RUNDOWN: Voters First: 2022 Ohio US Senate Democratic primary debate

Photo courtesy of Josh Bickel/Ohio Debate Commission.

The Democratic candidates running for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat debated the Ukraine conflict, student loan debt, Medicare for all and the Supreme Court at Central State University Monday afternoon.

In her opening remarks, Attorney Morgan Harper pressed U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan on him accepting super PAC funding, a topic that Harper hammered on, warranting two rebuttals.

Ryan’s opening remarks highlighted the unique moment of history the country faces, with COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the need to “build the things that will build our future.” 

“We have got to meet this moment in this Senate race in Ohio. (It) is important to shift the national perspective on how we're going to move forward,” Ryan said. 

Harper focused her remarks on ensuring “that every Ohioan gets a fair shot.”

Tech executive Traci Johnson emphasized the importance of getting Ohioans back to work and to “defeat Trumpism.” 

Ukraine

Ryan started off his statement regarding the conflict in Ukraine by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and explaining that he believes U.S. responsibilities overseas should involve doing more. 

“I think we actually need to do more. I think we need to figure out a way to get airplanes to do great,” Ryan said. “I believe that the United States has a responsibility to figure out how they can protect their support.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan. Photo Courtesy of Josh Bickel/Ohio Debate Commission.

Harper showed her support for intense sanctions as a response to the situation in Ukraine and agreed with the action of the Biden administration in terms of diplomatic solutions. 

“But we also have to keep in mind about what we've been through over the last 20 years as a country, where we have seen a lot of military intervention, perhaps too quickly, without always having the full information, and I want to be clear headed to make the right decisions for our foreign policy,” Harper said. 

Johnson quoted the song “War” by Edwin Starr and expressed the need to end Putin’s “reign of terror.”

“President Putin isn't a dangerous man. He's a strategic man. He knows exactly what he's doing. He invaded Georgia, Crimea – he has even meddled in our 2016 elections,” Johnson said. 

All candidates agreed if President Joe Biden chooses military action in Ukraine, he should first seek the approval of Congress. 

Supreme Court and Voting Rights 

Harper fully supported the movement to expand and “recalibrate” the courts. 

“We now have an institution of our government, the Supreme Court, that has been radicalized by the GOP…it no longer represents the majority of the will of the people within the state of Ohio or across the country,” Harper said. 

Johnson offered an opposing opinion to Harper. 

“I think we need to tread lightly because if we expand the court as Democrats, then Republicans (will) come in, (and) they'll expand the power.”

Traci Johnson. Photo courtesy Josh Bickel/Ohio Debate Commission.

Ryan shared sentiments similar to Johnson. 

“I am not for stacking the court. I believe that we need to nominate justices like (Judge Ketanji Brown) Jackson,” Ryan said. 

Both Harper and Ryan expressed support of codifying Roe v. Wade. 

On the topic of voting rights, all the candidates agreed on eliminating the filibuster. 

“There's no more fundamental sacred right that we have in this country than for average people to be able to go to the ballot box and influence where their government goes on the economy, on foreign policy, on how we treat each other, on the big decisions that we make,” Ryan said. 

Johnson mentioned the historical use of the filibuster to deny civil rights bills. 

Harper called out Ryan for complacency with inaction by Congress due to the filibuster. 

“We need to be honest about where we are. We are not living in normal times. And though the congressman (Ryan) has been in Washington for 20 years, he still seems to think that with business as usual, it is not,” Harper said. 

In a rebuttal, Ryan said, “I welcome support from anybody who wants to support my campaign.”

Ryan explained his campaign is grass roots. 

“We, in our last quarter, we had 26,000 new donors, and 97% of the contributions were under $100. So this from all 88 counties, and so this is clearly a grassroots, power movement,” Ryan said in a press conference. 

Student Loans

Talking about the student loan crisis, Ryan proposed that worrying about student loan debt may be the wrong focus. 

“74% of people in Ohio don't go to college. So we've got to make sure that we're also focusing on how do we build that workforce up too,” Ryan said. “One of the dumbest things we've ever done is tell everybody they got to go to college, right?”

Ryan added he has been affected by the student loan crisis, as his wife continues to pay off student loans. 

“And I just think it's outrageous that people (who) want to go try to get ahead in life, try to invest into themselves, invest into their education, are paying these exorbitant rates,” Ryan said. 

Harper said the student loan crisis is “a multigenerational crisis.” 

“We need to cancel the debt, we need to create economic opportunity for people all over Ohio, and make sure that we can be a state of the future,” Harper said. 

Attorney Morgan Harper. Photo courtesy Josh Bickel/Ohio Debate Commission.

In a press conference following the debate, Harper said this issue is not about burdening the tax payers of Ohio, but rather an opportunity to help the people of Ohio. 

Medicare 

Harper fully supported Medicare for all, naming health care as one of her top priorities. 

“It is the right thing to do and also the economically efficient thing to do,” Harper said. “How do we begin to make sure that we have the resources to do that? (It) is by closing the tax loopholes that allow the same large multinational corporations that fund my opponents campaigns to not pay their fair share. That's how we start.” 

Johnson shared the story of an older person who resorted to rationing her prescription drugs in order to afford food. Johnson ensured she would take on the pharmaceutical companies.

“Healthcare should be a right,” Johnson said. 

Ryan boasted his role in the passing of the Affordable Care Act. 

“900,000 more Ohioans have access to health care. Now we got rid of the ability for insurance companies to deny coverage if you have pre-existing conditions,” Ryan said. 

Takeaways

All three candidates spent their closing remarks branding themselves as the future of Ohio politics. 

Congressman Ryan closed out his debate performance by standing by the “workers,” arguing that the top 1% of income individuals need to pay their share. 

“I’m going to fight like hell,” Ryan said. 

Harper emphasized that she is the candidate that will protect abortion rights, healthcare and fight to end the drug epidemic in Ohio.

“So you can call that left, I call it reality,” Harper said. 

Johnson stressed that the issues Ohioans are facing can be solved once respect is represented.

“When we start from a place of decent respect, then we can begin to build solutions to critical problems like affordable health care, protected Medicaid and Social Security for seniors and affordable education and public funded childcare,” Johnson said in a press conference following the debate. 

The primary election is currently scheduled for May 3.

Henry Jost contributed to this article.