Opioids in Ohio at Center of Governor’s Race

The death rate of Ohioans from opioid use is more than twice the national average and the blame for the state's snowballing crisis has become central to the open-seat race for governor.

In the past five years of the most recent statistics available, the number of Ohio residents who have died from opioids has ballooned by a third, to 3,495 in 2016.

Mike DeWine, the Republican nominee for governor, has presided as the state's attorney general for the last eight years, leaving him vulnerable to the critique that he's failed to stem the epidemic as it's worsened.

Richard Cordray, the Democratic candidate making the charge, preceded DeWine in the attorney general's office, allowing DeWine to point the finger back at him for culpability.