Ohio Democratic Party takes sides in attorney general primary

SANDUSKY — The Ohio Democratic Party has decided to take sides in one of the statewide party primaries that will be decided on May 5. The candidate who wasn't endorsed is unhappy about it. The party's executive committee recently met via video and voted to endorse Columbus attorney John Kulewicz in his race for attorney general. He's opposed in the primary by Elliot Forhan, a Cleveland attorney and former state representative. The committee made no endorsement in the Democratic race for secretary of state between Dr. Bryan Hambley and state Rep. Allison Russo. The two recently participated in a debate in Perkins Township hosted by the Erie County Democratic Party. Margaret Murray, a Sandusky attorney and a member of the Ohio Democratic Party's executive committee, said the vote to back Kulewicz was unanimous, or at least nearly so. "The meeting was via Zoom and presented simultaneously on Facebook. The vote did not have any nays or abstentions that I could hear," Murray told the Register in an email. Murray said she also supported the vote. "I voted in favor of Mr. Kulewicz. He is a wonderful candidate for Ohio Attorney General," she said. Forhan fires back Earlier this year, Forhan, who has campaigned in Norwalk and the Sandusky area, drew press attention when he posted videos promising to "kill President Trump." Although he clarified that he was referring to capital punishment, not assassination, Forhan's comments were widely condemned by Democrats, and the party's state chairman, Kathleen Clyde, indicated the party plans to back Kulewicz. Forhan told the Register that the endorsement violates the state party's bylaws that the Democratic Party will make a primary endorsement only under "extraordinary circumstances." Forhan alleged there also is a second reason he wasn't endorsed: "I do not support unconditionally the State of Israel, and Sherrod Brown, who controls the (state Democratic Party), does." The Register asked the Ohio Democratic Party for comment, and in reply, the executive director, Cade Leebron, offered this statement: "All endorsement decisions are aimed at ensuring we have candidates who will take on Republicans in Washington, D.C. and Columbus who have raised costs, cut healthcare, gutted public schools and attacked our democracy." Forhan was a state representative from the Cleveland area but served only one term, in 2023 and 2024. He was accused of showing up unannounced at the home of another Democratic state representative, Juanita Brent, and was accused of other bad behavior. Then-House Minority Leader Allison Russo, now a Democratic candidate for secretary of state, in late 2023 removed Forhan from his committee assignments, citing a "continued pattern of harassment, hostility and intimidation of colleagues and staff." Also in 2023, Jason Stephens, who at the time was the Republican Ohio House speaker, suspended Forhan's badge access to the Ohio Statehouse and to his office. Forhan lost his re-election bid. Forhan contends he is innocent of the accusations and the victim of a smear campaign and is pursuing litigation against Russo and others. "I didn't ask for any of this," he said.