Motorsports

Ohio Democratic Party Chair resigning ahead of 2026 midterm

The Ohio Democratic Party will be looking for a new leader heading into next year’s election. Liz Walters is resigning as the chair of the Ohio Democratic Party after four years leading the party, she said this week in an exclusive interview with Signal. She is leaving to take a job as CEO of TargetSmart, […]

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1 month ago

May 7, 2025

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The Ohio Democratic Party will be looking for a new leader heading into next year’s election.

Liz Walters is resigning as the chair of the Ohio Democratic Party after four years leading the party, she said this week in an exclusive interview with Signal. She is leaving to take a job as CEO of TargetSmart, a prominent Democratic political data firm in Washington, D.C.

Walters said party leaders are looking to hold a meeting on June 10 to pick her replacement. She said she will remain in her job until then. She also will remain in her position on Summit County Council and on the Ohio Democratic Party’s executive committee. Her new job is all-virtual and won’t require her to move.

Walters said she wasn’t necessarily looking for another job, but she feels good about leaving the party in its current financial and structural state.

“For a whole host of reasons, both professional and personal, this is the right move for me,” Walters said, emphasizing she is not being forced out of her job.

Walters said she expects candidates will emerge quickly to replace her. She said ODP likely will hold two forums for voting committee members. She said she expects activist groups, such as the Indivisible and Ohio Young Democrats to push for candidate forums.

The change will come as state Democrats try to gear up for the 2026 elections. Nationally, Democrats are hoping to capitalize on the traditional backlash to the ruling party and retake control of the U.S. House and reach for a much harder path to regain control of the U.S. Senate.

In Ohio, voters will choose a successor to Gov. Mike DeWine, who can’t seek re-election because of term-limits. Voters will also have to decide whether to let Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted finish the final two years of Vice President JD Vance’s term. Jennifer Brunner, the lone remaining Democrat to hold a statewide office, will also be on the ballot next year.

What does the chair of the Ohio Democratic Party do?

The Ohio Democratic Party is the umbrella organization for all the Democratic Party organizations in Ohio. The party chair’s biggest role is fundraising, since the party exists to support candidates and party-supported issues during elections. ODP’s biggest expenses include political mailers that are sent to voters using a special bulk mailing rate under. Under the chair’s direction, state party staff work on candidate recruitment, volunteer organizing and advertising. The position’s stature has diminished in recent years as state Democrats have become less politically competitive, reducing the state’s prominence in national political campaigns.

Walters has run the party since January 2021, when she got the job with the support of Sherrod Brown, the longtime former U.S. Senator who lost his election in November. Party leaders often, but not always, are closely affiliated with a state party’s most prominent politician. Walters was the first woman to hold the position.

Brown issued a statement for this story praising Walters for her tenure as party chair.

“I’m grateful to Chairwoman Walters for her service to Ohio Democrats over the past four and a half years,” Brown said. “Whether it was beating back attempts to take power away from Ohio voters and hand it to politicians, enshrining abortion rights in our state constitution or standing alongside our labor leaders as we fought for the Dignity of Work, Chair Walters has been a strong and effective advocate for working Ohioans. I’m grateful for her work throughout two very challenging election cycles and while I’ll miss her leadership at the state party, I’m looking forward to seeing how she continues to serve our state.”

What happened during Walters’ tenure?

When she became state party chair, Walters was seen as a rising star in Democratic circles, having been elected to Summit County Council in 2016 and working in top positions in the state party before that. She took over for David Pepper, who resigned following the November 2020 election.

The assignment was a difficult one. Ohio for decades was the country’s quintessential swing state. But it’s been trending toward Republicans over the last decade or more, particularly since Donald Trump’s first election as president in 2016.

Walters launched a long-term turnaround plan, telling reporters the party needed to rebuild some of its county parties and do a better job attacking Republicans while differentiating itself from the national party. She also sold the party’s longtime headquarters in downtown Columbus in 2021, moving last year to a new leased location on the city’s near east side. But these tweaks have done little to fix the big-picture political trends that pose the biggest problems for Ohio Democrats: the erosion of support among of union voters in traditional manufacturing communities and the party’s complete collapse in rural areas.

The two major statewide election cycles under Walters’ leadership have been failures for state Democrats. The party was swept in the 2022 election, including a crushing 25 percentage-point loss in the governor’s race. In 2024, Trump won Ohio by 11 points, while Brown and two Democratic Ohio Supreme Court justices, Michael Donnelly and Melody Stewart, lost their positions. The lone remaining statewide elected Democratic is Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, whose term expires next year. A silver lining to both elections was that Democrats won all three of the state’s competitive congressional districts in the 2022 election and held the seats in 2024.

