COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine overcame accusations of pay-to-play politics Tuesday in his bid for re-election, defeating Democratic challenger David Pepper.
With 23 percent of the precincts reporting, DeWine had netted 785,728 votes for 62 percent. Pepper had gathered 38 percent of the vote.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:34 p.m. eastern time.
Throughout his campaign, Pepper constantly peppered DeWine with pay-to-pay allegations, accusing the attorney general of hiring law firms that donate to his campaign and the Republican Party.
The DeWine camp denied the allegations.
Pepper had promised to add transparency to the bidding process of selecting law firms to bring suits on behalf of the state.
DeWine previously served as a state senator from 1981-1982, a U.S. representative from 1983-1991, lieutenant governor from 1991-1994, and a member of the U.S. Senate from 1995-2007.
Many members of the media have speculated DeWine will run for governor in 2018.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com