CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO—At his family farm, former gubernatorial candidate Joe Blystone threw his full support to Matt Mayer for governor for the 2026 governor’s race. In the May 2022 Republican primary, despite the Ohio Republican Party (ORP) endorsement that put the Mike DeWine-Jon Husted ticket on slate cards sent to every voter, Blystone secured 22% of the vote, as Jim Renacci and Ron Hood combined for another 30%. In total, the Blystone-Renacci-May tickets garnered a majority of 52% of voters compared to 48% of votes for the incumbent DeWine-Husted ticket, indicating the ORP endorsement was out-of-sync with Republican voters.
Blystone stated, “Given his deep understanding of the challenges facing Ohio and after spending time with him and seeing him in front of Ohioans, I know that there is no one better to hand the reins of our grassroots movement to than Matt. Matt can bridge the gap between my voters and Renacci’s voters to secure a win for all of Ohio. I am committed to do all I can over the next two-and-a-half years to make sure every Ohioan who voted for me last year votes for Matt in 2026.”
Blystone added, “Matt’s Reagan-esque bold colors agenda is exactly what Ohio needs after the disastrous DeWine-Husted pandemic shutdown of our businesses and schools and after decades of pale pastel policies that have left Ohio perpetually in the back of the pack. If anyone knows how to get our supermajority Republican legislature to act like one, it is Matt.”
Mayer responded, “I am truly honored to have Joe’s support. Joe showed that there is a strong yearning in the Republican Party for a non-career politician who isn’t beholden to the special interests in Columbus and whose only focus is what is best for Ohio, its citizens, and its businesses. I will work tirelessly to win the support of every Ohioan who voted for Joe, as I concurrently appeal to Renacci’s and Hood’s voters so that our Main Street movement prevails in May 2026 with either a plurality or an outright majority.”
Mayer noted, “I’ve studied the May 2022 primary very closely. Joe won twenty-three counties and came in 2nd in another forty counties after spending less than $700,000. There is little doubt that had the ORP remained neutral as it should have and Joe had a bit more funding to be on radio and television in the big counties, Joe would have won the primary. We will stop the ORP from putting its thumb on the scale and our effort won’t face a similar extreme funding deficit. We will be highly competitive with a level playing field in all eighty-eight counties.”
In addition to winning nearly two dozen counties and coming in 2nd in another forty counties, Blystone came in 3rd in sixteen of the biggest counties because he was grossly outspent by more than 10:1 by DeWine-Husted (won 63 counties and 2nd in 25 counties) and 7:1 by Renacci (won 2 counties and 2nd in 23 counties).
Based on reports, it is expected that Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost, and Treasurer Robert Sprague will do battle with Mayer in the gubernatorial primary in May 2026, with Mayer expected to be the only non-career politician outsider in the race. For details about Mayer and his agenda for Ohio, go to www.ohiomatt.com or follow him on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohiomatt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayer4governor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioMatt/
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Joe Blystone Throws His Full Support to Matt Mayer for Governor in 2026