Democrats have seen a clear source of success though: ballot issues.

In 2023, a campaign coalesced that sought to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution in response to the backlash of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade the previous year.

Voters approved the measure in November, and also defeated a related measure Republicans put up for a vote in August that was meant to block the abortion-rights amendment. In the same November election, voters also approved a ballot measure that made recreational marijuana use legal.

Walters and other party leaders hoped to build off of 2023’s success for the 2024 election. But Democrats lost all their statewide races, and voters also defeated an amendment that would have reduced Republicans’ power to draw the state’s state legislative and congressional maps.

What’s next for Ohio Democrats?

The party will have to get its 2026 ticket in order.

The Republican field is rapidly coming into focus. Vivek Ramaswamy in strong position to win the GOP nomination for governor, and Husted facing no opponent. But the Democratic candidate slate remains unsettled. The lone Democrat running for governor is Dr. Amy Acton, DeWine’s former state health department director. Many potential Democratic candidates are waiting to see whether a more proven candidate will emerge to lead the Democratic ticket, with Brown’s name at the list.

Walters, who’s trying to sell national Democratic donors on investing in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, said her party will have plenty to work with.

“The last time Donald Trump was in the White House, we won a competitive Senate election,” Walters said. “We got within [three points] in the governor’s race against a politician who had more name recognition than Joe Biden. And this time around, Gov. DeWine won’t be at the top of the ticket, Republicans will be inseparable from an unpopular administration, and there’s what looks to be like a $600 million giveaway to a football team owner.”

So, she added, “I think we’ll have a lot to work with next year.”

Jockeying begins for party leadership

Being the leader of a state political party is a thankless job. But that’s not stopping people from immediately lobbying for Walters’ position.

State Sen. Bill Demora, a Columbus Democrat and longtime party operative, said he’s running for the job. In an interview, he said he heard Walters was stepping down on Tuesday and immediately started making calls and putting together meetings. One person he said he has not spoken with is Brown, whom has had a large influence over the process in previous years.

Demora said he believes Democratic voters want their leaders to fight. He said some of the party’s challenges have been due to weak candidates.

Demora has run for the ODP chair multiple times in the past, and each time has been asked to drop out and support someone else, including Walters in 2021.

“If they need someone who can do it better, than I will consider that,” Demora said. “But I think I’m the person for the job. I think the job needs a pit bull right now, and that’s who I am.”

This story has been updated to include comments from Bill Demora

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Van Gisbergen’s win in Mexico City locks up playoff spot

Associated Press | Associated Press Mexico City – Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track – this one the iconic Mexico City road course – to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era. The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos […]

Published

3 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Associated Press
| Associated Press

Mexico City – Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track – this one the iconic Mexico City road course – to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory and Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

“Man, that was epic,” he said.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series – he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride – Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.

He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the BetMGM betting favorite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining.

And, he won feeling under the weather. He was ill before the start of the race in what was a bizarre weekend for him. He was one of the drivers stranded in North Carolina on Thursday when his chartered plane suffered a mechanical issue on takeoff and the team was stranded until Friday morning.

Van Gisbergen arrived in Mexico City early Friday morning but was still awaiting many crew members. Then he got sick late Saturday and was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race.

“I felt pretty rubbish today, leaking out both holes, that wasn’t fun,” Van Gisbergen said. “Our car was amazing. That last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.”

He admitted after the race he’d texted with four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen about the intricacies of the Mexico City circuit.

“A little bit in the wet – just what lines to take and how to approach it,” he said. “What a guy.”

Van Gisbergen then did his traditional rugby-style celebration by drop-kicking a signed football into the grandstands.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers – Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen – locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just wasn’t in the cards,” Suarez said.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR – 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Formula One

George Russell won his first race of the Formula 1 season as the Mercedes driver held off defending race winner Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday in Montreal.

It was the fourth victory of Russell’s career, and the race ended under yellow when McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris staged a wheel-to-wheel late battle that ended with Norris hitting the wall.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step,” Russell said. “I felt last year was a victory lost, so to get the victory and see (teammate) Kimi (Antonelli) on the podium, too, is an amazing day for the team. I think it shows the strength of our cars in the cooler conditions, so let’s see in the coming races.”

Russell started on pole for the second consecutive year in Montreal and held the advantage for most of the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The British driver became the fourth race winner this year, joining points leader leader Piastri, Norris and Verstappen, the four-time reigning F1 champion.

