>> MAP MAKING BEGINS AGAIN.

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

OHIO LAWMAKERS ARE DRAWING LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

THIS TIME THEY WILL DRAW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

THEY WILL SLICE OHIO INTO 15 DISTRICTS.

THOSE MAPS COULD DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS CONGRESS AFTER THE 2026 ELECTION.

OHIO NOW HAS TEN REPUBLICANS AND FIVE DEMOCRATS REPRESENTING IT IN THE HOUSE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS OHIO TO JOIN STATES LIKE TEXAS IN DRAWING MAPS THAT WILL FAVOR REPUBLICANS SO THE PARTY CAN MAINTAIN ITS NARROW MAJORITY IN CONGRESS.

THE TEXAS MAPS WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE, TRYING TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS IN THEORY.

WILL OHIO REPUBLICANS TRY TO DO THE SAME THING?

>> THERE WAS A HEADLINE OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE THE QUOTE WAS SOMETHING OF HOW CRUEL DO REPUBLICANS WANT TO BE?

I CAN'T VERIFY THAT.

I THINK THAT IS IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT TEXAS DID, TEXAS' MAP WOULD FLIP FIVE TO REPUBLICAN SEATS.

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK HAVE IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED AND INDICATED, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

IT'S CLEAR THIS IS A PARTISAN BRAWL.

>> THE FIVE DEMOCRATS NOW, REALISTICALLY HOW MANY SEATS COULD REPUBLICANS PICK UP IF THEY DREW MORE FAVORABLE MAPS?

>> THE HIGH END IS 13.

12 IS MORE LIKELY.

THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE HAS BEEN WELL OUT OF STATE.

EMILIA SYKES IS EXTREME ON THE LEFT.

BOTH ARE AT RISK.

A LOT OF THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHAT KIND OF YEAR THE REPUBLICANS HAVE IN 2026.

NORMALLY, WE WOULD SEE THE PARTY THAT'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE SUFFER LOSSES IN THE HOUSE RACES.

DONALD TRUMP IS ON A TEAR OF GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

IF THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO BE STRONG, IT MIGHT BE A MORE MILD AFFECT IN 2026.

>> THE NAMES YOU HEAR MOST OFTEN.

BUT STILL POPULAR.

>> THOSE ARE THE TWO.

ONE QUESTION WILL BE, WILL THE LEADERSHIP --THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE THE APPETITE TO DO THIS?

IT WILL BE A VERY MESSY PROCESS.

IT WILL GO THROUGH LOTS OF STAGES AND ALL OF THAT.

THEY COULD DECIDE THAT, WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BEING PRESSURED BY WHITE HOUSE.

THEY COULD SAY, WE WILL JUST MAKE MODEST CHANGES AND LEAVE IT THE WAY THEY ARE.

THAT'S PROBABLY NAIVE ON MY PART.

TYPICALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEN, YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

THE REPUBLICANS WOULD WIN AT THE END OF THE PROCESS IF THEY DECIDE TO GO VERY AGGRESSIVELY.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES AND THE SUPREME COURT CHANGED.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE, DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED, IGNORED CHANGES IN THE NEW YORK CONSTITUTION AND THEY GOT VERY GREEDY AND CREATED A SET OF DISTRICTS.

OF ALL THINGS, THE DEMOCRATIC NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE.

YOU DON'T HEAR THAT THAT OFTEN.

FORCED THEM TO GO BACK.

IT'S THE DEMOCRATS FAILED TO PICK UP THREE OR FOUR SEATS IN NEW YORK.

THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

SO AS PEOPLE TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING, YOU TALK ABOUT MIDTERM ELECTIONS, THE MIDTERM AFFECT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING MORE SENSITIVE THAT THIS REDISTRICTING COULD HAPPEN.

>> WILL DEMOCRATS AGREE TO --YOU COULD SOLVE THIS QUICKLY IF THEY COULD GET DEMOCRATS TO BUY INTO THE MAPS.

REPUBLICANS WOULD END THIS QUICKLY.

