If you live in a midsize city or battleground state, you are now more likely than ever to see pro-Trump propaganda and conservative spin on your local news -- just in time for the 2018 election season -- thanks to conservative media giant Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Media Matters has identified communities that will see competitive congressional midterm races and that have Sinclair-owned or -operated news stations. Many Sinclair stations are already airing national news programming with a conservative slant, and they will be ramping up coverage of their local races.

We’ve already tackled Nevada, Tennessee, New York, Florida, and Virginia. Now, we’re taking a look at Ohio.

Key 2018 races

• Governor: Current Gov. John Kasich (R) cannot seek a third term, and the race to elect a new governor was rated “lean Republican” by Cook Political Report as of publication (and dubbed “one of 2018’s most bizzare campaigns” by Vox.) The candidates are current state Attorney General Mike DeWine (R); former state Attorney General Richard Cordray (D), who is also the former director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and Green Party candidate Constance Gadell-Newton.
• House: Ohio’s first congressional district (OH-1), in the southwestern corner of the state, was rated “lean Republican” by Cook Political Report as of publication. Republican incumbent Rep. Steve Chabot faces Democratic challenger and current Hamilton County clerk Aftab Pureval and independent candidate Mike Goldschmidt.
• House: Ohio’s 12th congressional district (OH-12), located in central Ohio, has an open seat for the first time in 18 years after the January resignation of Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R). The seat will be filled in a special election in August, rated a toss-up by Cook Political Report as of publication. The Republican candidate is state Sen. Troy Balderson and the Democratic candidate is Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor.

Sinclair stations in state

WSYX, WTTE, and WWHO in Columbus

• Sinclair has a hand in news programming at three news stations serving the Columbus area, including parts of OH-12. It owns and operates WSYX (ABC 6). WTTE (Fox 28) is owned and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting (another company controlled by the same family that owns Sinclair) and “receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair.” Sinclair also operates Manhan Media-owned WWHO (The CW Columbus). All three stations share a main studio address in Columbus.
• ABC 6 airs Sinclair “must-run” content, including some nationally produced news packages, fearmongering “Terrorism Alert Desk” updates, and both of Sinclair-connected weekly shows, Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson and The Armstrong Williams Show. It also aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least 18 times.  
• The CW Columbus airs ABC 6 news, very likely including the same Sinclair “must-run” content.
• Fox 28 also airs some Sinclair “must-run” content, including nationally produced news packages, “Bottom Line with Boris” pro-Trump commentary segments, and Full Measure. It also shares a morning newscast with ABC 6 (Good Day Columbus). Fox 28 aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least 14 times.

WKRC (Local 12) and WSTR (Star 64) in Cincinnati

• Sinclair has a hand in news programming at two stations serving the Cincinnati area, most of which is located in OH-1. It owns and operates the CBS-affiliated WKRC (Local 12), and it provides “certain services” to Deerfield Media-owned WSTR (Star 64). The two stations share a main studio address in Cincinnati.
• Local 12, a CBS affiliate, airs some of Sinclair’s “must-run” content, including some national news packages, “Bottom Line with Boris,” and Full Measure. It also aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least seven times.
• Star 64 airs Local 12 newscasts and at least some of Sinclair’s “must-run” content, including “Terrorism Alert Desk” and “Bottom Line with Boris.” It aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least three times.

WKEF (ABC 22 Now) and WRGT (Fox 45 Now) in Miamisburg

• Sinclair owns and operates WKEF (ABC 22 Now) serving the Dayton area, including some northern parts of OH-1. WRGT (Fox 45 Now) is owned and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting (another company controlled by the same family that owns Sinclair) and “receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair.” The two stations share a main studio address in nearby Miamisburg.
• Fox 45 Now airs at least some of Sinclair’s “must-run” content, including national news packages, “Terrorism Alert Desk” updates, and Full Measure.
• ABC 22 Now airs Fox 45 newscasts and at least some of Sinclair’s “must-run” content, including the national packages, the “Terrorism Alert Desk” updates, “Bottom Line with Boris,” and both Sinclair-affiliated weekly shows: Full Measure and The Armstrong Williams Show. It also aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least twice.

WNWO (NBC 24) in Toledo

• Sinclair owns and operates WNWO (NBC 24) in Toledo. NBC 24 airs Sinclair’s “must-run” content, including national news packages, “Bottom Line with Boris” segments, “Terrorism Alert Desk” updates, and the weekly shows Full Measure and The Armstrong Williams Show. It also aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least four times.

WCHS (ABC 8) and WVAH (Fox 11) in Charleston, WV

• Sinclair owns or operates (in some capacity) two stations in the Charleston, WV, media market, which also includes some areas of southern Ohio. It owns and operates WCHS (ABC 8). WVAH (Fox 11) is owned and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting (another company controlled by the same family that owns Sinclair) and “receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair.” The two stations share a main studio address in Charleston and both air newscasts branded as “Eyewitness News.”
• ABC 8 airs Sinclair “must-run” content, including some national news packages, “Bottom Line with Boris” segments, and the weekly shows Full Measure and The Armstrong Williams Show. It also aired the recent anchor-read scripted segments about media bias at least eight times.
• Fox 11 also airs Sinclair “must-run” content, including national news packages, “Terrorism Alert Desk” updates, and Full Measure.

Possibly coming soon: WJW (Fox 8) in Cleveland

• WJW (Fox 8) in Cleveland is currently owned by Tribune Media and will soon be owned (at least briefly) by Sinclair if the company’s pending acquisition of up to 42 Tribune stations is approved.
• Sinclair indicated it will sell the station to 21st Century Fox after the deal goes through in order to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ownership rules. Sinclair’s track record suggests the company may continue to operate the station in some capacity through legal loopholes -- though reporting says the station will be owned and operated by Fox.

What else you need to know

The winner of the Ohio governor’s race will have significant say over state redistricting for U.S. House seats following the 2020 Census.

Are there Sinclair stations near you?

Use Media Matters’ interactive map at FindSinclair.com to learn more.

Graphics by Sarah Wasko.