Verstappen, who has one more race to go before points drop off his license and eliminate the possibility of a one-race suspension, was satisfied with his second-place finish.

“Was quite a good race, even though in the first two stints we were struggling with the tires,” the Dutchman said. “We hung in there in the final stint. That was the maximum we could have achieved today.”

Mercedes rookie Antonelli finished third behind Verstappen for his first F1 podium.

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Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the modern era. A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a day late, and after […]

Published

4 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the modern era.

A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a day late, and after winning the pole Saturday, the New Zealander fell seriously ill.

He was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race, unsure he’d be able to physically complete the 100-lap event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

But there’s something special about the Kiwi and new venues, especially in the rain, and he salvaged the weekend by winning on the road course to earn an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs.

Van Gisbergen led 60 of 100 laps and beat Christopher Bell by 16.567 seconds.

Shane Van Gisbergen celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodriguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

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“I tried to treat it like when I go to Asia, just drink bottled water and be careful in the shower and brush your teeth with bottled water, but I just went downhill,” Van Gisbergen said. “Couldn’t keep anything in. Everything just went straight through me. I felt really queasy and my mind was there, but my body just had so much pressure in my stomach. Crazy weekend and everyone dug deep.”

It was the second Cup Series victory of his career. He won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago — a victory that changed his career trajectory. Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City revived his season and gives him a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

“It means everything to us, this is why I’m here,” Van Gisbergen said. “I am getting better and more competitive. We’re really making a lot of progress.”

Van Gisbergen celebrated in his traditional rugby-style way — he drop-kicked a signed football into the grandstands and then said he had recovered enough to enjoy “some Red Bulls mixed with adult beverages” later Sunday.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just wasn’t in the cards,” Suarez said. “Every single thing about this weekend exceeded my expectations, the people, the fans, the sponsors, the excitement, the energy.

“I had expectations for this weekend, not the results but, like, the event, and I can tell you that I personally exceeded those expectations,” he added. “So very, very happy for that. Very blessed. I hope that we can do it many more times.”

Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.

Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Stenhouse vs. Hocevar

The ongoing feud between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar continued after the race as a furious Stenhouse reached inside Hocevar’s cockpit on pit road.

He seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his helmet as Stenhouse walked away. It wasn’t clear what Stenhouse was upset about, but he’s been furious with Hocevar for three consecutive weeks, dating to contact between the two at Nashville.

Hocevar’s in-car camera captured the audio of the confrontation.

“I’m going to beat your (butt),” Stenhouse threatened. “You’re a lap down, you’ve got nothing to do. Why you run right into me? It’s the second time. I’m going to beat your (butt) when we get back to the States.”

Hocevar said after the race he couldn’t really hear Stenhouse.

“I know he was very mad and I was very apologetic,” Hocevar said. “I got in the marbles and slid a lot longer than I expected to. Number one, not somebody I would ever want to hit again. But number two, I was basically just logging laps. I tried to turn left and avoid him. Just a really sloppy day for me.”

Gordon gives command

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.

Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.

“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!

Up Next

NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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Shane Van Gisbergen wins NASCAR race in Mexico City

The Trackhouse Racing driver dominated the event for his second Cup Series victory. MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Shane Van Gisbergen is making a habit of winning inaugural road course races in iconic cities. Van Gisbergen dominated Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. It’s the second win of his career […]

Published

29 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Trackhouse Racing driver dominated the event for his second Cup Series victory.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Shane Van Gisbergen is making a habit of winning inaugural road course races in iconic cities.

Van Gisbergen dominated Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. It’s the second win of his career — he won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course in 2023. Van Gisbergen dealt with an illness and had his weekend delayed by aircraft issues in Charlotte.

“I felt pretty rubbish today… that wasn’t fun,” Van Gisbergen said. “Our car was amazing… what a pleasure to rip lap after lap and watch [the competitors] get smaller in the mirror.”

Christopher Bell finished in second, over 16 seconds behind Van Gisbergen. Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five.

The only other driver who challenged Van Gisbergen throughout the event was Ty Gibbs, who was trapped deep in the field after a caution flag fell during the last pit cycle. Gibbs finished 11th.

Van Gisbergen started on the pole and rarely left the lead throughout the 100-lap race.

Rain forced a caution after the first lap as most teams opted to switch to wet-weather tires. The next caution came on lap eight when Kyle Busch spun around and collected Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and Justin Haley.

Ryan Preece won the first stage by staying off pit road as the leaders opted to get tires before the stage break.

