CINCINNATI, Ohio — Three Ohio House Republican candidates are counting on “common sense” pitches to expand upon Republican wins in the state seen in recent cycles. House GOP candidates Orlando Sonza, Derek Merrin, and Kevin Coughlin are looking to flip the 1st, 9th, and 13th Districts held by Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH), respectively.
If the GOP wins all three districts, only two seats — held by Reps. Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) — will remain in Democratic hands. Ohio Republican strategist Matt Dole told the Washington Examiner much of the “red wave” that has given Republicans an edge in congressional races is attributed to working-class Democrats becoming conservative thanks to former President Donald Trump .
“For a couple cycles, it was that reverse sea of working-class Democrats, and then the urban centers of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, drove Democrat success, and Republicans had to depend on the small counties,” Dole said, adding the GOP had to depend on nearly 75 of the 88 counties in the state for turnout to compete with blue strongholds…