Hold onto your hats, folks! The political drama in Ohio is reaching a fever pitch as Secretary of State Frank LaRose issues a stern warning to Democrats: Joe Biden might be missing from the state’s 2024 election ballot. A scheduling quirk between Ohio’s election laws and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has thrown Biden’s candidacy into jeopardy in one of the nation’s key battleground states.
How did we get here? Ohio law mandates that all presidential candidates must be nominated a full 90 days before the election, setting this year’s deadline at August 7th. However, the DNC doesn’t plan to convene until August 19th—12 days too late. LaRose, a Republican, isn’t holding back. In a letter to Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters, he laid it out plainly: “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”.
Think about the chaos this could unleash. Imagine heading to the polls and not seeing the current President’s name on the ballot! This isn’t just a logistical hiccup; it’s a potential constitutional crisis in the making.
LaRose hasn’t just raised alarms; he’s also proposed solutions, such as changing the DNC’s timeline or seeking legislative action to amend the deadline. Unsurprisingly, these suggestions haven’t gained traction. The clock is ticking, and Ohio lawmakers appear confident yet uncommitted to resolving the issue swiftly. Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D) both expressed doubts that the legislature would step in. “There’s just not the will to do that from the legislature,” said Stephens. Echoing the sentiment, Russo remarked, “I think you’re probably going to see either inner party efforts or court action.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) remains optimistic, though. “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,” DeWine assured. But confidence without action can only go so far.
The stakes are high. Ohio is not just any state; it’s a strategic battleground with significant influence over the electoral outcome. The Democratic Party cannot afford to lose ballot access here, especially considering the uproar it would cause among voters.
Elizabeth Walters, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, fired back, accusing Republicans of politicizing the process. “Republican politicians at the statehouse want to take away Ohioans’ ability to choose who they want to be President,” she asserted. Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign remains unfazed. “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states,” said spokesperson Charles Lutvak confidently.
There are precedents for resolving such conflicts. Alabama faced a similar issue but passed a law adjusting their deadline to ensure ballot access. Ohio could follow suit, but time is running out.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Ohio. Will the Buckeye State find a way to navigate this electoral tightrope, or will we witness an unprecedented omission of an incumbent president from the ballot?
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