Leadership

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is moving behind the scenes to prevent the Ohio GOP from endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, according to reports from NBC News.

DeWine, long seen as a moderate Republican, is rumored to favor recently appointed Lt. Governor Jim Tressel to succeed him. Tressel has signaled that he is not interested in running but has not entirely ruled it out.

Ramaswamy, who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump on the eve of his announcement, is the frontrunner in the GOP primary, according to a recent poll.

The Ohio GOP is set to meet this Friday to decide its endorsement. 5/5/2025

Democrat ex-Congressman Tim Ryan is reportedly “seriously considering” running for Ohio governor in 2026.

Ryan, who lost a competitive race for U.S. Senate in 2022 against now Vice-President JD Vance, would be the second Democrat to enter the race for governor. Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director, launched her campaign last January.

Ryan was among the top three contenders for the Democratic primary in a Bowling Green State University poll taken earlier this year, coming in just behind Acton with 17 percent. 5/5/2025

Ohio voters approved continuing to fund the state’s major infrastructure projects through a $2.5 billion bond issue on the primary election ballot Tuesday.

The OMA-supported constitutional amendment will allow Ohio to issue bonds to help local governments pay for infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, via the State Capital Improvement Program.

The program will fund $2.5 billion over 10 years without raising Ohioans’ taxes, though state taxes would be used to pay down the bonds over a 30-year period.

The bond program was first instituted in 1987, with voters approving it three times since – in 1995, 2005, and 2014. 5/7/2025

This week, the Ohio House passed House Bill 126, legislation protecting against misuse of public nuisance claims. Trial lawyers have pushed to expand public nuisance far beyond its intended scope in an attempt to profit off its misuse by applying it to the production and manufacturing of products. The Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice (OACJ), chaired by OMA’s Lindsey Short, testified in support of the legislation to help prevent lawsuit abuse.

House Bill 126 also expressly codifies the Ohio Supreme Court’s recent decision in In Re National Prescription Opiate Litigation, which held that all common law public nuisance claims arising from the sale of a product are abrogated by the Ohio Product Liability Act. The OACJ co-authored an op-ed with the American Tort Reform Association earlier this year applauding the Supreme Court’s decision. 5/7/2025

A new poll has entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as the GOP favorite in Ohio’s 2026 governor race.

The poll, conducted in February by the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Democracy and Public Policy Research Network and YouGov, shows Ramaswamy leading the pack of Republican candidates, with 61 percent support from prospective GOP Ohio voters.

Ohio’s Lt. Governor Jim Tressel sits in second at 14 percent, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at 13 percent and Heather Hill rounding out the GOP primary with nine percent. BGSU noted that this poll was conducted before Ramaswamy received the endorsement from President Donald Trump.

For the Democrats, former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown leads the pack with 59 percent. Brown has not entered the race, nor has he signaled his intent to. Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton follows Brown with 17 percent. 4/30/2025

2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is set to join the OMA Government Affairs Committee on Thursday, June 5, in Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Ramaswamy will share his policy priorities related to Ohio’s manufacturing sector and discuss his broader economic vision for the state, giving OMA members the opportunity to hear how these proposed strategies and policies could shape the future of manufacturing in Ohio.

OMA staff will also update the committee on Ohio’s state budget progress, major energy reforms, and more.

Secure your seat today. 4/22/2025

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week outlined his plan to phase out certain artificial food dyes from U.S. food production by next year.

At a news conference with Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, the pair said the agencies are looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings and will work with the food industry to eliminate six synthetic dyes used in products like cereal, ice cream, yogurt, and other snack foods. 4/22/2025

Last week, State Senator Louis Blessing (R-Colerain Township) introduced the “Digital Fair Repair Act”, which would require any manufacturer that produces digital products to publish information publicly on the diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of their electronic or digital products, including both hardware and software.

The bill also prevents manufacturers from preventing or inhibiting the device from being repaired by a third party or using aftermarket tools or parts.

This is a continuation of the “Right to Repair” push in Ohio, with Senate Bill 73, also sponsored by Blessing, opposed by and defeated by the OMA in the previous General Assembly. 4/22/2025

OMA Connections Partner Verizon recently released their annual Data Breach Investigations Report, which analyzes real-world security incidents and provides a comprehensive examination of the state of cybercrime.

The report, which analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches, found that credential abuse and exploitation of vulnerabilities continue to be the leading initial attack vectors, highlighting the critical need for enhanced security measures. 4/23/2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over the sweeping tariffs enacted by the president last month.

California, the world’s fifth-largest economy, is the first state to challenge Trump’s tariff policy in the courts, arguing that the president does not have authority to enact the tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that China can expect up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the U.S. “as a result of its retaliatory actions,” as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies continues to heat up.

Leaders from Japan were in Washington this week as well, looking to negotiate tariffs and “trade fairness” with the president. Japan has been hit with 24% levies on its exports to the United States, though those rates are included in the 90-day pause. 4/16/2025

This week, the OMA, along with 33 other state organizations, signed on to a joint letter through the Council of State Manufacturing Associations (COSMA) in support of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (MEP).

The letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick detailed the importance of MEP programs across the nation and emphasized that a commitment by the administration to U.S. manufacturing included the critical funding that MEP provides.

