Kasich speaks to Dems; Ohio GOP blasts Kasich

Four years ago, Ohio Gov. John Kasich refused to show up on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. On Monday, he delivered a prime-time speech to a national political convention — the Democratic National Convention.

Here are four things Kasich told the Democratic faithful:

America is being taken down the wrong path by a president who has pitted one against the other.
The future of the country can be bright, hopeful and inspired if we choose to make it so.
Democrat Joe Biden is a unifier, a man of faith and someone who understands the common man and woman.
“Joe Biden is a man for our times. Times that call for all of us to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first, for ourselves and for our children.”

I will be speaking at the #DNC Convention because I believe that America needs to go in a different direction.

I've searched my conscience and I believe the best way forward is for change - to bring unity where there has been division. And to bring about a healing in America. pic.twitter.com/sfnBGBF3kG
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 11, 2020

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken blasted Kasich in an email message Monday afternoon, saying the two-term GOP governor has betrayed conservative supporters by backing Biden and supporting gun control.

“Kasich never worked for us; he’s always worked for himself,” Timken’s message said.

Kasich is a life-long conservative who as an Ohio State University freshman wrote a fan letter to President Richard Nixon that earned him an Oval Office invitation.

ExploreKasich letter to Nixon released for the first time

He served in the Ohio Senate and U.S. Congress before his term as Ohio governor from 2011 to 2018. He has twice run for the Republican nomination for president, including in 2016 against Donald Trump.

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About the Author

Laura A. Bischoff

Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.