Brace yourselves, folks. In a shocking turn of events, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has delivered a jaw-dropping warning to the Democrats: President Joe Biden might be MIA on Ohio’s ballot this November! A clash between Ohio’s election laws and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) schedule could bench Biden from the Buckeye State.
The Clock is Ticking! Ohio law demands presidential candidates be nominated a full 90 days before the election. This year, that deadline is August 7. But the DNC won’t even meet until August 19, throwing Biden’s candidacy into serious jeopardy.
Republican LaRose laid down the law in a scathing letter to Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters. “I write to inform you that my office still has not received communication on behalf of the Ohio Democratic Party or the Democratic National Committee that clarifies the party’s intent to comply with Ohio’s ballot access deadline,” LaRose fired off on Tuesday.
If no resolution is found, LaRose threatens to ax Biden from the ballot. “Unless your party plans to comply with the statutory deadline, I am duty-bound to instruct boards of elections to begin preparing ballots that do not include the Democratic Party’s nominees for president and vice president of the United States,” he warned.
I’ve said from here to Colorado that it’s in the best interest of voters to have a choice in the race for president. I’m also duty-bound to follow the law as Ohio’s chief elections officer.
As it stands today, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee will not be on the Ohio… pic.twitter.com/Y5AkZBoow2
— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) May 21, 2024
This bombshell could trigger a democratic disaster with nationwide fallout if Biden’s name vanishes from a key battleground state ballot. LaRose has proposed fixes, like altering the DNC’s timeline or legislative tweaks, but so far, these solutions have flopped. LaRose’s letter ends with a desperate plea for swift action: “I trust that you will act quickly to resolve this conflict so we can move forward with clarity in preparing for the November general election.”
WATCH:
Despite this alarming scenario, Ohio lawmakers seem sure Biden will be on the ballot—somehow. But the solution won’t come from the legislature, says Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R) and Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D).
“There’s just not the will to do that from the legislature,” Stephens told the Ohio Capitol Journal. Russo added, “We’ve seen the dysfunction here. I think you’re probably going to see either inner party efforts or court action.” Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) insists the legislature must step in. “I have every confidence that it’s going to get done. No one should worry… it’s either going to be done by the court, or it’s going to be done by the legislature.”
Ohio law demands political parties certify candidates with the Secretary of State 90 days pre-election. But Biden’s official nomination by the DNC is only 75 days before the big day. Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters accused, “Republican politicians at the statehouse want to take away Ohioans’ ability to choose who they want to be President. Corrupt politicians in Columbus have politicized the process.”
Despite the chaos, Biden’s camp remains confident. “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states,” assured spokesperson Charles Lutvak. With legislative fixes floating around, like one tied to a campaign child care bill, it’s a race against time. Alabama faced a similar crisis but tweaked their law to save Biden’s ballot spot.
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