If Ohio GOP chairman is ousted, ex-Rep. Jim Renacci would take on bigger role

Republican Jim Renacci lost the party's endorsement and later the primary to incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine. But a GOP shakeup might allow him to help shape how the next round of endorsements goes down.

Summit County Republican Party Chairman Bryan Williams wants to replace current Ohio Republican Party leader Bob Paduchik at a Friday meeting of the party's new governing body.

Paduchik, who says party rules require the chairman to be selected in January, hasn't put the issue on the party's agenda. But Republicans frustrated with Paduchik's leadership say state law requires a vote Friday, only two months before the November elections.

Williams told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau that he wants to overhaul how the Ohio Republican Party handles political endorsements and finances, two points of infighting in recent years. If elected, Williams plans to task Renacci, a former U.S. representative, with fixing the party's underlying problems while Williams focused on winning elections in November.

Jim Renacci: Ohio Republican Party primary endorsements should require overwhelming statewide support

"I’ve had a lot of people call me about trying to help bring the Republican Party back to where it should be," Renacci told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. "Clearly, Bob Paduchik has failed."

Renacci volunteered to oversee changes to the party's bylaws, including how Republicans are endorsed.

DeWine won the Ohio Republican Party's endorsement in February over the objections of some members of the governing body. As the incumbent, DeWine needed a simple majority to win the party's nod.

Going through the endorsement process makes Renacci uniquely qualified to tackle proposed changes to it, Williams said. "There are a number of candidates who have felt that the party's interaction with trying to impact who gets elected has been infuriating to them."

Renacci said most Ohio Republicans would agree that the state party shouldn't endorse in races without the overwhelming support of its members. A simple majority isn't enough, he said.

In May, DeWine won 48.1% of the vote in the GOP primary, followed by Renacci (28%), Canal Winchester's Joe Blystone (21.8%) and former Rep. Ron Hood (2.1%).

A memorandum of understanding between Renacci and Williams outlines other roles for Renacci, including serving as an interim chief operating officer, appointing members to most committees and developing a party platform. Renacci would be paid for that role for three to four months.

Any of Renacci's proposed changes wouldn't take effect without approval from the Ohio Republican Party's governing body, Williams said.

Renacci said the Ohio Republican Party needs a change in leadership.

"It’s important that the current chairman has lost the heart and soul of the Ohio Republican Party because he’s not acted as a chairman. He’s acted as an operative," Renacci said. "He’s a good operative, and that’s probably where he needs to be."

Ohio Republican Party spokesman Dan Lusheck responded: "Chairman Paduchik remains singularly focused on electing Republicans up and down the ticket."

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-congressman Jim Renacci could have large role in Ohio GOP shakeup