Ohio lawmakers failed to advance a plan to put President Joe Biden on the state’s November ballot, due to bitter divisions among Republicans who control the state Legislature. Both the state House and Senate proposed changing the certification deadline to 74 days before the election, to allow for Biden’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention. With the current deadline of August 7th, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said lawmakers had until Thursday to make a decision. Governor Mike DeWine reassured that Biden will be on the ballot, whether through legislation or legal action.
Despite a bipartisan proposal introduced by House leaders to resolve the Biden ballot issue, Senate Republicans pursued a different approach by including a deadline fix within a bill that banned foreign donations to ballot campaigns. Democrats viewed this as a poison pill and refused to support it, alleging that the bill would create obstacles for ballot campaigns. This legislation was proposed after a progressive group spent heavily on Ohio’s 2023 abortion rights amendment and redistricting commission, causing concern about the impact on local efforts.
The Senate’s decision to approve their bill left House lawmakers with limited options – either to approve their proposal or agree with the Senate plan. However, neither option was chosen, with House Republicans expressing frustration over the lack of political gains in the House bill and accusing Speaker Jason Stephens of sabotage. This disagreement highlights the deep divisions within the Republican Party in Ohio and the challenges in finding a resolution to the Biden ballot issue before the looming deadline.
House Minority Leader Allison Russo highlighted the lack of progress in securing a legislative solution and suggested that Democrats may pursue a lawsuit to ensure Biden’s presence on the ballot. Despite the political games and challenges faced in the Legislature, Russo emphasized that alternative options exist to address the issue. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman defended the Senate bill as a reasonable compromise to resolve both the deadline conflict and foreign donation ban, although Democrats criticized it as a “dirty trick” that would hinder ballot campaigns.
Ohio lawmakers faced pressure to amend the certification deadline to accommodate Biden’s nomination, given the impending August 7th deadline. However, the failure to reach a consensus among Republicans on the best approach to resolve the issue underscores the challenges and divisions within the state Legislature. Despite Governor DeWine’s assurance that Biden will be on the ballot, the uncertainty surrounding the resolution of this issue raises questions about the impact on the upcoming election and the role of partisan politics in shaping legislative decisions.
