Utility That Bribed Ohio Regulators Secretly Bankrolled Republican Mike DeWines 2018 Gubernatorial Bid, Records Show Mother Jones [Video]

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This story was produced by Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action.

In 2018, the Akron, Ohio-based utility FirstEnergy donated $2.5 million to a Republican Governors Association-affiliated dark money group backing GOP nominee Mike DeWine in a competitive race for Ohio governor, according to newly released records.

The records show FirstEnergy’s extensive behind-the-scenes work to get DeWine elected. “This Fall Governor race is very important to FirstEnergy from both a legislative and regulatory perspective and getting Mike across the finish line is critical,” then-CEO Chuck Jones wrote in an August 14, 2018 email invitation to a DeWine fundraiser.