Abortion, Trump and Mike DeWine's COVID-19 policies on the minds of Ohio voters today

The breaking news that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v Wade, Gov. Mike DeWine's COVID policies and former President Donald Trump, who put three justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, were on the minds of Ohio voters as they went to the polls in Tuesday's primary election.

For Democrats, the fear that a leaked Supreme Court opinion appearing to overturn the landmark abortion decision known as Roe v. Wade was at the forefront of their minds as they vote in primaries for governor and the U.S. Senate.

For Republicans, especially those who support former President Trump, the big question was whether they could support J.D. Vance, the guy he picked for U.S. Senate. And whether his lack of an endorsement in the Republican gubernatorial primary – the only statewide race where Trump didn't pick a favorite – meant anything more than a casual snub.

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As soon as the news spread that POLITICO had a copy of a draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Democrats across Ohio started reacting.

Ohio abortion: Abortion still legal in Ohio - for now - as country waits for U.S. Supreme Court decision

“It has never been more important to elect a genuinely pro-choice candidate to be Ohio’s next governor," former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said in a statement. "If you care about reproductive rights, we need your vote tomorrow–full stop.”

Whaley has always supported abortion access, but her challenger for the Democratic nomination to be governor, former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, started his political career as a "pro-life Democrat." A fact Emily's List hammered when he entered the race last year.

“Any Democrat who goes into the voting booth today has abortion at the center of their thoughts, and that certainly advantages Nan Whaley.” University of Cincinnati political professor David Niven said.

Cranley, who started supporting abortion access after having children with his wife, called the news from Washington "an outrageous attack on the dignity and freedom of all women."

But in communities across Ohio, Democratic women appeared to be breaking for Whaley.

"We're going backward instead of forwards," said Rochelle Prince, a 64-year-old Democrat from Canton.

She picked Whaley over Cranley because of Whaley's stance on women's rights and abortion. Laura Knight, 41, of Anderson Township down in Southwest Ohio, reached the same conclusion.

Mike Credur and Larry Hall, a gay couple who have been together for 29 years, worried the court might move to reverse their rights next.

“The Republican Party is slowly turning everything back 50,100 years," Credur said. "They’re just taking away human rights. It’s the most unpatriotic party I’ve ever seen in my life and I’m 67-years-old.”

Republicans still split on Senate race

In the race to replace U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Republican voters were divided.

Joseph Davidoski, 67, of Anderson Township said Trump’s endorsement of J.D. Vance helped him decide.

But others weren't so sure about the "Hillbilly Elegy" author, citing his past comments criticizing Trump as "a total fraud" and labeling some supporters "racist."

"I've heard some things about Vance that I just didn't really care for," said Kerrie Clark, a part-time online teacher from Grove City. "I know he was endorsed by Trump, but I don't know. There's something about him that didn't sit right. Maybe that sounds crazy, but when something doesn't sit right with me, I just can't go with them."

She chose Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons.

J.D. Vance: Donald Trump holds Ohio rally amid criticism of J.D. Vance endorsement for U.S. Senate

Jerry Sparks, 52, of North Canton, was "absolutely" influenced by the former president, but he voted for former GOP Party Chair Jane Timken because "she's fit for the job" and "follows Trump."

And Warren Harding, 46, of Anderson Township, chose state Sen. Matt Dolan because he was the only Republican who didn't chase Trump's endorsement.

“It’s nice to see certain candidates that just aren’t beholden to a person rather than ideals that I think would benefit society as a whole,” Harding said, adding he feels traditional Republican values have been lost.

Many still like Mike DeWine

Harding also picked DeWine for governor on his Republican primary ballot.

“I think Mike DeWine has done a pretty good job with everything during his term,” Harding said.

And so did Sparks who wore a ball cap depicting a handgun and the words "Protected by the 2nd Amendment" outside the North Canton Civic Center.

Even Democratic voters Sara and Robert Frato, who picked Whaley for governor, said they appreciated how DeWine lead Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are not Republican, but we felt DeWine did a good job," Sarah Frato said.

But over in Marion County, some Republican voters were backing political newcomer Joe Blystone.

Dane Williams, 19, exercised his right to vote for the first time Tuesday and picked the farmer for governor, saying Blystone was “definitely a guy who isn’t in it just for the money.”

“He’s definitely a guy who’s somewhat for the people instead of for the government,” Williams said. “He is not a shill for the other party. He is for the people, by the people. He cares about the people. He’s not run by the government, strictly the people.”

This story will be updated as we talk with more voters across Ohio today.

Anna Staver is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. It serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio abortion laws on the minds of Democratic voters in 2022 primary