CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A lot of national attention has been focused on the tight race for Ohio's 1st Congressional District between Aftab Pureval and Steve Chabot, but the 2nd District could also be a lot more competitive than in recent years.
The past two elections, 2nd District Democrats nominated a candidate who spent no money, did not campaign and lost to Republican Brad Wenstrup. But this time, even though the district leans pretty solidly Republican on paper, the Democratic candidate, Jill Schiller, is hoping for an upset.
Wenstrup has been a consistently conservative vote during his three terms in Congress. The Almanac of American Politics gives him a composite 95 percent conservative rating on the economy, foreign policy and social issues. Take the Republican tax cut, for example: Wenstrup says while voters may not sense it currently, they will appreciate the measure.
"People are aware of it happening. They see the economy growing. They see that their wages are going up. So they're seeing some of those effects, but I think when they file their tax returns for next year they're going to start to see the difference of what the tax bill actually did for them, more so than they might be seeing right now," Wenstrup said.
"So I think by now, people realize that this supposed tax cut is nothing more than wealthy welfare. The vast, vast majority of the benefits go to the top 1 percent and huge corporations," Schiller said.
The 2nd District stretches from part of the city of Cincinnati and eastern Hamilton County through Clermont County and then several rural counties.
The two candidates differ on many issues. Schiller, a former Obama administration staffer, says Republican health plans might cover pre-existing conditions on paper, but the policies would not be affordable. Wenstrup disagrees.
Local 12 also asked both candidates if this election is a referendum on President Donald Trump. Both basically said no.
"From what we've seen when talking to people, talking to voters on the ground, their interest lies more on their pocketbook, their kitchen table issues, jobs and health care and the quality of our public education system," said Schiller.
"You can go back to what Bill Clinton said when he was running. 'It's the economy, stupid' is what he said. Right? And for a lot of people, it's the economy. How is it affecting me at home? Am I doing better at home? And that's where most people make their decisions," Wenstrup said.
Schiller acknowledges being an underdog, but Democrats hope redistricting, which put places like Wyoming, Finneytown and North College Hill into the 2nd District and put solidly Republican Warren County into the 1st, could help. Ironically, Republicans did that to benefit another Republican incumbent: Chabot.
