Ohio Democrats Take Aim At Richard Cordray As He Prepares To Enter Gov Race

After his botched resignation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to run for Ohio governor, Washington D.C. Bureaucrat Richard Cordray continues to take heat from his fellow Democrat candidates, who are giving no indication that they intend to step aside or back down as Cordray prepares to formally join the race.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Democrats, who were quick to take aim at Cordray after he announced his resignation in November, have stepped up their attacks on him, with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley calling Cordray part of the “the same-ole, same-ole leadership that’s made us lose” in past elections, and State Senator Joe Schiavoni questioned whether Cordray can connect with Ohioans with his “Washington background.” Former State Rep. Connie Pillich took aim at his controversial exit from the CFPB, blasting his “chaos-inducing decision” and even State Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, who has been eager to back Cordray’s candidacy in recent weeks, appeared to “waffle” on his pledge to exit the race should Cordray enter.

While Cordray may have expected a cakewalk for the Democrat nomination after leaving his high-profile CFPB job, Washington D.C.’s most power-hungry bureaucrat is quickly discovering that Ohio Democrats aren’t sold at all on his candidacy. And as his soon-to-be primary rivals continue to bemoan his record of failed leadership, he appears to be in for a fight just to win over his own party.

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

“News that Richard Cordray will announce his candidacy for governor next week drew mixed reactions from his fellow Democrats in the field…

Some of the five Democrats already in the field said a Cordray candidacy wouldn’t affect their plans. Some slammed the former Ohio attorney general. One said it might prompt him to get out — or it might not…

‘We’ll see if he relates to people with his Washington background’ Schiavoni said. ‘While he’s been in Washington thinking about it and going back and forth with Trump, I’ve been here, grinding it out.’

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley contrasted herself with Cordray, who lost his 2010 bid to be re-elected Ohio attorney general.

‘I think the party’s going to have a real choice,’ Whaley said. ‘We can go with the same-ole, same-ole leadership that’s made us lose 24 of the last 28 years instead of reaching out for new leadership from the local level.’

Another candidate, former state Rep. Connie Pillich, was harsh in her assessment of Cordray, who lives in Grove City.

‘If, after his chaos-inducing decision to turn consumer protections over to Donald Trump, Richard Cordray plans to run for governor, then Rich should join our field — including the three qualified women candidates already running — on the debate stage Monday night,’ Pillich, of Montgomery, said in an email…

Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill had said he would get out of the race if Cordray got in, but he waffled on that on Thursday.

‘I’ve spoken with Rich,’ he said. ‘We had a half-hour conversation.’”