The blue is seeing red: Ohio FOP backs all-Republican statewide ticket after years of endorsing Democrats

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police endorsed an all-Republican statewide ticket this week, marking a significant shift for the state’s largest law enforcement union after it backed mostly Democratic statewide candidates just eight years ago.

The endorsements include Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, who is running for attorney general, and the GOP’s two Ohio Supreme Court candidates. The union said it is the first time in recent memory it has endorsed an entirely Republican statewide slate.

The endorsement reflects a broader political realignment within one of Ohio’s largest public employee unions. In 2018, the Ohio FOP endorsed seven of eight Democratic statewide candidates. By 2022, that number had fallen to one. The union also endorsed former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown twice before remaining neutral in his unsuccessful 2024 Senate race against Republican Bernie Moreno.

Ohio FOP President Jay McDonald said members increasingly believe Republican candidates have demonstrated stronger support for law enforcement.

“Our people see what they believe to be attacks on law enforcement, and those attacks often come from the Democrat Party,” McDonald told Signal Ohio.

McDonald said those concerns are directed primarily at national Democratic leaders rather than the Democratic candidates currently running for statewide office in Ohio.

Candidates from both political parties sought the union’s endorsement through a process that included written questionnaires, in-person interviews and meetings with FOP members before delegates voted during the organization’s annual convention this week.

The union’s endorsement of Faber for attorney general also marks a notable break from recent history. According to the Ohio FOP, it has not endorsed a Republican attorney general candidate in two decades.

Although Republicans strained relations with police unions after supporting 2011 legislation limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, McDonald said Faber earned the organization’s backing because of his previous work with law enforcement while serving as president of the Ohio Senate.

“We believe he’ll be a law-and-order AG, and that’s what we’re looking for,” McDonald said.

Ramaswamy thanked the union for its endorsement, describing it as a major milestone for his campaign following what he said was a rigorous evaluation process.

“I am very honored to receive today’s endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio,” Ramaswamy said in a campaign statement. “This is a big deal and a monumental endorsement from the largest union representing police officers in our state.”

In a video posted on X, Ramaswamy praised law enforcement officers while contrasting his approach with critics of policing.

“Great group of men and women in blue,” Ramaswamy said. “Some people like to villainize them; I like to celebrate them.”

The endorsement also broadens Ramaswamy’s coalition beyond business groups. Earlier this month, he received endorsements from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Political Action Committee.

Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton continues to consolidate support among organized labor.

This month, the Ohio Iron Workers Association endorsed Acton, joining the Ohio AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, Ohio State Council of Machinists, Ohio Nurses Association, United Steelworkers District 1, Service Employees International Union District 1199, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, United Mine Workers of America and numerous regional building trades councils.

The Iron Workers Association said it endorsed Acton because of her commitment to lowering costs, expanding union jobs and opposing right-to-work legislation. Earlier this month, the Ohio State Council of Machinists also endorsed her campaign, citing many of the same priorities.

The endorsements illustrate a divide within organized labor this election cycle. While many traditional labor unions have rallied behind Acton, Ohio’s largest law enforcement union has shifted decisively toward the Republican ticket after years of backing Democratic statewide candidates.