# Gary Abernathy

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{{Short description|American political commentator and columnist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name        = Gary Abernathy
| image       =
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| office      = [Highland County](/source/Highland_County%2C_Ohio) Commissioner
| alongside   = {{hlist|Jeff Duncan|Terry Britton}}
| term_start  = {{start date|2018|7|2}}<ref name="HCP Forsha">{{cite news|title=Gary Abernathy stepping down as Highland County commissioner|first=Caitlin|last=Forsha|work=The Highland County Press|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=September 9, 2020|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Gary-Abernathy-stepping-down-as-Highland-County-commissioner-/2/20/59924|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308111438/https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Gary-Abernathy-stepping-down-as-Highland-County-commissioner-/2/20/59924|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| term_end    = {{end date|2020|10|2}}<ref name="HCP Forsha" />
| predecessor = [Shane Wilkin](/source/Shane_Wilkin)<ref name="HCP Forsha" />
| successor   = [David T. Daniels](/source/David_T._Daniels)<ref>{{cite news|title=Republican Central Committee appoints Daniels to county commission|first=Caitlin|last=Forsha|work=[The Highland County Press](/source/The_Highland_County_Press)|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=October 28, 2020|accessdate=March 9, 2023|url=https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Republican-Central-Committee-appoints-Daniels-to-county-commission/2/20/61177|archive-date=March 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309085324/https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Republican-Central-Committee-appoints-Daniels-to-county-commission/2/20/61177|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{birth year and age|1956}}<ref name="TG advantage">{{cite news|title=Abernathy feels experiences give him advantage|work=The Times-Gazette|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=November 1, 2018|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timesgazette.com/2018/11/01/abernathy-feels-experiences-give-him-advantage/}}</ref>
| birth_place = 
| spouse      = Lora Abernathy<ref name="Civitas">{{cite press release|title=Abernathy named publisher and editor of Times Gazette|publisher=[Civitas Media](/source/Civitas_Media)|location=Davidson, North Carolina|date=April 8, 2015|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.civitasmedia.com/company-news/109/abernathy-named-publisher-and-editor-of-times-gazette|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308111437/https://www.civitasmedia.com/company-news/109/abernathy-named-publisher-and-editor-of-times-gazette|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| party       = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| education   = [Lynchburg-Clay High School](/source/Lynchburg-Clay_High_School)<ref name="TG Gilliland">{{cite news|title=Andy Richmond: A man among boys|first=Jeff|last=Gilliland|work=The Times-Gazette|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=June 16, 2017|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timesgazette.com/2017/06/16/andy-richmond-a-man-among-boys/}}</ref>
| occupation  = {{hlist|Journalist|political commentator}}
| website     = {{URL|https://garyabernathymedia.com/}} 
}}

'''Gary Abernathy''' (born 1956<ref name="TG advantage" />) is an American political commentator who writes a nationally syndicated column for ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'' and makes frequent appearances on the ''[PBS NewsHour](/source/PBS_NewsHour)''. A former newspaper editor and state [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) official, he is noted for his politically conservative views from a rural perspective.<ref name="CJR Spinner">{{cite news|title=Editorial pages in 'Trump Country' respond to demand for new columnists|first=Jackie|last=Spinner|work=[Columbia Journalism Review](/source/Columbia_Journalism_Review)|location=New York City|date=April 10, 2018|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/pro-trump-columnists-abernathy.php}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Abernathy grew up on a farm in [Hamer Township, Highland County, Ohio](/source/Hamer_Township%2C_Highland_County%2C_Ohio) (between Fairview and Danville). He graduated from [Lynchburg-Clay High School](/source/Lynchburg-Clay_High_School) in 1974.<ref name="TG advantage" /><ref name="TG Gilliland" />

== Career ==
Abernathy began his career as a reporter at the ''Hillsboro Press Gazette'' (now ''[The Times-Gazette](/source/The_Times-Gazette)''). He became the city editor there in 1983, then the editor in 1985. In 1991, he left the ''Press Gazette'' to serve as city editor of ''[The Marion Star](/source/The_Marion_Star)''. In 1993, he moved to the ''[Portsmouth Daily Times](/source/Portsmouth_Daily_Times)'', where he served as managing editor until 1996.<ref name="Civitas" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Times-Gazette owners, publishers, editors through the years|work=Times-Gazette|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=June 18, 2018|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timesgazette.com/2018/06/18/times-gazette-owners-publishers-editors-through-the-years/}}</ref>

