Tea party targets Akron-area GOP incumbents LaRose, Joyce in May primary
The Republican Party is in the midst of a civil war, and two key battles are being fought in the Akron area.
Two GOP freshmen who have connections to the civility movement are under fire from tea party opponents, one over federal policy on spending and health care, and the other over social issues, among them gay marriage and abortion.
U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, whose 14th District includes the northeast quarter of Summit County and much of the state to the north and east, will be challenged in the May 6 Republican Primary by State Rep. Matt Lynch. Lynch is backed by FreedomWorks, a tea party-supporting conservative action group. Joyce has the backing of the Main Street Partnership, founded by his predecessor, moderate Republican Steve LaTourette, who left Congress disgusted with the partisan rancor.
State Sen. Frank LaRose, in Ohios 27th District, represents much of western and northern Summit County, all of Wayne and western Stark County. A leader of a bipartisan legislative civility effort in Ohio and known for collaborating with Democrats on legislation, he faces first-time candidate Caleb Davenport. Davenport is campaigning on a pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-business agenda.
Both sides see the two races as nothing less than determining the future of the party, especially with tea party candidates also running for Republican State Central Committee seats against party-faithful candidates.
If they can raise the money from their benefactors to make sure no tea party candidates win, they will have total control of the party, said Tom Zawistowski, executive director of the Portage County TEA Party, whose group is backing Lynch and Davenport. We will have to start our own party or go somewhere else.
Ohio GOP spokesman Chris Schrimpf, however, said the tea party is misguided in its choice to challenge these incumbents, who both have good, conservative records and have been endorsed by the state party. Schrimpf predicts victories for Joyce and LaRose and damage to the credibility of Zawistowski, who mounted an unsuccessful attempt to chair the state Republican Party last year.
You will see once again that Tom Z does not represent the tea party, Schrimpf said. I think he speaks for himself and he speaks for some individuals ... The tea party is a diverse group that isnt represented by one voice.
The winner in the 14th and 27th district primaries will face Democratic competition in the Nov. 4 election. Both Democratic candidates are unopposed in the primary.
14th District
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Tea party targets Akron-area GOP incumbents LaRose, Joyce in May primary