It happened. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) -- a moderate on issues like gun control and the environment and a member of the Gang of 14 that blocked the nuclear option -- has just drawn a primary challenger from the right. The Dayton Business Journal has the story.

Former AK Steel Corp. President John Hritz plans to challenge U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, for the Senate seat he has held for a decade.

Hritz said he has formed an exploratory committee to look into the feasibility of running against DeWine, who is from Cedarville, for the Republican nomination in the primary election in May 2006, according to a press release Tuesday.

Hritz had resigned as AK Steel president along with then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Wardrop Jr. Both men resigned by mutual agreement with the Middletown-based steelmaker's board of directors. After suing AK Steel (NYSE:AKS) seeking payment for his retirement and severance packages, Hritz and the company settled the lawsuit in March 2004.

Hritz is now president and CEO of Nashville-based Sentrinex Ltd., a firm that helps corporations develop safety measures.

Does this mean that CQ should move the DeWine race from "Republican Favored" to "Leans Republican"?