While the numerous candidates running in the primaries for U.S. senator and governor agreed to participate in debates organized by the Ohio Debate Commission, the decision by Gov. Mike DeWine not to participate triggered cancellation of the Republican gubernatorial debate.

DeWine declined the invitation to participate in the debate scheduled for 11 a.m. March 29 at Central State University.

The Republican candidates challenging him are: former state Rep. Jim Renacci, ex-state Rep. Ron Hood and Joe Blystone, a farmer born in East Liverpool.

DeWine’s opponents are running against the governor’s record, criticizing him for his responses to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his positions on guns and former President Donald Trump.

The debate was to occur without DeWine and almost certainly without Hood, who hasn’t responded to the commission’s requests.

That would have left Renacci and Blystone to spend an hour criticizing DeWine and one another.

That just wasn’t going to fly. Renacci pulled out realizing it wasn’t going to do him any good, and the debate fell apart.

In an initial response to DeWine’s decision, Renacci’s campaign said: “The current governor of Ohio is so afraid of defending his record that he is refusing to participate in the governor’s debate. Let that sink in. Mike DeWine thinks he’s above answering your questions.”

Blystone’s campaign said DeWine believes “the people are too low on the totem pole. I’m a king.” And, “DeWine will not answer questions. He will not go to town halls. But he wants your support. I guess DeWine’s afraid.”

When asked why he was skipping the debate, DeWine told reporters: “It might be an entertaining hour, but I’m not sure how productive it would be.”

DeWine, seeking his second four-year term as governor, has detractors in his own party.

The Ohio Republican Party’s state central committee last month endorsed him and the entire executive branch incumbents for re-election.

But it was by a vote of 36-26 — that close almost entirely because of DeWine, the topic of much critical discussion during the lengthy meeting. Only Secretary of State Frank LaRose has a primary opponent among the other statewide executive branch members.

Despite objections to how DeWine has led the state, the few public polls taken have him as frontrunner.

A Fox News poll last week has DeWine with 50 percent of the Republican vote with Blystone in second with 21 percent and Renacci with 18 percent. The poll, which didn’t include Hood, had the rest of those questioned either undecided or didn’t know who’d they support.

In addition to indicating DeWine has a comfortable lead, the poll also shows if he had just one opponent in the Republican primary, he would face a bigger challenge to win it.

Blystone and Renacci are dividing the anti-DeWine vote — and you can certainly add Hood to that as he wouldn’t be running if he supported the incumbent.

The campaigns of DeWine’s Republican challengers have had discussions about coalescing around one candidate, but no one wants to get out. That’s to DeWine’s advantage.

It’s unfortunate DeWine declined to debate. The public deserves to hear him defend his record against Republican opponents.

But his campaign saw no advantage to sharing the stage with his challengers. And those advisers are probably correct.

“What happened with the GOP candidates and the governor’s race is disappointing,” said Dan Moulthrop, the commission’s board president. “But when the incumbent chooses not to debate, it’s not surprising that others in the race have less incentive to do so as well.”

DeWine also declined four years ago to debate then-Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor in the Republican primary for governor. DeWine won the primary by 19.6 percentage points.

DeWine will deliver the State of the State address at noon Wednesday. It’s only DeWine’s second State of the State as he gave one in 2019, his first year as governor, and skipped the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate will debate 11:30 a.m. March 28. The seven Republicans vying for the position debate at 7 p.m. that day.

The Democratic governor’s debate between ex-Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and ex-Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley is 7 p.m. March 29.

Debates will be at Central State University and may be viewed online at ohiochannel.org and ohiodebatecommission.org.

dskolnick@vindy.com