Pinot and Politics with Chris Redfern

Former Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern is back where he used to serve as the Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives to sit down with DJ Byrnes, aka the Rooster, to break down the latest in Ohio politics including duping Vivek Ramaswamy, his journey from Ohio State football beat writer, and an attempt at winning an election of his own. In the past several years, DJ has become a leading commentator and observer of Ohio politics so who better to meet on the road than the Rooster himself. Settle in for an episode that will have you equally amused and informed!

Chris sits down at Rocky Point Winery⁠ with State Representative Joe Miller as he campaigns to be the next State Senator representing Lorain County. While Joe is in town to officiate a high school basketball game and talk his journey in state politics after growing up in Amherst, Chris opens a bottle of Paul Dolan Zinfandel for an afternoon treat. Settle in for a great episode of what it actually means to care about the uniqueness of politics at the local level in Ohio.

Chris is back to kick off 2026 with Cincinnati Councilman Seth Walsh to discuss his campaign to be the next State Treasurer of Ohio. Seth walks through why he decided to stay in Cincinnati following his time at Xavier University (where he was Student Body President), despite dreaming of lobbying on behalf of NASA as a kid. It's a special episode to start the year as Chris and Seth sit down at Rocky Point Winery and even discuss the bottle Seth enjoyed, a Pink Catawba. Get warmed up for what the 2026 elections have in store down the ballot and listen in!

Chris Redfern, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, sits down at ⁠Court Street Kitchen⁠ in downtown Cincinnati with the former U.S. Representative for Ohio's 1st congressional district, Steve Driehaus, who served from 2009 until 2011. He previously served as the Minority Whip in the Ohio House of Representatives where he served alongside Chris. They discuss the state of Ohio politics today and what that looks like in comparison to the late 2000s.

Chris Redfern, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, sits down at Court Street Kitchen in downtown Cincinnati with long-time listener and Mayor of Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval. Chris and Aftab discuss his reelection campaign and journey from small town Ohio to being the mayor of the third largest city in the state. While they skip the wine to review the importance of this upcoming election week and highlight Cincinnati's growth over the last two decades, consider grabbing a beer from one of the region's notable breweries and listen in!

Chris Redfern, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, sits down at Chateau Winery in Sandusky County to interview someone who knows what it means to represent rural Ohio, Chris Gibbs (@ChrisRGibbs). As a farmer who gained national attention for his departure from the Republican Party and his former role as the GOP Chair of his Ohio county, Chris Gibbs currently serves as the Chairman of the Shelby County Democrats and Chair of the Ohio Democratic Rural Caucus. Chris and Chris dissect what this transition has been like, what led him to depart from the party he represented most of his life, and how Democrats can refocus on their own backyards to gain ground in 2026. Our host opened up a bottle of Chateau Winery's Petite Sirah so settle in with a glass of your own and chart the path forward to 2026.

Chris Redfern, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, is back in Franklin County with another on site episode of Pinot and Politics live from Hilliard. Chris sits down with former Minority Leader for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, Allison Russo, who is currently serving in her fourth term in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing House District 7 which includes Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, and portions of Columbus. Chris and Allison recorded from Firefly Winery over an easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc to discuss her officially launching her candidacy for Ohio Secretary of State in the 2026 election. Put down your glass and get ready to knock on doors because 2026 is just around the corner.

