Beagle, Derickson continue to pickup support in congressional race

THE CANDIDATES

Here are the candidates for the 8th Congressional District race in the special and general primary races on March 15:

The race to replace former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner as Ohio’s 8th Congressional District’s congressman is between two men — if it was all about the number of endorsements of local, county and state politicians.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES RUNNING TO REPLACE BOEHNER

In the last couple of weeks, Ohio Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, and Ohio Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., announced endorsements from politicos within the congressional district, which incorporates Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami and Preble counties, and part of Mercer County.

And both men continued their announcements on Monday.

Beagle and Derickson are among 15 Republicans attempting to win both the special and general primary congressional elections, which both will be held on March 15. The winner of the special primary goes on to the June 7 special general election and face the lone Democrat, Green Party member and any independent candidates to fill out the remainder of Boehner's unexpired term. Boehner resigned from Congress at the end of October.

The winner of the general primary election will move on to the Nov. 8 general election, and face the lone Democrat, Green Party member and any independent candidate, where the winner will start a new two-year congressional term.

Beagle’s campaign released a statement that all three of Darke County’s commissioners — Diane Delaplane, Mike Rhoades and Mike Stegall — have endorsed the Republican state senator.

A “grateful” Beagle said his campaign “will benefit greatly from their insights and respect among Darke County voters.”

This past Thursday, Beagle's campaign announced a business leader coalition that is being spearheaded by a trio of Clark County business leaders. Earlier on Jan. 11, Beagle's campaign announced that a pair of Ohio GOP Central Committee members who represent Miami, Preble and parts of Darke and Montgomery counties have endorsed the state senator.

While Beagle is picking up endorsements in other places in the 8th Congressional District, Derickson continues his attempt to draw the line in the political sand that Butler County is Derickson country. Butler County, Derickson’s home county, is the largest county within the 8th Congressional District.

Earlier this month, Derickson announced the endorsements of more than a dozen county- and state-level elected officials from Butler County, and on Monday he announced more than 50 current and former locally elected officials in the county have signed on to support Derickson along with several dozen local GOP leaders. Among the local leaders endorsing Derickson: Butler County mayors Larry Mulligan (Middletown), Steve Miller (Fairfield), Bob Routson (Monroe), and Calvin Woodrey (Trenton), and Butler County GOP Executive Chairman Todd Hall.

“These people know me. They know my values and what drives me to serve. I look forward to leading this team with the message of faith, family, freedom and hard-work,” Derickson said.

Derickson's biggest political endorsement to date, however, is Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield. He is the Senate President Pro Tempore, which makes him the Ohio Senate's No. 2 Republican.