WILL THEY AGREE TO ANY MAP THAT HAS FEWER THAN --GIVES THEM A CHANCE WITH FEWER THAN FIVE RACES?

>> >> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE COME AROUND IN THE PAST.

ALISON RUSSO MAKING STATEMENTS TO THE EFFECT OF, IT'S GOING TO BE THIS OR IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALISTIC.

>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM.

THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT LAST NOVEMBER'S REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT, SOME PROMISED A LESS PARTISAN WAY TO DRAW THE MAPS.

GOVERNOR DeWINE PUSHED IOWA'S NON-PARTISAN SYSTEM OF DRAWING MAPS.

>> AFTER WE DEFEAT THIS FLAWED PROPOSAL, I WILL WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION IN THE NEXT SESSION.

WE WILL VET THAT PROPOSAL.

THERE WILL BE HEARINGS ON IT.

WE WILL HEAR FROM CITIZENS ON ALL SIDES.

I HOPE THEN APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO PLACE AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO APPROVE THE WAY THE PROCESS SHOULD BE.

I WILL ASK THEM TO PASS A VERSION OF THE IOWA BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT'S BEEN IN EFFECT FOR THIS SYSTEM FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS NOW.

>> ANY HEARINGS SCHEDULED YET ON THIS PLAN?

>> WE ARE ONLY A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH.

NO HEARINGS.

THEY ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO LEAD THIS PLAN.

HE SAID HE HAS NOT TALKED TO ANYONE ABOUT IT.

HE SAID THEY KNOW HIS POSITION.

THIS IS REALLY THEIR JOB TO PASS A RESOLUTION, WHICH CONSTITUTIONALLY IS TRUE.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT TWISTING ARMS AND DEMANDING VOTES ON THIS.

>> IS HE GOING BACK ON HIS PROMISE?

HE SAID HE WOULD LEAVE IT TO THE EFFORT.

>> HE HAS TIME LEFT IN HIS TERM TO DO THIS.

MIKE DeWINE UNDERSTANDS THE LONG VIEW.

HE'S GOT A LOT DONE BY BUILDING COALITIONS.

THE LEGISLATURE IS FINDING ITS FEET.

IT JUST CAME INTO SESSION AND STARTED WORKING ON THE BUDGET, THE BIGGEST THING.

THEY WILL COME INTO THE FALL SESSION WITH THINGS OTHER THAN THE BUDGET ON THEIR PLATE.

>> SAFE TO SAY WE WILL NOT GET A NEW SYSTEM BEFORE WE HAVE TO DRAW THESE MAPS.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> THAT'S UNREALISTIC.

THE VOTERS HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL TRY TO GET --HE SAID THE PLAN WE HAVE NOW IS NOT WORKING.

IT'S TOO POLITICAL.

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, HE HAS TO GET THE LEGISLATURE AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO AGREE.

I THINK THE LEADERSHIP - -I DON'T SEE ANY SENSE THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR THE IOWA PLAN.

I THINK IT'S DEAD ON ARRIVAL, UNLESS THEY COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND THEY AGREE.

I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR CAN PUSH THE LEGISLATURE INTO DOING THIS.

>> IS THERE --BY THE THREAT OF A NEW SYSTEM, THE IOWA PLAN, THE POSSIBILITY OF VOTERS APPROVING THAT, WOULD IT CAUSE --WOULD IT AFFECT THIS MAP MAKING PROCESS?

WOULD REPUBLICANS BE LESS AGGRESSIVE?

THEY COULD CUT SEATS BY THREE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

FULL DISCLOSURE, I WAS ON THE STRATEGY TEAM THAT HELPED DEFEAT THE LAST ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS.

WE WERE OUTSPENT BY ALMOST TEN TO ONE.

VOTERS TURNED IT DOWN.

NOW THAT THE VOTERS HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO PUT IN ANOTHER PLAN AND DIDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A POWER GRAB FROM THE LEFT, I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS WORRY IED ABOUT THE VOTERS UNDOING THE WORK.

>> THAT PROCESS WILL GO AS IT HAS IN THE PAST?

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DECIDE HOW AGGRESSIVE DO WE WANT TO BE?

