Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has called for a special session of the General Assembly to ensure that President Joe Biden is on the state’s 2024 ballot by the Aug. 7 deadline, as Biden’s nomination falls after this date. The issue of Biden’s appearance on the ballot involves a legislative fight to keep foreign money out of state ballot campaigns, influenced by past instances of foreign funding in Ohio elections. DeWine expressed frustration over the matter, calling the situation absurd and unacceptable, as the deadline to resolve the issue is approaching rapidly.
Since Ohio’s certification deadline was changed from 60 to 90 days ahead of the general election, adjustments have had to be made to accommodate candidates of both parties, with temporary changes in 2012 and 2020. This year, lawmakers were unable to come up with a fix by the May 9 cutoff set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. DeWine has proclaimed the need for a Senate version of a bill that bans foreign nationals from contributing to Ohio ballot measures, describing it as a necessary step to protect the state’s elections while addressing the issue of Biden’s appearance on the ballot.
The proposal has faced opposition in the Ohio House, where Republicans rely on Democratic votes for passing some legislation. Senate President Matt Huffman’s spokesman encouraged House leadership to allow a vote on the bill, emphasizing the importance of both the ban on foreign campaign contributions and fixing the Democratic Party’s error that jeopardized Biden’s presence on the ballot. House Democratic leader Allison Russo criticized the GOP’s tactics, accusing them of changing the rules to their advantage and undermining citizens’ rights to fund ballot initiatives.
The State Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters urged the passing of the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act to address dark money issues and strengthen the ban on foreign funding while accusing GOP lawmakers of politicizing the process and disenfranchising Ohioans. Republican Speaker Jason Stephens noted that lawmakers are working on language that bans foreign influence from ballot issue campaigns without impeding citizens’ rights. U.S. Senator JD Vance expressed support for the special session as a compromise that would benefit down-ballot races, emphasizing the need for a strong presidential race to drive voter turnout.
The Ohio Republican Party endorsed DeWine’s decision, highlighting bipartisan efforts to resolve the issue and ensure Biden’s appearance on the Ohio ballot. The absence of a response from the Biden campaign raises questions about their stance on the matter, although Alabama recently changed its law to accommodate the President on fall ballots. The last time Ohio lawmakers were called back for a special session was in 2004, under similar circumstances related to campaign finance reform. Overall, the focus remains on passing legislation that protects the integrity of Ohio’s elections while securing Biden’s place on the 2024 ballot.