MEP funding was cut earlier this month as part of the Trump administration’s plan to reduce federal spending, according to lawmakers and partner members. 4/15/2025

Global markets surged Wednesday as the Trump Administration announced a 90-day pause on some tariffs in order to negotiate.

The S&P 500 jumped 9.5% on Wednesday, its largest one-day percentage gain since the financial crisis of 2008. The Dow surged 7.9%—its biggest daily increase ever in point terms and the biggest percentage gain since the coronavirus swept the globe in March 2020.

The pause is tactical, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, allowing the U.S. to negotiate with countries in good faith while turning up the heat on China. 4/9/2025

As manufacturers continue to navigate the uncertainty surrounding the Trump-era tariffs, it’s critical to stay informed, exchange perspectives, and communicate with fellow industry leaders. The OMA will host Talking Tariffs: A Manufacturing Deep Dive on Thursday, April 17, noon to 1:30 p.m.

This members-only briefing will provide valuable insights into the latest trade and tariff developments, giving you the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts and engage in a meaningful dialogue with your community of manufacturers.

Presenters include:

• Edward (Ned) Hill, Ph.D., Professor of Economic Development emeritus, Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs
• Ann Collett, Senior Director of International Policy, National Association of Manufacturers

Register today. 4/8/2025

There will be only one ballot issue for voters during the May 6 primary this year.

State Issue 2 would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to help local governments pay for capital improvement projects like roads and bridges, wastewater treatment systems, and more.

Issue 2 would not levy a new tax on Ohioans and is simply a continuation of the efforts first approved in 1987 and re-approved through three separate constitutional amendments since then. These amendments sunset, with the most recent amendment set to sunset on July 1. 4/7/2025

President Donald Trump this week endorsed Senator Jon Husted for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Husted, who was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in January to fill the vacancy left by Vice President JD Vance, will need to run to hold the seat in 2026.

“I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and his complete trust to always fight for Ohio and to put America First as I serve in the U.S. Senate,” Husted posted on X. “I will work diligently with him and his team to secure our borders, champion American innovation, restore prosperity to the heartland, and fight for common sense Ohio values.” 4/9/202

International markets were set high in anticipation of sweeping tariff policy to be announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon.

The anticipation of “Liberation Day,” coined by the President, for U.S. trade policy, caused markets to rise early Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, however, most markets took a substantial hit, with manufacturers among the most heavily affected.

In his announcement, President Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff. These are across-the-board levies on all imports, effective April 5. Specific nations, the White House considers bad actors on trade, will be hit with a “discounted reciprocal tariff.” These include:

• 20% on the European Union
• A new 34% tariff on China, increasing the base rate to 54%
• 46% on Vietnam
• 32% on Taiwan
• 24% on Japan

The Trump Administration also implemented a 25% tariff on foreign-made automobiles that took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.

OMA Connections Partner Akhia has created a Tariff Communications Toolkit for organizations to communicate about tariffs effectively. 4/2/2025

Earlier this week, state Manufacturing Extension Programs (MEP) were notified by the federal government that their funding will be cut mid-year, despite prior Congressional authorization. Ohio, among the largest manufacturing states, anticipates similar cuts may be coming later this year.

The MEP national network has supported process improvements at small and medium-sized manufacturers for over 35 years, contributing to reshoring efforts. The federal government invests $6M in Ohio MEPs each year. Those funds are matched by the state dollars and user fees to deliver services to thousands of Ohio manufacturers annually.

Manufacturers supportive of MEP can contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives. Call their office today and urge them to contact the U.S. Department of Commerce to restore MEP funding! 4/1/2025

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has asserted sweeping changes at the federal level to “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA), which promises to end “America’s epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.”

This movement has now trickled down to Ohio, where lawmakers have introduced several bills looking to improve health outcomes for Ohioans. These include:

• SB 161 a ban on the purchase of candy and soda for Ohioans on SNAP benefits
• Potential legislation banning of certain food dyes and oils, and certain PFAS
• HB 10 enforcing labeling provisions and SNAP restrictions on cultivated-protein products, including meat and egg substitutes
• The removal of fluoride in public water.

4/1/2025

Progress continues to be made on OMA-supported civil justice reform bills as both chambers are looking to reform third-party litigation funding. Third-party litigation funding currently allows outside investors with no direct interest in a case to fund lawsuits in exchange for a share of the financial outcome, putting manufacturers at risk by inflating legal costs, clogging up court dockets, and increasing the burden on businesses.

“House Bill 105 and Senate Bill 10 would bring accountability and transparency to third party litigation funding in Ohio,” said the OMA’s Lindsey Short, who also chairs the Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice, which also weighed in to express support. 4/1/2025

Ohio Republicans this week revived plans to ban “foreign adversaries” from buying land near critical infrastructure, citing national security risks like espionage or cyberattacks.

Senate Bill 88, sponsored by State Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), would ban people and companies from countries on the federal foreign adversary list from buying property within 25 miles of Ohio’s critical infrastructure. This included military bases, electricity plants, broadband infrastructure, and railroads.

Some lawmakers have warned, however, that these sweeping measures could prevent foreign-born citizens, such as doctors and athletes, and would force them to sell at no more than the price they originally paid. 3/25/2025