Chris Redfern, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, is back with another on site episode of Pinot and Politics live from Chillicothe, where he meets with current Mayor and Municipal Judge candidate Luke Feeney. They don't open a bottle of wine but sit down at Paper City Coffee to discuss what life is really like as a mayor of a small town where corporate greed and GOP battles have taken hold this summer in the wake of the potential closing of the "Old Mead Mill" by HIG Capital after nearly two centuries in operation. You won't want to miss this one.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, travels west to Toledo to sit down with Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, the 64th mayor of Toledo to discuss how Wade found his way into politics and the state of local governments across the state. Chris and Wade don’t have the chance to open a bottle of wine but break into a deep blend of Guardians baseball and Ohio history lessons with a tie to the political implications looking ahead to 2026.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back with Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff from the landmark US Supreme Court marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges to discuss the ten year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision and the current issues at hand in Ohio with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Chris and Jim open up a bottle of Frank Family Napa Valley Zinfandel at Crush in Sandusky, Ohio, while also discussing Equality Vines, Jim's wine venture in Sonoma County.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back to discuss the upcoming race to decide the next Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and the presumed winner Kathleen Clyde. Chris highlights why it matters, who the major players are, how the decision gets made, and how you can get involved in 2026's next executive committee decision. On this episode, Chris opens up a bottle of Decision from Equality Vines⁠ in honor of pride month and the historic Obergefell v. Hodges decision 10 years ago this month.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back for a two-part weekend special edition episode with first-time guest and longtime listener Carri Twigg. Carri began her career in Ohio as the Political Director of the Ohio Democratic Party before serving in the White House as Special Assistant to President Obama and serving as the Director of Public Engagement for Vice President Biden. Carri is the first guest to have a natural wine on the podcast opening up a bottle of ⁠Tinto Amario⁠, while Chris sticks to his Sonoma favorites with a bottle of ⁠Gundlach Bundschu Tempranillo Rosé⁠. Pour yourself a second glass and listen as they dissect the importance of the next Ohio Democratic Party Chairman election and their pick, former guest and current State Senator, Bill DeMora.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back for a two-part weekend special edition episode with first-time guest and longtime listener Carri Twigg. Carri began her career in Ohio as the Political Director of the Ohio Democratic Party before serving in the White House as Special Assistant to President Obama and serving as the Director of Public Engagement for Vice President Biden. Carri is the first guest to have a natural wine on the podcast opening up a bottle of Tinto Amario, while Chris sticks to his Sonoma favorites with a bottle of Gundlach Bundschu Tempranillo Rosé. Grab a bottle and settle in to hear part 1 of this special highlighting Carri's history in Ohio and what it means to be involved in state politics.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back with Andrew Tobias live from Versailles where he is visiting Weaver Brothers Farm on a visit with Governor Dewine. Chris and Andrew discuss the latest news involving Ohio politics including The Dark Money Game from HBO Max , Andrew's thoughts on the gubernatorial race in 2026, and agriculture in Ohio. Grab a bottle of Angels & Cowboys rosé and settle in!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down at Stancato’s in Parma with the Mayor of Parma, Tim Degeeter, and the Mayor of Parma Heights, Marie Gallo, to have a bottle of Mazzi Amarone  della Valpolicella DOCG . In the wake of President Trump’s first two months, Chris hears directly from the people impacted most directly by the effects of politics at the local level in northeast Ohio.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, settles in with a glass of Buehler Zinfandel to refocus our listeners on the state of Ohio and what's next on the horizon coming out of the 2024 Presidential Election and Senate race fallout in Ohio. Think Ohio should be a battleground again in this generation? Listen up!

