BELMONT, JEFFERSON and MONROE COUNTIES – With one week to go before the May 5 Republican primary, incumbent State Rep. Ron Ferguson is drawing sharp lines between himself and challenger Frank Hoagland — framing the race as a choice between Eastern Ohio and Columbus, and pointing to what he says is a flood of out-of-district money backing his opponent.
Ferguson, who represents Ohio’s 96th House District covering all of Jefferson and Monroe counties and a portion of Belmont County, spoke with River News for an interview touching on campaign finance, policy contrasts, and the political forces he believes are trying to unseat him. Former State Senator Frank Hoagland is challenging him for the Republican nomination.
The incumbent state representative tells River News that out-of-state PAC money — including ties to sports gambling giant DraftKings — is fueling his opponent’s campaign ahead of the primary.
Three out-of-state PACs, and a DraftKings connection
Ferguson devoted significant time to what he described as a troubling pattern of outside money flowing into Hoagland’s campaign — money he said is traceable to out-of-state political action committees with ties to the Ohio House speaker’s political operation.
Ferguson identified three PACs he says are running mail, television, and digital advertising on Hoagland’s behalf. Two — GoPac and the Hometown Freedom Action Network — he said are spending money in the race, though he acknowledged knowing less about their specific activity. The third, the American Conservative Fund, he described as the most significant player.
“That one has spent over half a million dollars,” Ferguson said. “They are mostly funded by the sports gambling group DraftKings.”
Ferguson said the American Conservative Fund has been linked to candidates backed by Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, and that a Cleveland Plain Dealer article has previously reported on the group’s involvement in statehouse races.
“Nearly all of his money was raised from out of district. Mine is nearly all within the district. It’s like the complete inverse,” Ferguson said.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office last week, Ferguson said, further illustrate the contrast. “Nearly all of his money was raised from out of district,” he said. “Mine is nearly all within the district. It’s like the complete inverse.”
Voters can review any candidate’s filings directly at the Ohio Secretary of State’s campaign finance portal here.
‘Columbus pick’ vs. ‘Eastern Ohio pick’
Ferguson said he stands for the Ohio Valley while Hoagland stands for Columbus issues.
“He’s the Columbus pick. I’m the Eastern Ohio pick. That’s really this race in a nutshell.”— State Rep. Ron Ferguson
Ferguson wasted little time drawing the contrast he says defines the race. Pointing to comments Hoagland made during a live debate on River News’ Dimitri! Live and Dangerously Local, Ferguson said his opponent acknowledged on air that he was recruited to run by Columbus — a fact Ferguson is now highlighting in his closing TV advertising.
ICYMI: Sparks Fly During Fiery GOP House 96 Debate on the River News Dimitri Show
“He was recruited by Columbus. That was something he said in his own words,” Ferguson said. “These things are running in my last TV ad because there’s nothing more impactful than his own words. He said he was asked to run by Columbus. He’s the Columbus pick. I’m the Eastern Ohio pick. That’s really this race in a nutshell.”
Hoagland, for his part, said during a previous debate that he had no idea what “America First” meant — a comment Ferguson says underscores the ideological divide between them. “We both know that I’m the America First guy,” Ferguson said.
Policy distinctions: taxes, gun rights, women’s sports
Ferguson also said he is the only candidate in the race who has voted to remove biological males from women’s sports competitions, and that he drew a meaningful contrast on property taxes. “He’s been firmly on the record saying that he does not want to do away with property taxes,” Ferguson said. “I do support that idea.”
On taxes, Ferguson accused Hoagland of voting to raise the state gas tax by 10.5 cents per gallon — a vote he says reflects a fundamental difference in fiscal philosophy. “I have voted no on every single tax increase,” Ferguson said. “Frank Hoagland voted to raise our gas tax 10.5 a gallon — big distinction there on taxes.”
Ferguson’s stated distinctions from Hoagland
- Claims 100% Second Amendment rating from major gun rights organizations
- Passed and codified President Trump’s Hospital Price Transparency Act into Ohio law
- Supports elimination of property taxes; Hoagland has opposed the idea on the record
- Voted to bar biological males from competing in women’s sports
- Says he has voted no on every tax increase presented in Columbus
- Says Hoagland voted to raise Ohio’s gas tax by 10.5 cents per gallon
Beyond the geographic and political identity contrast, Ferguson cited a series of policy differences he believes separate him from Hoagland among Republican primary voters.
What’s at stake May 5
The winner of the Republican primary in the 96th District will be heavily favored in the general election in a region that has voted overwhelmingly Republican in recent cycles. The district’s voters — spread across Jefferson, Monroe, and part of Belmont County — will head to the polls on May 5.
Ferguson closed by framing the choice in simple terms. “It’s going to make the decision: is it going to be Columbus, or is it going to be the 96th district? That’s the race in a nutshell.”
