Butler County Republicans and Democrats react to changing political landscape

The Democratic National Convention is this month, the presidential election is three months away and Democrats and Republicans are head-to-head in the race for the presidency.

The past month has drastically transformed the race. In that time, President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection and Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee, former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt, Ohio Senator JD Vance earned the VP slot on the republican ticket and Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her VP.

In Butler County, where Vance grew up, the shifting dynamics have had an outsized local effect. Here's how the county Democrat and Republican organizations are adjusting to the newly defined race.

Butler County Republicans look to take back democracy

Butler County Republican Party volunteer Donald Whisman said he believes the Democratic party is ruining the country, so he's stepped up to volunteer for every presidential election since 2016.

After the tumultuous political landscape for the past few weeks, Whisman isn't the only community member stepping up. He said many people have called in to help and they're not even in full swing yet. He added that the younger voters are a demographic they're trying to reach, especially with volunteering.

"I voted Democrat when I was younger," Whisman said, "but when [former President Donald Trump] came on that stage or down that escalator and he started speaking, he spoke to the common man, and that's what I am. I'm just a common guy."

Whisman said Ohio Senator JD Vance's appearance in Middletown on July 22 also stirred up activism among the Republicans partly due to a mix of pride and loyalty to their party.

Even though people weren't in the Republican Party office in Middletown during Vance's rally, Whisman said they came in afterward and were pumped up from his speech.

"I was born and raised in Middletown myself," Whisman said. "And I'm very proud that somebody could get out of that town and become something like he did."

Whisman added that unlike Vance, he doesn't think Harris is qualified to run and that she fraudulently secured the nomination.

"We've been calling it honeymoon poles because of Joe Biden dropping down, but I think it was wrong too for Biden to step down," Whisman said. "... I think they took the votes from the voters in the primaries ... I don't think that's very democratic. They say we're a threat to democracy. I think they're a threat to democracy."

Officials representing the Butler County Republican Party did not respond to repeated requests for comment for more than a week.

Butler County Democrats feel optimistic

Kathy Wyenandt, Butler County Democrats Chair, said since Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on July 21, the energy in Ohio has been palpable.

She said the phones have been ringing constantly, her inbox is full and more people than planned attended the volunteer picnic July 28.

"A lot of new energy and new faces are showing up," Wyenandt said. "It's very exciting."

She added that people calling to volunteer have tripled in support of Harris.

"We know that [Republicans are] on the wrong side of history," Wyenandt said. "The public doesn't agree with their extreme rhetoric and ideas and [voters] care more about people who've worked for freedom and opportunity and the betterment of this country. Yeah, I feel really optimistic."

John Rhoads, the Central Regional Coordinator for the Butler County Democrats, added that he thinks Ohio Senator George Lang's speech at a JD Vance rally in Middletown July 22 brought in more democratic supporters. At the rally, Lang said “I believe wholeheartedly Donald Trump and Butler County's JD Vance are the last chance to save our country politically, and I’m afraid if we lose this one it’s gonna take a civil war to save the country.”

Rhoads said Lang's comments galvanized more local volunteers, not Vance's Middletown appearance.

Wyenandt added that she knows people in Middletown that don't see Vance as someone to be proud of.

"He's really not the person who claims to be," Wyenandt said. "He went to an Ivy League school, then went out to San Francisco to become a hedge fund manager, and has had a golden ticket with his sponsor Peter Thiel and sold Middletown down the road. The first time he came back since his election was last Monday."

The Butler County Democrats new location is off of Cincinnati Dayton Road in West Chester.