T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Republican Party Chairman David Jones introduces the keynote speaker during the Belmont County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday evening at the Shepard Farm Barn and Event Center.

BETHESDA — A call to raise enthusiasm and get out the vote for the upcoming November midterm election was placed front and center during the Belmont County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday evening.

Keynote speaker Robert A. Paduchik, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, emphasized key races at all levels.

Paduchik said there is considerable grassroots support for the GOP in counties along the Ohio River, adding that the majority of local offices are held by Republicans.

He contrasted this with the 1980s and with the 2000 presidential election, when Democrat candidate Al Gore won support in Ohio.

“The rural vote is where it’s at. It’s people like you that help us win elections,” he said.

Paduchik said one goal is for a Republican to fill the outgoing U.S. Sen. Rob Portman’s seat. Portman, a Cincinnati-area Republican, opted not to seek re-election.

Paduchik also underlined the importance of conservative Ohio Supreme Court justices.

“It’s really important that we keep the court,” Paduchik said, adding this is especially true due to the ongoing conflict about redistricting.

“It really shows the importance … that we have good Republicans on the state Supreme Court, and I might add Republicans who read the law as it is written, not rewrite it the way they would like it to be. That is what is happening with this redistricting,” he said, then accused Democrats of attempting to gerrymander an advantage.

The state Supreme Court ruled repeatedly that maps drawn by the Republican-dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission were unconstitutional.

Paduchik leveled criticism against the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrat Party officials, saying the last year-and-a-half has been a series of mismanagements. He spoke about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was immediately retaken by the Taliban with numerous casualties including 13 U.S. service personnel. Paduchik said Russia began the invasion of Ukraine under the Biden and Harris leadership. He also pointed to illegal immigration at the southern border.

“We have just had in the first year-and-a-half … one disaster after another,” he said. “Think about today, if you go into a grocery store. Think about what you have to pay. … You look at the cost of gasoline to fill your tank.”

Paduchik said Biden has not been the moderate leader signaling a return to normalcy that some voters expected.

“What we have is an administration that has bought in completely to failed policies … driven by the most radical wing of the Democrat Party,” he said. “The Democrat Party has lost its mind. It’s being run by the most radical elements. … That’s why we continue to win elections here in Ohio.”

He is optimistic about the midterms.

“They’re incapable of governing, and the American people know this. We see it in the polling,” he said. “There’s a tsunami coming. A red wave of anger at the failure of the Biden and Harris administration and the Democrats in Congress.

Paduchik referred to his experience in GOP presidential campaigns, having served as a senior adviser for former president Donald Trump’s re-election campaign as well as campaigns of former President George W. Bush, Portman, Gov. Mike DeWine and others.

He said the GOP has invested heavily in data modeling and analytics to target likely voter groups. He said other components of campaigns the GOP will assist with include outreach to early voters, grassroots efforts and monitoring election integrity at the polls.

David Jones, chairman of the Belmont County Republican Party, said close to 140 people attended the dinner. He commented on the local enthusiasm.

“It was a great night. The speaker, he kind of laid it out,” he said. “They’re waiting for the election. Probably some more changes will be made. Especially in November. I think there’s going to be lots of changes made, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Kelly McCabe, retired director of the Belmont County Board of Elections, was inducted into the county GOP Hall of Fame.