THEY COULD HAVE A SMOOTH PROCESS.

I AGREE IF THEY DON'T TRY TO CHANGE TOO MUCH, THE DEMOCRATS WILL SAY, THAT'S FINE.

WE CAN DO WORSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW AGGRESSIVE THEY WANT TO BE.

THEY ARE GETTING PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON.

>> IT HAS TO BE EXHAUSTING HAVING THESE FIGHTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S EXHAUSTING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, WORRIES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PLANNED INTEL PLANT IN NEW ALBANY HAVE NOT SUBSIDED.

IT CAME OUT INTEL WAS SLOWING CONSTRUCTION.

BUT A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COMPANY'S EARNINGS REPORT SHOWS THE COMPANY SAYS IF THEY DON'T FIND NEW CUSHION TOMMERS FOR THE CHIPS THEY PLAN TO MAKE THERE, THEY WILL STOP CONSTRUCTION.

GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS ASSURANCES FROM THE INTEL CEO THE COMPANY REMAINS COMMITTED TO OHIO.

THE CONCERN IS THERE.

ONE LOCAL OFFICIAL, TIM BUBB, SAYS HE IS DISAPPOINTED AND FEELS LIKE INTEL IS PULLING THE RUB OUT FROM THEM A LITTLE BIT.

MARK, YOU HAVE WORKED WITH NEW ALBANY IN FORMING THEIR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ON INTEL.

WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF CONCERN OUT THERE?

>> IT'S CHANGED THE WAY LIVE THERE BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP.

THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC AND GROWTH.

PEOPLE THOUGHT INTEL WOULD BE HERE QUICKLY.

NOW SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

THERE WAS AN OP ED FROM ONE OF THE COLUMNISTS WHO POINTED OUT THE INVESTMENT IS SUCH IN THE FABS THEY CALL THEM THAT IT'S HARD FOR INTEL TO WALK AWAY.

IT'S UNLIKELY THEY WOULD WALK AWAY FROM SUCH A BIG INVESTMENT.

IT'S LIKELY IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN ANYBODY ANTICIPATED.

>> THEY SPENT ABOUT $8 BILLION ON THE PROJECT SO FAR, ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIALS.

IT'S GOING TO COST $28 BILLION.

IS $8 BILLION TOO MUCH OF A SUNK COST TO WALK AWAY?

>> I THINK THAT'S A DECISION THE COMPANY WILL HAVE TO MAKE.

IT WILL BE BASED UPON ITS OWN FINANCIAL STATUS OR OTHER BUYERS OUT THERE, OTHER PURPOSES, OTHER COMPANIES THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

THIS IS A FRUSTRATING TIME.

IT WAS EXCITING, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE STATE LEADERS TAKE SOME RISK TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BRING INTEL --INTEL WAS EXCITING.

WE HAVE HAD MACHINES THAT SAID INTEL INSIDE.

WE RECOGNIZE THE BRAND AND ALL THAT.

THIS IS A A FRUSTRATING SITUATION.

>> BIPARTISAN, TOO.

JOE BIDEN WAS THERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COMPANY WAS THAT WEAK.

I THOUGHT WE THOUGHT THE PRODUCT WAS VERY GOOD.

THE NOTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY, BUILDING CHIPS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUILDING THEM HERE IN OHIO, REALLY MADE OHIO THE CENTER OF A NEW INDUSTRY, IF YOU WOULD.

THIS IS WORRISOME.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW $8 BILLION TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN.

BUT AS MARK SAID, YOU MAY NOT SEE THE BENEFITS FOR A LONG TIME, IF EVER.

>> MIKE DeWINE IS STILL VERY BUOYANT ON THIS.

COMMITTED TO INTEL.

INTEL IS COMMITTED TO OHIO.

IS THERE SOME BEHIND THE SCENES MORE HANG WRINGING GOING ON AT THE STATEHOUSE?

>> WHEN I HEAR ABOUT GOVERNOR DeWINE'S OPTIMISM, WHAT ELSE IS HE SUPPOSED TO SAY?

THERE IS SO MUCH STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY THAT HAS GONE TOWARD THIS PROJECT.