In January 1998, Abernathy became the [Ohio Republican Party](/source/Ohio_Republican_Party)'s communications director.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abernathy to lead West Virginia GOP|work=[Columbus Business First](/source/Columbus_Business_First)|publisher=American City Business Journals|location=Columbus, Ohio|date=October 29, 2001|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2001/10/29/daily6.html}}</ref> In October 2001, Abernathy was appointed as the [West Virginia Republican Party](/source/West_Virginia_Republican_Party)'s executive director. He was dismissed in 2004 after alleging that the party's chairman, Kris Warner, had overspent on his brother Monty's [gubernatorial campaign](/source/2004_West_Virginia_gubernatorial_election). He returned as executive director in 2008.<ref name="Register-Herald Porterfield">{{cite news|title=Gary Abernathy back as GOP executive director|first=Mannix|last=Porterfield|work=[The Register-Herald](/source/The_Register-Herald)|location=Beckley, West Virginia|date=December 11, 2008|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/gary-abernathy-back-as-gop-executive-director/article_551c1730-22ec-5109-9605-b5556d377655.html}}</ref> Through his [Dayton](/source/Dayton%2C_Ohio)-based consultancy, Abernathy Strategies,<ref>{{cite news|title=Green outspending Weeks in 9th District battle|first=Mannix|last=Porterfield|work=The Register-Herald|location=Beckley, West Virginia|date=November 6, 2006|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/green-outspending-weeks-in-9th-district-battle/article_25289da0-3c5e-57ee-a303-b406da7d73b4.html}}</ref> he also served as an advisor to [John McCain](/source/John_McCain),<ref>{{cite news|title=Huckabee captures state GOP convention|first=Lawrence|last=Messina|work=[Times West Virginian](/source/Times_West_Virginian)|location=Fairmont, West Virginia|date=February 6, 2008|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timeswv.com/news/huckabee-captures-state-gop-convention/article_001d9240-ae4f-5de4-a516-26bae5c54f02.html}}</ref> West Virginia State Senator [Russ Weeks](/source/Russ_Weeks),<ref>{{cite news|title=Manchin campaign spending increases|first=Lawrence|last=Messina|work=Times West Virginian|location=Fairmont, West Virginia|date=October 24, 2008|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timeswv.com/news/manchin-campaign-spending-increases/article_f0cc4233-17ac-58b9-8244-7933a239951f.html}}</ref> and Senate candidate [John Raese](/source/John_Raese).<ref>{{cite news|title=Candidates Show Strain of Tough Election Season|first=Carl|last=Hulse|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=October 26, 2016|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/us/politics/26strain.html}}</ref> He has also worked for U.S. Senators [George Voinovich](/source/George_Voinovich)<ref>{{cite news|title=Clark County commissioners discuss local projects with Voinovich representative|first=Bridgette|last=Outten|work=[Springfield News-Sun](/source/Springfield_News-Sun)|location=Springfield, Ohio|date=June 22, 2010|accessdate=March 10, 2023|url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/local/clark-county-commissioners-discuss-local-projects-with-voinovich-representative/YAEY0IjyH4KGnCVQUHiuGO/}}</ref> and [Rob Portman](/source/Rob_Portman)<ref>{{cite news|title=Ohio's GOP Senate contenders desperately try to out-Trump each other — it could hurt them|first=Igor|last=Derysh|work=[Salon.com](/source/Salon.com)|date=July 10, 2021|accessdate=March 10, 2023|url=https://www.salon.com/2021/07/10/ohios-gop-senate-contenders-desperately-try-to-out-trump-each-other--it-could-hurt-them/}}</ref> and an Ohio congressman.<ref name="TG advantage" />

