A coalition of election integrity groups is demanding Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens advance legislation prohibiting foreign money from backing ballot measures.
“Ohioans deserve elections that are free and fair—not influenced by foreign billionaires allowed to bankroll Left-wing causes at the expense of American citizens,” Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy Catherine Gunsalus said in a statement. “…In a crucial election year with generational ballot measures on the line, the Speaker’s decision to put politics over election integrity is unacceptable. Conservatives will not relent in our calls to get foreign meddling out of every election and protect the votes of all Ohioans.”
On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate passed an amended version of House Bill 114 to ensure President Joe Biden will be able to appear on the Buckeye State’s 2024 general election ballot. As The Federalist reported, the office of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent a letter last month notifying state Democrat Party Chair Liz Walters that the Democratic National Convention’s current date is more than a week after the date by which presidential candidates must be certified in Ohio.
LaRose’s office noted that to rectify the issue, the Democratic National Committee must change the date of its nominating convention or Ohio lawmakers must pass legislation “creat[ing] an exception to this statutory requirement” by May 9.
Senate Republicans attempted to score for their own voters, too, as they passed a bill to help rectify Democrats’ scheduling mistake. When the Senate passed HB 114, they added provisions prohibiting foreign nationals