I STRUGGLE TO IMAGINE IT ALL GOING BUST.

2024 TO 2030 AND NOW THIS INDEFINITE FURTHER DELAY THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CEO.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND OPTIMISM.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE --OHIO HAS INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT, THE TWO FABS THEY ARE BUILD, GET BUILT?

THERE ARE INCENTIVES FOR A BUYER FOR INTEL ITSELF?

>> MIKE DeWINE SET A MARKER OUT THERE WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE STATE.

NATIONALLY, WE HAVE TO DECREASE THE DEPENDENCE ON CHINA FOR THE CHIPS THAT RUN OUR DEVICES AND OTHER THINGS.

WE TALKED ABOUT MIKE DeWINE PLAYING THE LONG GAME ON THE ISSUE OF REDISTRICTING.

HE HAS A FEW YEARS LEFT.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE HIM TAKE ACTION BEFORE HE LEAVES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THIS INTEL PLANT COMES AND STAYS IN OHIO.

>> WOULD THE STATE FACE ANY RESISTANCE IN OFFERING MORE MONEY TO INTEL OR A DIFFERENT COMPANY?

>> THE STATE WOULD FACE RESISTANCE.

THERE WOULD BE QUESTIONS COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

IT DEPENDS ON YOUR OPTIMISM.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE THROWING MONEY DOWN A WHOLE, THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY.

IF YOU HAVE A PLAN THAT HAS SOME DEGREE OF ASSURANCE --WE'RE NOT EXPERTS.

THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT EXPERTS.

WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE AND JOBS IN OHIO.

WE ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO DO.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE FOR MANUFACTURING CHIPS?

>> WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED, INTEL STOCK WENT DOWN.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CEO'S PLAN AT THE TIME.

YOU HAD TO KNOW THERE WAS SOME RISK.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF THIS DOESN'T SUCCEED?

DOES IT HURT OHIO BADLY TRYING TO GET OTHER COMPANIES TO COME HERE?

>> WE HAVE TONS OF OTHER COMPANIES COMING HERE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE IMAGE.

WE HAVE AMAZON, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT.

THEY ARE NOT --THEY ARE IN LARGELY DATA CENTERS, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT BEASTS.

WE STILL ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP THE REPUTATION OF BEING SORT OF A MODERN INDUSTRY, IF YOU WOULD.

BRINGING NEW INDUSTRIES HERE TO OHIO.

IT DOES HURT BECAUSE THIS ONE WAS THE BIG ONE.

>> WOULD IT BE DEVASTATING?

HOW BAD WOULD IT BE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

OHIO IS IN DEMAND.

IT'S A GROWING PART OF THE STATE.

EMPLOYERS WANT TO BE HERE.

IT'S VERY WELL PLACED.

IF INTEL DOESN'T COME --I THINK THEY WILL.

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE.

THERE WILL BE DEMAND FOR THAT SITE.

>> WE HAVE LAND, WATER AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> WHY AREN'T THEY HERE?

>> OTHER COMPANIES ARE COMING HERE.

>> INTEL HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BEST FOR THEM.

I THINK EVENTUALLY THEY WILL COME.

>> THE AMY ACTON ACT FOR GOVERNOR.

IT TOUTED THE CAMPAIGN RAISED $1.

3 MILLION.

IT CLAIMS IT IS MORE THAN ANY DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CHALLENGER HAS RAISED.

IT SOUNDS GOOD.

UNTIL YOU COMPARE IT TO THE $9.

7 MILLION VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS RAISED.

REPUBLICAN AFFILIATED PAC HAS SAVED $70 MILLION.

$50 MILLION COMES FROM TWO DONORS.

WHAT DOES AMY ACTON, A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS --I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THE NUMBER.

IS IT A GOOD NUMBER?

WHAT IS IT?

>> IT GOT HER A STORY.

IT GOT HER IN THE NEWS.

THE RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGN WAS VERY, VERY SMART AND QUICKLY SAYING, THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE.

>> I THINK THEY SAID, THAT'S CUTE.