In 2011, Abernathy was named publisher of the ''Times-Gazette'' and ''Highland County Shopper''. In 2015, he became the papers' publisher and editor.<ref name="Civitas" /> He led the ''Times-Gazette'' in giving [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) a rare [newspaper endorsement in the 2016 presidential election](/source/Newspaper_endorsements_in_the_2016_United_States_presidential_election), which was unremarkable among the paper's [Highland County](/source/Highland_County%2C_Ohio) readers but attracted international attention.<ref>{{cite news|title=This Ohio paper is one of only six to endorse Donald Trump|first=Carl|last=Weiser|work=[The Cincinnati Enquirer](/source/The_Cincinnati_Enquirer)|date=October 27, 2016|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/blogs/2016/10/27/ohio-paper-one-only-six-endorse-donald-trump/92821972/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=These Are the Only 6 Newspapers in the Country to Endorse Donald Trump|first=Ruairí|last=Arrieta-Kenna|work=[Politico](/source/Politico)|location=Arlington County, Virginia|date=October 26, 2016|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/10/donald-trump-newspaper-endorsements-214390/}}</ref> In 2017, ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'' added Abernathy as a contributing columnist to diversify its editorial pages with a conservative viewpoint from [outside the Beltway](/source/Inside_the_Beltway). He began writing two to three columns a month, which the [''Washington Post'' Writers Group](/source/The_Washington_Post_Writers_Group) distributes to hundreds of newspapers across the U.S.<ref name="CJR Spinner" /> He also began making appearances on the ''[PBS NewsHour](/source/PBS_NewsHour)'' as a political analyst, substituting for [David Brooks](/source/David_Brooks_(commentator)).<ref>{{cite news|title=Gary Abernathy|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/gary-abernathy/}}</ref>

On July 2, 2018, the [Highland County](/source/Highland_County%2C_Ohio) Republican Central Committee appointed Abernathy to replace [Shane Wilkin](/source/Shane_Wilkin) on the Board of County Commissioners. Abernathy resigned as publisher and editor of the ''Times-Gazette'' to serve as a commissioner. He was confirmed in a general election later that year. He resigned on October 2, 2020, to move to the [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati) area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Staff changes at The Times-Gazette|work=The Times-Gazette|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=July 20, 2018|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.timesgazette.com/2018/07/20/staff-changes-at-the-times-gazette/}}</ref><ref name="HCP Forsha" />

On January 30, 2026, Abernathy expressed support for the tactics used by [Department of Homeland Security forces](/source/Department_of_Homeland_Security) in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis) and compared the [actions of Renee Good](/source/Killing_of_Ren%C3%A9e_Good) and [Alex Pretti](/source/Killing_of_Alex_Pretti) to those of the [protestors at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021](/source/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RASHL7Sj-4&t=2573 |title=PBS NewsHour full episode, Jan. 30, 2026 |date=2026-01-30 |publisher=PBS NewsHour |access-date=2026-02-26}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Abernathy lives in [Loveland, Ohio](/source/Loveland%2C_Ohio),<ref name="Enquirer Sewell">{{cite news|title=Tim Ryan benefits from 'cavalcade of clowns' in Senate race|first=Dan|last=Sewell|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=April 1, 2022|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/2022/04/01/tim-ryan-benefits-cavalcade-clowns-senate-race-opinion/7216928001/}}</ref> with his wife, Lora. Abernathy has four children.<ref name="Civitas" />

Abernathy was a member of the Hillsboro [Rotary Club](/source/Rotary_International) for 10 years until 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abernathy resigns from Rotary|work=The Times-Gazette|location=Hillsboro, Ohio|date=September 29, 2020|accessdate=March 10, 2023|url=https://www.timesgazette.com/2020/09/29/abernathy-resigns-from-rotary/}}</ref>

Several years ago, Abernathy occasionally performed with a band as an Elvis tribute artist, sometimes at political functions. He became a fan after watching the [Elvis Comeback Special](/source/Elvis_(1968_TV_program)) in 1968.<ref name="Register-Herald Porterfield" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Elvis impressionist pauses to remember the King|first=Mannix|last=Porterfield|work=The Register-Herald|location=Beckley, West Virginia|date=August 16, 2007|accessdate=March 8, 2023|url=https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/elvis-impressionist-pauses-to-remember-the-king/article_593dc4c9-285e-5465-8a71-dffaaecdf3c4.html}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://abernathyroad.substack.com/ Abernathy Road], Abernathy's newsletter
* {{IMDb name|nm4857405}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abernathy, Gary}}
Category:Living people
Category:1956 births
Category:20th-century American newspaper editors
Category:21st-century American newspaper editors
Category:Editors of Ohio newspapers
Category:Writers from Cincinnati
Category:American political commentators
Category:American columnists
Category:The Washington Post columnists
Category:PBS people
Category:Ohio Republicans
Category:West Virginia Republicans
Category:People from Highland County, Ohio
Category:People from Loveland, Ohio
Category:Elvis impersonators
Category:American political consultants
Category:County commissioners in Ohio
Category:Mass media people from Cincinnati
Category:20th-century American male journalists
Category:21st-century American male journalists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gary Abernathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Abernathy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Abernathy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.