Senate, governor debates canceled in Ohio after GOP opts out

The commission in Ohio canceled the debates because the Republican candidates refused to participate.

The Ohio Commission expressed disappointment that neither GOP Gov. Mike DeWine nor Republican Senate nominee JD Vance accepted their invitations by 5pm. Tuesday deadline

The group said it would not hold so-called "empty chair" or "empty podium" debates.

The president of the commission's board said that the debates were being canceled.

The Democratic Senate nominee and the former mayor of Dayton accepted their invitations.

The Republican National Committee accused the commission's executive director of having a long history of anti-Republican rhetoric.

In her home state, she is a Democrat. She has donated to Democratic candidates in the past, including $250 to Ryan in 2014.

Since joining the nonpartisan commission in the spring of last year, she has refrained from partisan activities and defended the events as professional and impartial.

The panel works with a lot of people in Ohio.

Ryan said in a statement that the two proposed debates that were hosted by TV stations in northeastern and southwestern Ohio wouldn't happen. Two of the three events that would be held in Cleveland are still being negotiated.

DeWine was cast as cowardice by Whaley. She and the Ohio Democratic Party have been trying to get the governor to go against Whaley.

Ohioans already know him and his positions, according to DeWine. The 75-year-old governor spent months at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic appearing in daily statewide broadcasts.