>> I THINK WHAT ACTON WAS DOING WAS SAYING, I'M RUNNING.

LET'S HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE FACT IT'S OVER $1 MILLION AND IT'S BETTER THAN DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

IT GIVES HER SOME PUBLICITY.

WE KNOW THAT IN FACT, WHATEVER THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE, IF SHE'S THE CANDIDATE AGAINST RAMASWAMY, THE REPUBLICANS WILL DRAMATICALLY OUTSPEND HER.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE HERE.

SHE'S WORRIED PEOPLE THINK BROWN WILL ECLIPSE HER AND FORCE HER DOWN TO ANOTHER STATEWIDE RACE.

SHE'S TRYING TO SAY I'M STILL RELEVANT.

SHERROD, YOU GO RUN FOR SENATE.

WHETHER THAT WILL WORK, I DON'T KNOW.

SHE'S WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD IF SHE THINKS THE FUND-RAISING WILL HELP HER BEAT A REPUBLICAN IN 2028.

>> YOU MENTIONED HER DONORS ARE SMALLER DONORS, GRASS-ROOTS.

RAMASWAMY'S MONEY IS COMING FROM BILLIONAIRES.

DOES THAT MATTER?

>> WHEN I THINK OF THE SMALL DONOR QUESTION, AT LEAST THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WHO CARE ENOUGH TO GIVE THEIR CREDIT CARD AND PONY UP SOMETHING.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT $1.

3 MILLION AND PUT IT NEXT TO A $9.

7 MILLION PILE AND CALL IT VICTORIOUS.

ONE THING THAT'S FOREBODING THAT MARK HIT ON IS THAT SHERROD HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FLOATING THIS, I'M NOT RUNNING BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT.

THAT HAS FROZEN OUT HER DONOR STREAM.

I THINK THAT'S AN AM NOUS SIGN.

IF PEOPLE AREN'T ON --IT'S NOT A SIGN OF STRENGTH.

>> HE IS PLAYING THE HAMLET CARD.

DO I RUN FOR SENATE OR GOVERNOR?

HE HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION PRETTY QUICKLY.

SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE NOISE TO REMIND PEOPLE, I'M STILL HERE.

>> GETTING BACK TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CAMPAIGN AMOUNTS, YOU MENTIONED, I WAS GOING TO BRING IT UP, WHEN YOU WORKED FOR THE --AGAINST THE REDISTRICTING CAMPAIGN, YOU WERE VASTLY OUTSPENT.

DOES THAT -- CAN YOU WIN A GUBERNATORIAL RACE BEING OUTSPENT TEN TO ONE?

>> PEOPLE AREN'T VOTING PARTY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH PARTIES ARE WHERE.

OHIO IS A REPUBLICAN STATE.

IT HAS BECOME ONE.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING IN THE STATE, WE WERE A SWING STATE.

WE ARE NO LONGER.

WE ARE A REPUBLICAN STATE.

IT WOULD TAKE A NATIONAL SCANDAL AND A STATE SCANDAL LIKE WE SAW IN '06, FORMER OVERNOR TAFT'S NUMBERS WERE WEAK, TO SEE AN OVERTURNING.

YOU NEED A BIGGER SCANDAL AND PROBLEM THAT WE SAW IN '06 FOR IT TO CHANGE.

>> DO YOU THINK ACTON IS IN IT TO STAY?

>> I THINK IF SHERROD WERE TO DECIDE HE WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, THEY WILL FIND A WAY FOR HER TO BE PART OF A STATEWIDE TICKET WHETHER IT'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OR SOME OTHER OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHERROD WILL DO.

>> WE WILL GET TO THAT.

THIS WEEK SOME PROM INENT DEMOCRATS DECLARED THEIR INTENTIONS.

ROY COOPER WILL SEEK HIS STATE'S SOON TO BE OPEN U. S. SENATE SEAT.

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KAMALA HARRIS WON'T RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR.

LEADING TO SPECULATION SHE WILL MAKE ANOTHER RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN '28.

IN OHIO, DEMOCRATS ARE WAITING FOR SHERROD BROWN TO MAKE HIS DECISION.

