Senate GOP Protecting Ohio's Elections Despite Biden's Blunder

Ohioans have the right to vote for whom they please. The Senate GOP fought for that this week by attempting to add Joe Biden to the ballot. 

That may sound strange: Republicans making sure a Democrat can be a candidate for president, especially following the Democratic National Convention's scheduling error that prevents Biden from making the ballot in Ohio in the first place. (Read more about the Democrats’ latest fail in Senator Terry Johnson’s latest column in On the Record.)

But the Senate is focused on preserving the fundamental right every Ohioan has to vote for their candidate.

That’s one of our topics this week on the President’s Podcast with our guest Senator Rob McColley. 

Unlike the liberal elites throughout the country trying to keep Trump off the ballot, Ohio Republicans do not believe in using lawfare to keep any nominee off the ticket. We believe in our democracy and the right every American citizen has to participate in it.

That is why we added a temporary law change to House Bill 114 that gives an extension to Ohio’s certification deadline so Biden can make the November ballot. This quick fix will give every Ohioan the ability to vote for their candidate, no matter who it is.

But let’s be clear: we believe our democratic republic is built for Americans and the right to participate in it extends only to American citizens. Not foreign nationals who want to influence our elections and the course of our state and country. Watch Senator McColley’s direct and persuasive floor speech on the Biden ballot issue and foreign election interference. 

Foreign billionaires have the ability to give millions in contributions to ballot issue campaigns in Ohio due to a loophole in the law. And they use that to their advantage. 

The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a liberal dark money group, spent $12 million dollars on ballot campaigns in our state in 2023.  That organization is propped up by a Swiss billionaire who has given more than $200 million to the cause since 2016. 

Ohio’s elections are for Ohioans, not foreign nationals who want to tip the scales in favor of their own interests.

We included language banning this outside influence in our ballot issue campaigns in House Bill 114. We believe in YOUR right to participate in elections. We believe in YOUR voice being heard. 

Unfortunately House Bill 114 stalled in the Ohio House. It was not even brought up for a vote.

Why?

No one put it more succinctly than Secretary of State Frank LaRose: 

“Unfortunately, the Ohio House couldn’t get that done today, it appears because Democrats are more interested in protecting foreign billionaires who want to bankroll Ohio’s elections than in getting their presidential candidate on the ballot. The House still has time to act with an emergency vote, and it’s in the best interest of Ohio voters, as well as our ability to quickly and effectively prepare for a general election, that they find a way to do so.”

Democrats in the House care more about protecting their billionaire friends than Ohio voters.

That fact will only diminish our democracy.