The grassroots tradition of Ohio Farm Bureau members engaging with candidates seeking to fill open seats within the General Assembly continued to be a successful process, even as members and candidates adapted to a much longer primary election season. Throughout the year, members were tasked with reviewing their current representatives as part of the incumbent Friend of Agriculture process, while also screening new candidates seeking office. 

The Friend of Agriculture designations were announced in the 2022 Farm Bureau AGGPAC Election Guide, included in the October issue of Buckeye Farm News.

Friend of Ag candidate J.D. Vance was successful in his bid for the U.S. Senate, replacing retiring Sen. Rob Portman.

Statewide incumbents were successful in the other top of ticket races, with the re-election of Gov. Mike DeWine, Dave Yost retaining his role as attorney general, Auditor Keith Faber’s win, Frank LaRose remaining secretary of state, and Treasurer Robert Sprague winning over voters on Election Day.

Ohio Farm Bureau Friend of Ag designations held true to their history of successful indicators, with a 92% success rate for all legislative candidates named a Friend of Ag in the 2022 general election.

The open seat candidates that Farm Bureau members screened saw an 84% success rate in their races, while farm-friendly candidates saw even greater success among the incumbents of the General Assembly, with 96% of those candidates retaining their seats. 

In the race for the three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court, Friend of Ag candidate Sharon Kennedy emerged successful in her bid for Ohio Supreme Court chief justice, while Pat DeWine and Patrick Kennedy, incumbents and Friends of Ag, won to continue their roles on the Ohio Supreme Court.

As a nonpartisan organization dedicated to serving the best interests of farm families throughout Ohio, Farm Bureau looks forward to its members being able to continue to develop strong relationships with their elected officials. As traditions go, there are few as time-tested as Ohio Farm Bureau members working closely with their leaders to shape agricultural policy in the Buckeye State.

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