Former Ohio governor John Kasich led the charge, admitting his presence was unusual but insisting his status as a lifelong Republican “holds second place to my responsibility to my country.”

“Look, the political history is clear. No Republican president opposed for re-nomination has ever won re-election,” wrote Republican National Committee member Jevon Williams in an email.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill into law that bans the dilation and evacuation procedure, which is the most common abortion procedure in the second trimester.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill Tuesday imposing a 20-week abortion ban while vetoing stricter provisions in a separate measure that would have barred the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat.

The law prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Kasich, who lost the Republican presidential nomination to Donald Trump, wrote in 2008 Republican nominee Sen. John McCain’s name instead of voting for Trump or his rival

While there was a large police presence downtown Cleveland and near the convention site around midday Monday, just a few dozen officers on bikes stood watch before the start of the rally being staged along the Cuyahoga River.

Donald Trump's victory spurred some reluctant Republicans to rally around him, though others agonized over their party's future.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is leaving the Republican presidential contest, giving Donald Trump a clear path to his party's nomination.

The race to the White House continues Tuesday with the Indiana primaries. Polls close at 6 p.m. ET and Global News has full, up-to-the-minute coverage as the results roll in.