News - Exclusive: Husted Campaign's Grassroots Effort

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has announced a grassroots effort to blanket the Buckeye State ahead of next year’s special election. On Wednesday, Husted released a list of 112 grassroots campaign chairs to encompass all 88 counties across the state. An effective grassroots operation for Husted and other Republican candidates in Ohio will be critical for Republicans to continue their momentum in the Buckeye State because shifting voter demographics in the Republican Party make turnout increasingly difficult. The list, first shared with The Daily Signal, includes 23 county commissioners, 20 GOP county chairs, nine mayors, eight State Central Committee members, seven sheriffs, five state legislators, four business leaders, four activists, and three township trustees. According to an announcement from the campaign, these campaign chairs "will continue to serve as the campaign’s first point of contact for community leaders, faith groups, law enforcement, veterans, and grassroots activists." Such chairs will also "recruit, organize, and lead volunteers at the county level while coordinating local events, earned media, and surrogate activity to strengthen the campaign’s presence in every corner of Ohio." Husted will likely go up against former Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is seeking a comeback after losing to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno last year. The list of grassroots organizers includes Tony J. Schroeder, a GOP chairman for Putnam County who has spoken previously with The Daily Signal on numerous occasions about redistricting. Another name on the list is Ohio state Rep. Gary Click. Click recently made headlines because his bill honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy passed the state House last month. "From the football field to the Statehouse to the Senate, I’ve always believed that strong teams deliver the best results," Husted said about the list. "These County Campaign Chairs are trusted local voices who know their communities and share my mission to lower costs, grow jobs, and protect our values. I’m proud to stand with them as we work to move Ohio forward." On Monday, Team Husted released a video on X regarding his campaign launch. The video message from Husted shows the senator sharing his life story, including how he was adopted out of a foster home. Husted’s father worked at a local machine tool factory, but was laid off after working there for 25 years, with the factory closing. "It closed because Ohio and America were losing their competitive edge. America’s leaders have let China and other countries steal our technology and our jobs," Husted warns. "It didn’t have to be that way. That’s what drives me to fight for Ohio’s future every single day." The advertisement shows that Husted is aligning with the MAGA agenda, touting policies such as border security, tax cuts, no tax on tips or overtime, protecting children online, and protecting women’s sports.