Confusion in the mailbox as right wing PAC promotes Democratic candidate

Democratic voters in the 19th District (Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Pepper Pike) this week reported receiving mail paid for by a right wing PAC called “Ohioans for a Healthy Economy Action Fund” and wondered who the group was and why they were backing candidate Cheryl Perez in the race against endorsed Democrat Nicole Sigurdson.

After doing a little digging, here’s what we learned:

Two years ago, the PAC was behind an ad attacking Democratic Ohio Supreme Court candidates Melody Stewart, Michael Donnelly, and Lisa Forbes.

The ad accused the three of being soft on murderers and child molesters. All three candidates lost the race and it dramatically reshaped the court.

According to Judge The Ads, part of Common Cause Ohio, the PAC generally supports Republican judicial candidates and has been funded in part by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA); and Jimmy and Dee Haslam, the billionaire owners of the Cleveland Browns.

Last month, Cleveland.com reported on the same group backing Perez: Five groups poured millions in dark money into 2024 Ohio Supreme Court races, study finds

So why would a right wing PAC that supports Republican judicial candidates be mailing as many as four pieces in the first week of voting to Democratic houses in the 19th district—supporting Cheryl Perez over endorsed candidate Nicole Sigurdson?

We hoped to ask Perez about this funding at our meeting on Thursday, but she did not attend. Stay tuned as we try to learn more. Want to avoid confusion? Download our Democratic Sample Ballot and keep it with you when you vote.