Joe Blystone, the Republican farmer challenging Gov. Mike DeWine in this year’s primary election, has picked a new running mate.
Jeremiah Workman is a decorated Iraq War veteran who grew up in Richwood and attended North Union High School. Like Blystone, Workman has never held elected office.
Speaking on Fox News on Sunday, Workman said he recently moved back to his home state after living in the Washington, D.C. area for about a decade.
“I looked at Jessica …back in February and I said, ‘Hey, there’s a swamp brewing in Columbus and we need to get back there to do what we can to take care of this and join the fight, right the ship, and do what’s right for the Ohioans back here that are being bullied around by the current administration,'” Workman said.
Blystone has repeatedly criticized the DeWine administration for the health orders adopted early in the pandemic. His message has proven popular in rural parts of the state, where yard signs supporting the "constitutional conservative" dot country roads.
Workman is Blystone’s second running mate. In October, his first pick for lieutenant governor Joanna Swallen left the campaign, citing personal reasons. Swallen is a northeast Ohio restaurant owner who joined the campaign after refusing to enforce a state mask mandate.
Also vying for the Republican nomination for governor is Jim Renacci, a long-time congressman and business owner. On the Democratic side, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley are also running for the Democratic nomination.