CHUCK SCHUMER MET WITH BROWN IN OHIO AGAIN LAST WEEK TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM TO RUN FOR SENATE AGAINST JON HUSTED NEXT YEAR.

COULD THAT GET BROWN TO RUN FOR SENATE IF THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A DECENT SHOT OF WINNING BACK THE SENATE WITH A COUPLE OF TAKE-BACKS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN BROWN'S HEAD.

IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT AND LOOKING AT THE MACROCLIMATE, YOU HAVE TO THINK IT'S A GOOD YEAR.

LOOK AT THE 2018 ELECTION CYCLE WHEN DEMOCRATS OVERPERFORMED IN CONGRESS.

LOOK AT THE BIDEN YEARS, THAT OFF CYCLE.

THEY HAD A PRETTY SOLID SHOWING AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND DIDN'T FACE THAT GRAVITY LIKE YOU TYPICALLY DO IN AN OFF-YEAR ELECTION.

YOU LOOK AT HOW AGGRESSIVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ROLLED OUT EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING ON THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION.

I THINK VOTERS ARE GOING TO SPEAK.

I THINK IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, YOU WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO LOOK AT THE MACROPOLITICAL CLIMATE.

>> I THINK SHERROD HAS TO ASK THE QUESTION, WOULD YOU RATHER BE GOVERNOR OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE A SENATOR?

IT'S FUNNY HOW DIFFERENT POLITICIANS HAVE VIEWED THE TWO OFFICES.

I'M NOT SURE SHERROD WOULD LOVE BEING GOVERNOR.

THAT'S A DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE JOB.

BEING A SENATOR, YOU CAN PONTIFICATE.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR VERY MUCH.

JOHN GLENN LOVED BEING A SENATOR.

I THINK SHERROD'S HEART WOULD BE IN THE SENATE.

WHICH ONE WOULD HE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING?

>> BROWN'S STRENGTH WAS FACING WEAK OPPONENTS OR AT A GOOD CYCLE.

AND THE FACT THAT OHIO STILL HAD UNION VOTERS WHO WERE VOTING DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE.

TIM RYAN COULDN'T EVEN WIN THE VALLEY.

HE WAS DOING A SHERROD BROWN IMPRESSION.

HE CAN'T WIN THE VALLEY.

THE PLACES HE USED TO GET SUPPORT, DOWN THE OHIO RIVER, THOSE WERE GREAT BROWN VOTE GETTING PLACES.

THEY ARE GONE.

HE CAN ONLY WIN IN THE URBAN CENTERS AND ATHENS, OHIO.

HE HAS TO FACTOR THAT IN.

>> CAN YOU WIN OHIO BY JUST WINNING URBAN CENTERS?

>> NOT ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE TO REDUCE YOUR MARGIN OF DEFEAT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

YOU CAN'T BE LOSING ALL THE RURAL COUNTIES IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE BY 70, 75 TO 25.

YOU WILL LOSE THEM.

IN THE OLD DAYS, DEMOCRATS COULD LOSE THEM 60/40.

YOU LOOK AT RECENT ELECTIONS, THEY ARE GETTING WIPED OUT THERE.

>> DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING ALONG THE LAKE AND ALONG THE RIVER, WHICH HELPED THEM.

THEY ARE NOW LOSING THERE.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO HOW TRUMP PERFORMS.

HOW THE ECONOMY PERFORMS IN THE NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

TO THE TARIFFS INCREASE INFLATION, JOB NUMBERS THIS WEEK WERE NOT AS GOOD AS PERHAPS THE PRESIDENT HAD WANTED.

THE REGULAR RELATIVELY LOW.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK BROWN IS CHEERING FOR HIGHER JOBS OR LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT.

OF COURSE, YOU ARE BETTER OFF IF THE ECONOMY --A FLEDGLING ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR THE PARTY OUT OF POWER.

>> POLITICIANS DECIDE TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN WHEN THEY LOOK --CAN I WIN?

LOOKING AGENT HIS POTENTIAL OPPONENT, RAMASWAMY AND HUSTED.

WHO DOES HE MATCH UP BETTER AGAINST?

