Obergefell raising more money than Swearingen so far

SANDUSKY — Jim Obergefell has outraised incumbent state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, so far in the Ohio House District 89 race in Erie, Ottawa and Huron counties. A civil rights hero for many because of his activism for same-sex marriage, Obergefell listed more than 1,400 contributions from all over the country in a campaign finance report last month, including a contribution from "Star Trek" actor and gay rights proponent George Takei. "I think that just speaks to the fact that people see me as someone who does the right thing, someone who fights for something that's good," Obergefell said while campaigning at the Erie County Fair. "People see my name, they see I'm running, and they say, 'I like what this guy stands for.'" Swearingen, who has described himself as a local candidate focused on local issues, quoted an AP story saying that Obergefell is supported by "a host of deep-pocketed national progressive groups." Campaign finance reports filed late last month at the Ohio Secretary of State's office show that Obergefell, a Perkins Township Democrat, reported contributions of $215,266 with $200 carried forward from earlier. It showed he has spent $72,282 so far and had $143,184 on hand. He reported in-kind contributions of $1,653. Swearingen reported that he carried over $102,827 from earlier and had $46,880 of contributions. He reported spending $42,686 so far with $107,021 on hand. He reported $134 of in-kind contributions. The two candidates are running in a redrawn Ohio House District 89 that includes much of Erie County, although not eastern Erie County. It also includes much of Ottawa County and most of Huron County, although Norwalk and the northeast area of Huron County are in House District 54, represented by state Rep. Dick Stein, R-Norwalk. Swearingen, an attorney, was appointed in 2019 to fill the unexpired term of former state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton. He won a two-year term in 2020. Obergefell has received national news coverage for his first race for public office and is well-known as the plaintiff in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S. Obergefell's list of contributions shows that he received many small contributions from people all over the U.S., with campaign donations as small as $1 and $1.50. Obergefell listed 1,418 separate contributions, the vast majority from outside Erie County, Obergefell's largest contribution is $13,704 from the Service Employees International Union PAC in Columbus, Ohio. Obergefell also listed six contributions he made to his own campaign, totaling about $1,853. He listed his profession as "candidate." Takei, of "Star Trek" fame, gave Obergefell $500. Takei listed his residence as Los Angeles, and his profession as "actor." Noted writer Andrew Tobias gave Obergefell $600 over two contributions. Obergefell's expenditures include a total of about $18,670 to Redfern+Rossi, a political campaign firm in Marblehead that features former Ohio Democratic Party chairman and former state representative Chris Redfern. Swearingen's "Friends of Swearingen" contribution listings listed only a few contributions with most large donations attributed to "Friends of Swearingen." The Register asked Swearingen why he doesn't have many contributors listed. "I welcome those willing to support of my campaign whether it's grassroots efforts or monetary donations. Each report is simply a snapshot of financial contributions at that point in the campaign cycle," Swearingen said. "My opponent is raising money from outside our district and outside our state from a donor base that one news source classified as far left progressive groups, I am not," he said.