The most crucial moment of the race came around lap 63. Van Gisbergen hit pit road for his final pit stop of the day while others, including Gibbs, stayed on the track. A spin by Carson Hocevar on lap 65 brought out a caution, dooming the day for Gibbs and others, and allowing Van Gisbergen to regain the lead.

Sunday’s race was the first ever for the NASCAR Cup Series in Mexico. The series has not raced outside of the United States in a points-paying event since 1958 in Toronto, Canada. The NASCAR Xfinity Series raced at the 2.42-mile Mexico City track from 2005 to 2008 before returning on Saturday. Daniel Suárez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, won Saturday’s race and finished 19th on Sunday after being shuffled back by strategy.

After traveling to new territory, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to a place it’s raced at over 90 times next weekend at Pocono Raceway. Ryan Blaney is the defending winner.

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NASCAR Transcripts: Chase Elliott – 6.15.25 – Speedway Digest

Q. What a strong final run of the day for Chase Elliott, winds up third. It seemed chaotic from our seat. How was it from behind the wheel? CHASE ELLIOTT: The restart was for sure, and yeah, I felt like we were in a really good spot. I was super excited about having tires and […]

Published

45 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

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Q. What a strong final run of the day for Chase Elliott, winds up third. It seemed chaotic from our seat. How was it from behind the wheel?

CHASE ELLIOTT: The restart was for sure, and yeah, I felt like we were in a really good spot. I was super excited about having tires and getting ourselves to — we got in front of the 54 and I thought, to be honest, that was going to be the race for the win there initially.

Yeah, got clear of the 1 and the 42, I think, and started settling in, and I didn’t have anything left. I was kind of cooked after that.

Yeah, I think we just pressed so hard to try to get through traffic that we — yeah, when it got singled out, I didn’t have a lot of pace left. I felt like I gained on him there for a little while, but it was pretty tough sledding to get to that point. We pressed on. Really proud of our LLumar Chevy group for sticking with it.

We were kind of up and down all day and finally got going there a few runs from the end and Al made us a good call to get us on tires. Finally had a restart go halfway decent and got a decent top 3 out of it.

Q. What would you say about this track and how it raced today and all the conditions you guys had to work through, the rain and dry and everything?

CHASE ELLIOTT: Yeah, I mean, there was a lot going on for sure. Certainly from the restarts. But once it singled out, it really became a normal road course, I thought.

But the restarts were crazy. You get in those situations and it’s just so tough because it’s like you don’t want to be the one to run in there and kind of gouge people out of the way, and as soon as you don’t, you get gouged from behind.

I don’t love that, but that’s kind of what we got now, these bumpers are so strong. It’s kind of just chaos there for a few laps until we can get single filed out and then it gets pretty fun.

NASCAR PR

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NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250

The victory punches van Gisbergen’s ticket into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs during his first full-time season with the series. He previously won the inaugural Grant Park 165 on the Chicago Street Circuit in 2023. The next stop for the NASCAR Cup Series is Pocono Raceway for The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM. […]

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1 hour ago

June 16, 2025

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The next stop for the NASCAR Cup Series is Pocono Raceway for The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM. The race on Sunday, June 22 takes the green flag at 2 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

-Photo credit: Jim Fluharty, HHP for Chevy Racing

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NASCAR Transcripts: Shane Van Gisbergen – 6.15.25 – Speedway Digest

Q. Welcome to the playoffs, Shane Van Gisbergen! You told me yesterday a win fixes our year, but you’ve faced so much adversity this entire weekend when you think about it, the travel issues, not feeling well before the race, and then the rain today. What was the biggest challenge? SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: You listed […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: You listed them all, man. What a week. I’ve really enjoyed myself here. I felt pretty rubbish today leaking out both holes. That wasn’t fun. Thank you to SafetyCulture, Trackhouse, Chevy, and ECR engines. Our car was amazing. I think the 54 was close, but that last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.

Q. I’ve never heard a driver stop telling me to slow down. Was this the best race car you’ve ever sat in?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: It’s certainly up there. I’ve been privileged to have some great ones in my time, but when I go slow I just lose concentration, so I was trying to stay in a rhythm and a routine, and Josh and Stephen are doing such a great job keeping me calm and focused, and man, that was epic.

Q. We were hanging out this morning and you were texting your good friend Max Verstappen. Your talent was clear today, but did he give you any tips that wound up helping?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: Yeah, a little bit in the wet. Just what lines to take and how to approach it. Yeah, what a guy. I don’t know how he went today, but hopefully he went well, and hopefully I get this thing over the fence.

NASCAR PR

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