THE PEOPLE GET SMART.

BUT HAVING CANDIDATES AND HAVING THE RIGHT YEAR, THOSE MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> ANDREW, WE HAVE DON LEONARD HERE IN COLUMBUS, [ INAUDIBLE ] UP IN NEW MEXICO --DEFEATED MAX MILLER IN THE CLEVELAND AREA, WE HAVE CHRISTINA KNICKERBOCKER.

ARE THEY ONE JOB CONGRESSPEOPLE , OR WILL THEY LOSE NEXT CYCLE?

>> ANY OF THEM CAN BE RE- ELECTED, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TWO YEARS, DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GLOBAL SITUATION IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

IT HELPS BEING AN INCUMBENT.

I KNOW LESS ABOUT DON LEONARD, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T COVERED THAT RACE, FRANKLY, BOTH KNICKERBOCKER AND BRIAN POINDEXTER HAVE COMPELLING BIOGRAPHIES AND THEY CONTRAST IT WITH THE INSIDER CANDIDATES BY BEING --POINDEXTER HAS A LABOR BACKGROUND, KNICKERBOCKER IS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL AND MILITARY VETERAN.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THEY COULD DEFINITELY WIN.

>> GREAT LAST NAMES, KNICKERBOCKER AND POINDEXTER IN CONGRESS, I JUST LOVE THOSE NAMES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> JEFFRIES WILL BE SAYING TO ALL THE FRESHMAN DEMOCRATS, YOUR NUMBER ONE TASK IS TO BECOME A SOPHOMORE DEMOCRAT.

>> HOW HARD WILL IT BE FOR THEM TO DO THAT, THOUGH?

>> I THINK IN OHIO, IT WILL BE EASIER THAN IN SOME OTHER STATES WHERE IN FACT THE DEMOCRATIC MARGINS WERE MUCH NARROWER, BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT TWO YEARS FROM NOW, SOMEHOW IT WILL BE A MORE FAVORABLE REPUBLICAN ENVIRONMENT.

THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE ECONOMY, ALSO DONALD TRUMP, AND ALSO, WHO DO THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE FOR PRESIDENT?

>> OKAY, THE QUESTION IS NOW WHAT?

AS THE GLOW OF ELECTION NIGHT FADES, PRICES ARE STILL HIGH, THE A. I. THIRST FOR DATA REMAINS, THE WAR IN IRAN CONTINUES, DONALD TRUMP REMAINS PRESIDENT, REPUBLICANS STILL CONTROL THE OHIO LEGISLATURE, AND ON THAT FRONT, THERE IS TALK THAT CURRENT GOP LAWMAKERS, BEFORE THEY LEAVE OFFICE AND IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION, WILL PASS LAWS TO CURTAIL THE POWERS OF THE INCOMING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

OUTGOING GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE WOULD HAVE TO SIGN THOSE LAWS, BUT THIS WEEK, HE INDICATES HE WON'T.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO PROVE ANYTHING, WHETHER YOU ARE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S -- APPROPRIATE.

>> ANDREW TOBIAS, DO YOU THINK THE LAWMAKERS WILL DO THAT IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION, TRY TO LIMIT THE EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE?

>> I WOULD NOT RULE IT OUT.

WHEN YOU ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO SO, THEY WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT, [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY'RE NOT SAYING IT WON'T HAPPEN, SO I THINK ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENT WILL HAVE AN EFFECT BECAUSE THEY CAN OVERTURN HIS VETO, BUT THEY HAVE TO GET ALL THE MEMBERS THERE FOR DECEMBER.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE GOVERNOR LETS IT SIT ON HIS DESK FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS, SO I THINK IT IS LESS LIKELY THEY WILL DO IT OUT OF THE GOVERNOR, WITH THE COMMENTS HE SAID.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] LET'S DO IT ANYWAY, HE SAYS I DON'T THINK ANY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO PROVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S NOT EXACTLY SAYING , NO, I'M NOT GOING TO SIGN IT.

>> BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MIKE DeWINE AND MOST IMPORTANT, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS WITH REPUBLICANS THERE, YOU CAN ALMOST TAKE TO THE BANK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE --THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE LITTLE FINE TUNING, BUT EVEN THOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE PASSED BY EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT BEFORE JANUARY 11th, SO THE ODDS OF SOMETHING MAJOR LIKE THAT HAPPENING ARE PRETTY SLIM TO NONE.

I THINK THE LAME-DUCK IS GOING TO DO SOME THINGS, LIKE ON DATA CENTERS, PUTTING UP S'MORE GUARDRAILS, BUT DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING MAJOR OR DRAMATIC.

>> AND JO, AMY ACTON DOES HAVE SOME LEVERAGE.

THE BUDGET IS COMING UP.

IF THEY DO SOMETHING TO HER IN THE LAME-DUCK, SHE CAN SAY, I'M GOING TO VETO [ INAUDIBLE ] NEXT MONTH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S --I DON'T --I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

MAYBE SHE WOULD, BUT I THINK SHE WILL TWEAK THOSE VOUCHERS.

I THINK WE COULD SEE A CHANGE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> BUT I THINK SHE REALLY --YOU KNOW, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT WANTING -- SHE IS MODERATE.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID SHE IS A MODERATE LEFT .

