Ohioans Kick Off Husted’s Real World Tour by Calling Out His Key Role in FirstEnergy Corruption Scandal

Ohioans Kick Off Husted's Real World Tour by Calling Out His Key Role in FirstEnergy Corruption Scandal

March 27, 2026

Husted remained at the center of the criminal trial in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Ohio families paying$663 more a year on utility bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Today, Ohioans gathered outside the Athletic Club of Columbus for the first stop of Husted's Real World Tour, calling out Jon Husted for his key role in the FirstEnergy bribery scheme that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

The tour comes after Husted claimed that struggling Ohioans are "not very experienced at navigating the real world." At a time when Ohio families are struggling with skyrocketing health care, gas, grocery, and utility bills, Husted keeps voting to make everything more expensive.

A dinner between Jon Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives at the Athletic Club was a focal point of the FirstEnergy criminal corruption trial. And when Husted was forced to take the stand in the trial, he deemed the elite social club, which reportedly has a $7,500 initiation fee, "kind of a normal restaurant" - another reminder of how out of touch he is with the real world Ohioans live in.

"Jon Husted has been a long time friend of FirstEnergy and it has cost Ohioans millions. A recent analysis suggests that Ohioans' electric bills have risen $663 a year since Jon Husted became the Lt. Governor and HB 6 became law," said Senator Kent Smith, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee. "That should surprise no one because Jon Husted has been working for the utility interests and not protecting the pocketbooks of everyday Ohioans. Ohioans are working harder than ever to make ends meet and they're being screwed by politicians like Jon Husted who put billionaires and corporations before us."

"If there's anyone who is out of touch with the real world, it's Jon Husted. As a retired nonprofit social services professional for over 40 years here in Ohio, I have witnessed first hand how working Ohioans are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet, especially in recent years. There is nothing more 'real' than working hard every day and still having to choose between food and rent," said Sue Hanson, a retired Ohioan. "And because of Jon Husted's corruption, our utility bills have skyrocketed. It's time to hold Husted accountable this November."

Jon Husted has a long trend of blaming hardworking Ohioans struggling to make ends meet:

• Husted has dismissed concerns from struggling Ohioans, claiming that he has helped lower grocery and gas prices and that affordability problems do not exist.

• Husted revealed he has no solutions to actually lower prices, suggesting that Ohioans should just "earn more" money to make ends meet.

• Husted insulted Ohioans working harder than ever, complaining that their "work ethic is broken."

• Husted defended his friends and donors, complaining about people saying "rich people [are] selfish" while attempting to justify his record of delivering tax breaks to the rich.

• Husted claimed the affordability crisis only exists in "blue states," dismissing the pain Ohio families are feeling every day.

###