Alice DeWine, the daughter of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, was defeated Tuesday in the Republican primary for Greene County prosecutor.
She lost to Republican opponent David Hayes in a vote of 11,605 to 8,122, or 59 percent to 41 percent, according to the election results. No Democrat has entered the race, so Hayes is the presumed successor of Prosecutor Stephen Haller, who dropped out of the race.
Alice DeWine’s defeat happened despite the full backing of her father’s political machine. A federal super PAC dropped more than $320,000 on polling and advertisements in support of her campaign. Both her father and Attorney General Dave Yost publicly endorsed her, but Hayes had the support of local law enforcement.
“That amount of money being spent on a local, county race, it is really insane,” Hayes told The Columbus Dispatch last week. “But, I have near-universal law enforcement support and the people who support me are residents of Greene County – not politicians in Columbus or family members.”
Both Haller and Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer endorsed Hayes over the governor’s daughter.
“David works as a team member, a leader with competent legal guidance and an experienced prosecutor who has successfully prosecuted cases brought forward by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. As a military veteran and long serving assistant prosecutor, David Hayes exceeds the qualifications as a candidate to serve as our next Greene County Prosecutor and he will have my vote,” Fischer said in his endorsement.
Gov. DeWine was elected Greene County prosecutor in 1976, a position that launched his political career. He went on to become an Ohio state senator and then a member of Congress.
“From their perspective, she has to win this race,” Hayes said. “This is her political coming-out party and if she doesn’t win this race, her political career may be over before it’s started.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Alice DeWine” by Alice DeWine.