Put the bottle back on the shelf and the corkscrew in the drawer. Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down sans wine this week to dissect what he witnessed as Vice President Kamala Harris failed to pick up enough votes in any of the swing states to defeat President-Elect Donald Trump. Chris touches on his experience coming out of the 2004 election, what it might mean for local elections in 2026 and 2028 in Ohio and across the country, and why Democrats have found themselves in this position. Times are tough but it's time to settle in and get real if 2026 is going to be any different.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back for an Election Night Eve Special highlighting his expectations for tomorrow's Election Day. While it may not be time for celebration yet, grab a bottle of the Angels and Cowboys Proprietary Red Blend to tide you over until what is hopefully a bubbles filled Tuesday night.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back for a Saturday Night Special Edition to react to the latest polling news coming out of Iowa ahead of Tuesday's Election Day. Chris breaks down what these numbers mean in key battleground states and what he is looking out for between now and Tuesday. Grab a bottle of Scott Family Pinot Noir and settle in, it's going to get exciting!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back just seven days out from Election Day to break down every battleground state and why you should have cautious optimism heading into the home stretch. Chris also highlights the importance of Vice President Kamala Harris' speech on October 29th at the same site where Donald Trump incited his deadly insurrection only four years ago. Grab a bottle of Anne Amie Pinot Gris and settle in for an exciting (and stressful) week ahead!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back three weeks out from Election Day with his friend and regular guest, former Ohio State Senator, Lou Gentile. Chris and Lou discuss their reactions and expectations of the upcoming Presidential Election and the latest in Senator Sherrod Brown's reelection efforts in Ohio. Grab a bottle of Paul Hobbs' Crossbarn Pinot Noir and ease some of your concerns heading into November.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, is back four weeks out from Election Day to discuss his thoughts on the Presidential Election and what to expect following our busy few weeks of news across the country. Grab a bottle of Chateau De Campuget Vermentino, let it chill, and get ready for our last push until November!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, reacts live to the first and only Vice Presidential Debate of the 2024 cycle. Listen in to Chris' real-time thoughts on the performance of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance, while drinking a tasteful red blend in Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, visits German Village in Columbus, Ohio to sit down with Sandy Theis, longtime journalist and political consultant to discuss topics at the forefront of Ohio Politics. While they stay away from the wine this week, they dive deep into Sandy's experience with FirstEnergy and the possible implications on the 2026 Ohio Gubernatorial Election. Switch it up this week with a drink of your choice and get caught up on all things Ohio politics you may not know about.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down with a glass of chianti to share his thoughts on the most wine-worthy night of the re-energized election season thus far, the Second Presidential Debate. Grab your favorite Italian wine and get caught up on all things Ohio politics, minus the Springfield pet crisis.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down with a Stratus Gamay Rosé from Niagara on the Lake to share his thoughts on the final two months of the presidential election and the contested race for Senator Sherrod Brown's senate seat in Ohio. Grab a glass of chilled rosé and enjoy one of our final few nights of summer weather while listening to the latest episode!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down with a 2020 Freeman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir to recap the 2024 Democratic National Convention and newsworthy items in and around Ohio politics this week. Grab a glass and settle in to hear Chris' highlights on what was one of the most monumental DNC weeks of our lifetimes and Kamala Harris's official acceptance of the nomination.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down live from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to recap the energy so far ahead of the fourth and final night. Grab your favorite prosecco and join the toast ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris's official acceptance of the nomination.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, sits down with a Northern California Nebbiolo and previews an excited week ahead for Kamala Harris and the democrats as the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago. He also discusses US Senator, Sherrod Brown's reelection campaign and decision to not come to the convention. Grab a glass and join us as the election season only continues to heat up!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, recounts an exciting day in the Kamala Harris candidacy as she announces Tim Walz as her running mate. Grab a glass of cab franc and hear why this pick for veep may have been the best possible choice to energize the base this November.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, highlights the successes of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign and the clear differences between Vice Presidential Candidates in the two campaigns with 100 days left to go till election day. Get your latest update from Pinot and Politics while enjoying a nice Malbec for this week's listen. 

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern, reacts to the refueled excitement surrounding the 2024 election with President Biden stepping out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris refocusing the Democrats around her presumptive nomination, as well as what it means for Ohio. Try a glass of Buehler Vineyards Zinfandel and get on board for this week's episode.

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern discusses the disheartening events in Pennsylvania this past weekend at Donald Trump's rally and his VP choice, J.D. Vance. Settle in with a glass of Grenache and reflect on the most interesting weekend in the 2024 election thus far!

Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, Chris Redfern is back gearing up for the 2024 Presidential Election as all eyes are on Joe Biden's recent performances in debates and press conferences. Chris is joined by former State Senator, Lou Gentile to discuss their outlooks on the election and the recent events. Grab a glass of a nice Mountain Cuvee or a Nebiolo and settle in!

On the Election Week episode of Pinot and Politics, Chris sits down with Dave Betras the former chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party and current attorney in Northeast Ohio. They talk about the current state of the Presidential Election post-election day and the prospects of the Mahoning Valley as we look forward to 2022 and beyond.

On the latest episode of Pinot and Politics, Chris sits down with former Democratic State Representative and Current Lobbyist Dan Dodd to discuss all things Ohio politics, the final week of the Presidential Race, and a little about red blends.

On the fifth episode of the Pinot and Politics Pod, Chris shares a glass with Joe Vardon. Joe is a reporter for the Athletic, who has previously covered both basketball and politics in Ohio, as well as recently returned from the NBA's Bubble in Orlando.