AND TO NOT HIGHLY PROGRESSIVE, SO I THINK --YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WERE ON THOSE VOUCHERS ARE ON THE VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY CAME FROM FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

NOW, THE EXPANSION OF THOSE VOUCHERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER THING.

IT'S A LOT.

THERE'S A LOT GOING INTO -- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MESSAGE.

>> HOW TOUGH DO YOU THINK AMY ACTON WILL BE?

KINDNESS IS HER BRAND, EMPATHY IS HER BRAND.

BUT [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> SHE WILL NEED A STRONG CHIEF OF STAFF, A VERY EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AND THEN CABINET OFFICIALS WHO IN FACT ARE READY FOR THE FRAY, BUT IF IN FACT --I AGREE WITH TERRY, I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICANS IN THIS LAME-DUCK ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR, BUT IF THEY DO, THEN THEY [ INAUDIBLE ] ON THE NEW GOVERNOR WHO HASN'T EVEN TAKEN OFFICE YET, AND THEY NOW ARE IN THE MOLD OF DONALD TRUMP IN TERMS OF DIVIDING US.

>> ARE THERE AREAS WHERE ACTON AND THE LAWMAKERS COULD COMPROMISE?

PROPERTY TAX IS ONE AND THE DATA CENTER REGULATION, THOSE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER, BUT ON THE THING THE PROPERTY TAXES, SHE PROMISED SHE WAS GOING TO GIVE RELIEF.

PROMISE WHEN HE PROMISED IT, THERE IS NO MONEY TO DO IT, BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY BUDGET IS GOING TO BE A LOT TIGHTER AND THAT ASSUMES WE DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT HAS HAPPENED SOMEWHAT THIS PAST WEEK ON THE STOCK MARKET.

SO, THE NEXT STATE BUDGET, THERE ARE THE 2 1/2 BILLION ON A HOLD BECAUSE THE FEDERAL CHANGE FROM MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, SO THIS NEXT BUDGET IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

>> HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PERSON WHOSE PROPERTY TAX BILL HAS GONE UP 50% IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THAT THE BUDGET DOESN'T ALLOW IT?

IT'S NOT GOING TO PLAY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER IS THE GROUP AND ABOLITION AMENDMENT ARE GOING TO BE GATHERING SIGNATURES, I SAW THEM ALL WEEK, THEY'RE STILL WORKING.

THERE REALLY ON IT.

SO, IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB SHE'S STEPPING INTO, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> EVEN SUBURBS LIKE [ INAUDIBLE ], THE TAXPAYERS THERE WHO COULD AFFORD TO PAY MORE, YOU KNOW.

SO, SOME OF THEM WERE KIND OF CLOSE, BUT THIS PROPERTY TAX ISSUE IS NOT GONE AWAY.

>> SOME OF THOSE WERE IN CONTACT ISSUES AS WELL, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE FAIR.

>> OUR FINAL [ INAUDIBLE ], YOUR FIRST.

>> WATCHED NEW CONGRESSMAN DON LEONARD BECAUSE HE ALREADY CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND SAID I AM AGAINST ANDY GINTER, WE NEED CHANGE.

SO, CITY HALL POLITICS, ALL THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING, YOU HAD LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

>> TWO OF THE DUMBEST AND MOST OFFENSIVE COMMENTS MADE IN THIS CAMPAIGN WERE DONE BY DONALD TRUMP AND JD VANCE FROM SAYING [ INAUDIBLE ] .

ASSUME I'M ON THE BALLOT.

I'M SORRY.

WHEN YOU'RE DOWN IN THE POLLS, 221 PEOPLE AGAINST YOU, YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

AND JD VANCE ATTACKING REPUBLICANS WHO CRITICIZED THE [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND ATTACKING THOSE REPUBLICANS WAS JUST [ INAUDIBLE ].

YOUR TAKING THE SIDE OF THE PEDOPHILES.

>> JUST LIKE A THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MONEY IN POLITICS.

REPUBLICANS HAD A MASSIVE SPENDING ADVANTAGE THIS YEAR, JUST ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY, THEY STILL LOST SENATE RACES AND [ INAUDIBLE ] IN MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTH CAROLINA [ INAUDIBLE ].

I'M NOT SURE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU WHAT MONEY BUYS YOU, ADVISE YOU THIS.

WE SAVED THEIR ADS, THE PAPER ADDS WE HAVE BEEN GETTING, AND THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE THREE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PATHETIC THAT THERE IS THIS MANY PAPER ADDS, SO ANYWAY, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NICE TO SEE HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE.

>> RECYCLE.

>> RECYCLE.

RECYCLE.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON WHO IS NOT PARTICULAR HAPPY --HE IS VERY HAPPY, BUT ALSO NOT HAPPY, OUR OLD FRIEND DALE RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK , "WHEN OHIO WAS BLUE," REMEMBERING WHEN OHIO WAS A BLUE STATE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AT LEAST WRITE A NEW FORWARD, BUT IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR TERRY CASEY TO WRITE A BOOK, "WHEN OHIO WAS RED. "

WE LOOK FOR THAT COMING UP SOON.

>> DON'T WAIT TOO LONG, I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE WANT TO READ IT.

>> THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

A REMINDER TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

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GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH WOSU NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON DEMAND AT WOSU.

ORG AND THE PBS APP.

I AM MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.