CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A member of U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci's gubernatorial campaign has been removed from the campaign after controversial social media posts, including a meme alluding to violence against Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Renacci spokesman James Slepian said Tuesday that Delhi Township's Linda Caudill had been removed from the campaign as a county leader one day after cleveland.com reported on the meme that seemed to advocate violence against Husted, one of Renacci's rivals in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

Caudill had previously come under scrutiny for inflammatory posts on an ex-Husted staffer's Facebook tribute to her dead grandmother first reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Enquirer also reported Tuesday that the Renacci campaign was accusing Husted of verbally threatening Renacci's wife, Tina, in what's become an ugly race in the GOP primary.

"While Jon Husted has yet to apologize for verbally threatening Jim Renacci's wife when she questioned him about dishonest campaign tactics, in an effort to ensure that the gubernatorial race remains free from further needless distractions and is focused on the issues that matter most to Ohioans, the Renacci campaign has parted ways with volunteer Linda Caudill," Slepian said.

The gubernatorial primary is scheduled for May 8.