Tea Bagger Intends to Face John Kasich in Primary
An Ohio tea party leader is expected to challenge Gov. John Kasich in the Republican gubernatorial primary on May 6, making good on the threat from some conservatives in the state to oppose Kasich because of his push for Medicaid expansion and some other policies they reject.
Ted Stevenot, 48, of Cincinnati, has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday in Columbus in which he will declare his candidacy and name his running mate for lieutenant governor — Brenda Mack of Canfield. A news release publicizing Stevenot’s launch was circulated late last night by Tom Zawistowski, another tea party leader in the state.
Stevenot, according to the release, is a past president of the Ohio Liberty Coalition (like Zawistowski) and a Cincinnati-area business owner. Mack, 56, is a past president of the Ohio Black Republicans Association.
Stevenot could not be reached, and Zawistowski did not return a phone call seeking comment. Chris Schrimpf, spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party who has spoken on behalf of Kasich’s re-election campaign, also did not return a message seeking comment.