Whether we like it or not, ex-Rep. and two-time quixotic Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich may have another campaign in him. The Plain Dealer’s Henry J. Gomez reports that there’s “increasing chatter among party insiders” that Kucinich is looking at running for governor of Ohio next year, and Kucinich didn’t rule it out. In an email to Gomez, Kucinich only said “I'll certainly get back to you if I have anything to say which would be worth your time.”
While Kucinich portrays himself as a progressive hero, he’s emerged as a Trump defender in recent months. Kucinich, who has been a Fox commentator for years, praised Trump’s inauguration speech (you know, the “American carnage” one), and argued that U.S. intelligence agencies forced Michael Flynn to resign as Trump’s national security advisor. Kucinich has also repeatedly met and defended Syria’s murderous dictator Bashar al-Assad.
The good news is that Kucinich may not have much oomph left. In 2012, Kucinich and fellow Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur were drawn into the same congressional district, and Kaptur won the primary by a convincing 56-40 margin. But a number of Ohio Democrats are looking at this contest, and it’s not impossible for Kucinich to ride his Cleveland-area base to a plurality win in a crowded primary.