Leslie H. Wexner’s decision in mid-September to quit the Republican Party and become an independent appears to have made an impact on his political giving.

For years, the L Brands CEO has been a major Republican donor in Ohio. Along with his wife, Abigail, the Wexners have given about $1.9 million to Ohio campaigns and parties since 2013. Over the years, Leslie Wexner has given the vast majority of his donations to Republicans; Abigail gives more often to Democrats, typically in smaller amounts.

But since he spoke recently during a panel discussion about civility, when Wexner told an audience at Miranova’s Ivory Room, “I’m an independent. I won’t support this nonsense in the Republican Party,” Wexner’s political giving has started to diversify.

According to a pre-General Election campaign-finance report released Thursday, Wexner gave $10,000 to the Ohio House Democratic caucus, and another $10,000 to House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton. That is the first time he has ever given to either of them, and his first direct donations to any Democrat in at least five years.

In addition, Abigail Wexner gave $5,000 to Strahorn and $5,000 to the House Democrats.

But Les Wexner hasn’t abandoned Republicans, at least not when it comes to writing checks. He gave $10,000 to Speaker Ryan Smith, R-Bidwell, and $10,000 each to the Senate and House Republican caucuses.

DeWine loan

Democrats are criticizing gubernatorial GOP candidate Mike DeWine for refusing to say whether he will forgive $4 million worth of personal loans made to his own campaign.

DeWine, locked in a tight race with Democrat Richard Cordray, loaned himself another $3 million just prior to this week’s campaign finance filing.

“He has refused to be transparent about whether he will repay that loan with contributions from wealthy special-interest donors — donors like the insurance and pharmaceutical industries — versus doing what most people do, which is forgive their loan after the election,” said Ohio Democratic Chairman David Pepper.

Pepper said the pay-to-play environment on Capitol Square is made worse when an officeholder is collecting campaign donations that he knows will be going back into his own personal bank account.

Pepper noted that DeWine loaned his campaign for attorney general $2 million in 2010, and then went on to repay himself using campaign contributions over the next four years. Such a scenario, Pepper said, gives donors even more influence than simply giving to help a campaign pay for ads and staff.

“He went to work as soon as he was elected, raising dollars into his campaign fund, that ultimately he used to pay back himself,” Pepper said. He noted that the attorney general gives out hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts each year, and he accused DeWine of showing favoritism to donors. "That is how poisonous the need to pay back a personal loan becomes."

Asked again Friday for comment about whether DeWine would forgive the loan, DeWine campaign spokesman Josh Eck again said it would be discussed after the election.

"David Pepper is working the phones this morning because with the media buys the Cordray campaign placed in the last week, their campaign is out of money and they have no other moves left to play," Eck said.

Ohioans should demand an answer on the loan question, Pepper said.

"We can't expect Mike DeWine to stand up to insurance and pharmaceutical companies when he has a $3 million debt hanging over his head," he said.

Electing women

A new organization working to elect female candidates in Ohio has given $153,000 in direct contributions to 37 candidates this year, including a number of Democratic legislative hopefuls.

The Matriots, formed by six women in central Ohio following the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017, endorses women who, among other things, support women’s rights, equality and reproductive rights.

Kathleen Clyde, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, has been the biggest beneficiary of the group thus far, receiving $25,416. Five female legislative candidates running in Franklin County — Rep. Kristin Boggs (House 18th), Mary Lightbody (House 19th), Dr. Beth Liston (House 21st), Allison Russo (House 24th), and Louise Valentine (Senate 19th), have received $2,500 to $9,500 each from the group.

jsiegel@dispatch.com

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