LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Ohio Democratic Party brought its “Husted’s Real World Tour” to Lima Allen County on Thursday, marking the sixth stop in a statewide effort criticizing comments made by Jon Husted during a March 10 podcast appearance with the Sutherland Institute.
During the podcast discussion about legislation involving the “benefit cliff,” Husted said people living in poverty are often inexperienced at navigating “the real world,” comments that Democrats say were insensitive and out of touch with the struggles facing many Ohioans. Local Democratic leaders gathered in Lima to speak out against the remarks and discuss economic challenges facing working families.
“We're here today to talk about John Husted being out of touch and telling people that they need to learn how to live life in the real world,” said Jeff Givan, Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 78. “We're living in the real world day in and day out here. We're struggling because of the high prices you've caused.”
Jamie Dixon said poverty affects millions of residents across the state and should not be viewed as a reflection of a person’s character.
“In reality, we know that there's 1.4 million Ohioans that are living within poverty,” Dixon said. “Poverty is not something based off of someone's character or worth ethic. It is simply because we have higher prices and less money.”
Jeff Adams, president of UAW Local 1219 at the Lima Engine Plant, also criticized Husted’s comments and rising costs facing workers.
“You can't point the finger and say people can't navigate the real world when you're causing it single handedly voting to cause the problems in the real world by gas prices being through the roof, health care premiums being through the roof,” Adams said.
Husted was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2025 by Mike DeWine to fill the seat vacated by J.D. Vance after Vance took office as vice president. Husted will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot as he seeks to retain his Senate seat.