>> RAMASWAMY HASN'T EVEN TAPPED HIS OWN MONEY.

I THINK HE HAS A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSANDS.

IF HE HAS A BILLIONAIRE, HE HAS A LOT OF MONEY HE CAN PUT IT IN.

HUSTED, HE IS NOT A WEALTHY PERSON SH HAS BEEN IN THE STATE AND RUN AROUND THE STATE AND MADE GREAT CONNECTIONS IN THE STATE.

HE IS A FORMIDABLE PERSON.

HE HAS A STRONGER POLITICAL CONNECTION THAN VIVEK.

>> I THINK SHERROD HAS TO ASK THE MATCHUP QUESTION.

ONE OF THE WEAKNESSES THAT I WOULD SEE IN RAMASWAMY IS THAT --HE IS VERY ARTICULATE AND BRIGHT.

HE IS EXTREMELY ARROGANT.

COULD SHERROD RUN BETTER AGAINST HIM AS THE CANDIDATE OF OHIO, IF YOU WILL.

I THINK HE COULD RUN BETTER AGAINST RAMASWAMY THAN HE COULD AGAINST HUSTED WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGES YOU TALKED ABOUT.

IF YOU RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO WANT THAT OFFICE.

I THINK HE HAS TO DECIDE WHICH OFFICE WOULD YOU WANT TO RUN FOR?

HE COULD DECIDE, I DON'T WANT DO THIS ANYMORE.

>> I'M IN MY EARLY 70s.

I HAVE GRANDKIDS NOW.

I'M DONE.

>> I'M LIVING IN COLUMBUS.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING TO THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS, WHEN THEY LOOK FOR CANDIDATES, ARE GOING FROM THE PILE WHO HAVE LOST THE LAST ELECTION, WHETHER IT'S BROWN OR RYAN.

LOOK AT RAMASWAMY, THIS IS A YOUNG, TALENTED PERSON.

FITZGERALD, A YOUNG, TALENTED GUY.

WHO IS THIS YOUNG TALENTED DEMOCRATIC?

>> WHO IS THAT PERSON?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GOOD YOUNG DEMOCRATS.

THEY ARE NOT ON THE TEAM FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE.

ZACK KLINE, VERY GOOD.

AND THE MAYOR OF CINCINNATI HAS DONE A VERY NICE JOB.

THEY ARE NOT YET AT THAT LEVEL WHERE THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS POTENTIAL TEWIDE CANDIDATES.

>> WILL THEY RUN AND LOSE BADLY?

>> SOMETIMES IF YOU RUN AND YOU DO BETTER THAN EXPECTED, QUOTE UNQUOTE, THEN YOU SET THE STAGE FOR A FUTURE RACE.

THEY COULD RUN AGAIN.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

>> I SPENT PART OF MY CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR.

WATCHING THE LAWLESSNESS IN CINCINNATI REMINDS ME THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE CALLING WHAT WE SAW ON VIDEO A FIGHT.

WHEN A NCH OF PEOPLE JUMP ON PEOPLE, IT'S ASSAULT.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR GOVERNMENT NOR'S PROPERTY TAX GROUP TO HAVE SUCCESS.

I CAN SEE A SCENARIO IN WHICH THE PROPERTY TAX ISSUE MAKES THE BALLOT.

COULD BE TRAPPED INTO ENDORSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

WHAT YOU WILL DO TO SCHOOLS AND OUR PUBLIC SERVICES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMEDY.

>> NEAR THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER, THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER A BOIL ADVISORY.

UNTHINKABLE TO NOT HAVE CLEAN WATER FOR A MONTH.

>> THAT'S POLLUTION?

>> >> THE WEATHER HAS BROKEN FOR THE BIKE FESTIVAL.

RAISING MONEY FOR CANCER.

YOU WILL SEE THEM ON THE STREETS, AROUND CENTRAL OHIO THIS WEEKEND.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE RIDERS.

THANKFULLY, THE HUMIDITY HAS DROPPED.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A MORE COMFORTABLE RIDE.

GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

WATCH US AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG/COTR, ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.