HANOVERTON, Ohio — Republican state officeholders urged residents to vote Tuesday, telling them to share the GOP slate with their family and friends and stress the importance of this election.

“This is our time — this is Ohio’s time,” Gov. Mike DeWine told rallying supporters.

The entire slate of Ohio GOP state candidates, all incumbents already serving the citizens, arrived in Hanoverton on the Get Out The Vote bus Thursday afternoon as part of a two-day tour across Ohio, stumping for the Republican ticket, for U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson and U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance and the need to take control of the House and Senate in Washington.

“This race for the United States Senate may well determine which party controls the United States Senate, that’s what’s at stake, what your vote may determine,” DeWine said as he touted Vance and what he believes he’ll do for Ohio.

He said Vance couldn’t attend due to other obligations to raise funds for these last days of the election, but Vance rallied in Hanoverton just two weeks ago with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on the same stage.

All the candidates/incumbents had a chance to speak Thursday, including Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost, Auditor of State Keith Faber, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Treasurer of State Robert Sprague, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy, who’s seeking the Chief Justice spot, Ohio Supreme Court Justices Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine and U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson. State Sen. Mike Rulli, R-Salem, also spoke and Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson introduced 7th District Court of Appeal Judge candidate Mark Hanni and state Rep. candidates, Republican Monica Robb Blasdel, 79th District, and Independent Greg Beight, 59th District.

Their message was clear as they all contrasted the Ohio way with the Washington way, the Republican way vs. the Democrat way, talking about lower taxes and balanced budgets in Ohio and out-of-control spending and energy policies in Washington creating inflation and higher prices for everything.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted called DeWine the architect of the Ohio way of doing business, with more jobs than people to fill them, getting the Intel plant in Ohio and having the lowest taxes the state has had since the 1970s. He also talked about how President Biden has done everything to restrict the supply of the things needed the most, the oil and gas to power cars and tractors and now Biden’s complaining about the high gas prices.

“This inflation is a Washington problem and Joe Biden created it,” Husted said.

DeWine talked about Ohio being a state that balances the budget, a state that’s a manufacturing state and a state of hard workers. He said companies are looking for people who want to work and have the skills.

When he first took office, he asked for officeholders to “invest in our people, I’m going to ask you to invest in the education of our people.”

DeWine talked about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and how his wife, Fran, has promoted the program across the state. She reported over 50 percent of kids under age 5 statewide are getting a book every month for free — that’s 378,000 kids — more than any other state in the country.

He talked about putting an emphasis on early childhood education, prenatal care and post-natal care to ensure kids get a good start in life, on career centers to prepare kids for their futures.

“What we want is for them to find something in life that they love to do, find something in life that they have a passion to do and then get the training, get the education, whatever they need so they can do that every day, live out their passion and their own version of the American dream,” DeWine said.

He talked about the importance of voting, how it’s essential to the country and Democracy for people to feel when they go vote, that they can have an impact.

During the rally, tractors lined both ends of Plymouth Street once again, bringing attention to Franklin Against Kensington Solar (FAKS), a grassroots group of farmers and residents who oppose the proposed solar panel project that will surround Summitville.

When asked about the project, DeWine didn’t say one way or the other how he felt about it, but said the Power Siting Board has been told to look to the local community when reviewing projects. He said it depends on what the local community wants, what the county commissioners want, what the township trustees want or the village council, or the residents.

“Tell people, whatever your position is on this, make it known,” DeWine said.

Diane Brown, a co-chair of FAKS, said “we’re not against solar in general, just not there,” adding that the location is not the right place for it.

David Johnson also spoke out against the project. As for the election, in his 30 years as GOP chairman, he said he can’t remember an election as important as this one for Ohio, especially the Ohio Supreme Court. Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Paduchik, who also spoke at the rally, echoed the importance of bringing back all three justices.

Fischer offered attendees a “four for the price of three deal,” explaining that if Kennedy is elected Chief Justice, her seat will become open, with the governor choosing the new justice to take her place. That would give the Republicans the conservative majority on the court.

The Supreme Court Justices and several other speakers also spoke about the importance of approving state Issue 1, to return power to judges to take the safety of the community in mind when determining bail.

Once again, the Spread Eagle Tavern served as the rallying point for county Republicans, with David Johnson saying it’s wonderful how the restaurant lends itself as a great spot for campaign stump stops.

He also spoke highly of the governor and how much time DeWine has spent in the county, from when he was Lt. Governor, to U.S. Senator, to Ohio Attorney General and governor.

Election Day is Tuesday, with the polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with in-person voting also available at county boards of elections all weekend at different times.