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LaRose’s Putting His Political Ambitions Ahead of Ohioans To Ban Abortion

Columbus, OH – With less than a week left until Ohioans will decide on a ballot amendment to protect reproductive rights and overturn the state’s abortion ban, Frank LaRose is under fire for going to “extraordinary lengths” to intentionally silence and mislead Ohioans.

First, LaRose spearheaded August’s State Issue 1, an amendment designed to silence Ohioans and benefit special interests – admitting it was “100%” about abortion. When that failed, LaRose rewrote the ballot language for State Issue 1 in November to be  “intentionally misleading.” Recent polls show that LaRose’s language has a measurable impact on support for State Issue 1 when compared to the original ballot language and could be “critical” to the outcome despite a majority of Ohioans supporting abortion rights. Then, in the 11th hour, LaRose “quietly purged” thousands of Ohio voters after early voting for the November 7th election had already started. 

LaRose has already said he would override Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban and does not support exceptions for rape or incest. 

What Ohioans are reading about Frank LaRose’s efforts to intentionally silence and mislead Ohioans this week:

MSNBC: “In related news, Ohio’s Republican secretary of state, Frank LaRose, purged thousands of voter registrations ahead of a statewide vote on abortion rights. A report in The New Republic noted that LaRose took these steps in September, but he “did not publicly announce his decision at the time and only acknowledged it when local outlets began reporting it last week.”

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio GOP politicians have gone to extraordinary lengths to subvert and deceive on Issue 1

Marilou Johanek

October 31, 2023

• Quietly purging nearly 27,000 Ohioans from the voter rolls late last month, even as some voting had already begun in the Nov. 7 election, was dirty pool. The questionably timed expulsion of inactive voters — ahead of a statewide vote on abortion rights — was ordered by a vocal opponent of that ballot referendum without the usual public notice before or after the cancellation of thousands of registrations.

• Voters who didn’t know they’d been canceled by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and didn’t quickly re-register before Oct. 10 — just 12 days after the purge — cannot vote in the upcoming election. They will not have a voice in deciding, among other issues, whether the right to abortion in Ohio should be constitutionally protected or banned by Republican fiat.

• LaRose has demonstrated he will stop at nothing to keep Ohio women from making their own private medical decisions.

Cleveland.com: Frank LaRose’s stealth purge of voters right before the Nov. 7 election: editorial

Editorial Board

October 29, 2023

• Frank LaRose’s decision to push through a purge of 26,666 Ohio voters on Sept. 27, five days after the military and overseas voting process began for the Nov. 7 election — without, it would seem, the usual advance notice to community groups to help ensure accuracy and public awareness — raises red flags.

• This latest purge had originally been scheduled for July 20, but LaRose delayed it to Sept. 27 after the Aug. 8 special election was set. Yet the military and overseas absentee voting process for Nov. 7 started Sept. 22, so the purge happened while that was underway. Why not push the whole matter off until after Nov. 7?

• Frank LaRose owes it to the 26,666 voters he just removed from Ohio’s voting rolls, including more than 2,000 in Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Portage counties, and thousands more in Franklin and Hamilton counties, to explain clearly why it had to be done now, in this way, and without, it would seem, the usual advance notice.

The New Republic: Ohio Prepares for Abortion Election by Kicking Thousands off Voting Rolls

Tori Otten

October 30, 2023

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered that 26,666 voter registrations be purged in late September. He did not publicly announce his decision at the time and only acknowledged it when local outlets began reporting it last week. Those who were purged cannot re-register to vote in time for the abortion ballot measure on November 7.

• But LaRose’s refusal to be transparent around his decision should come as no surprise. He and his fellow state Republicans have been actively working to undermine local democracy over the abortion referendum.

• Republicans initially tried to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments to a 60 percent vote, instead of a simple majority. This would have paved the way for minority rule in the state. The state GOP argued the amendment was needed to protect the state Constitution from the influence of special interest groups, but LaRose later admitted the move was “100 percent” about blocking the abortion amendment.

Politico: Abortion referendum offers Ohio Democrats a playbook for ’24

Alice Ollstein and Madison Fernandez

October 29, 2023

• LaRose launched his Senate campaign just before spearheading an August special election to raise the threshold for ballot initiatives, a failed gambit he acknowledged was “100 percent” aimed at stymying the abortion rights referendum.

• But an October poll conducted by Baldwin Wallace University suggests LaRose’s argument may not be resonating with its intended audience.

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And Other Notable Tricks on Halloween…

Columbus, OH – With one week left until Ohioans decide on a ballot measure to protect reproductive rights and overturn the state’s current dangerous abortion ban, the entire field running for Ohio’s senate seat wants to *hocus pocus* Ohioans’ rights away. 

Disney’s Hocus Pocus Reimagined: The Senate Sisters Try To Make Ohioans’ Rights *Disappear*

Here’s a reminder of the #OHSEN field’s *scary* attempts to make Ohioans’ rights disappear:

• The entire #OHSEN primary field opposes the November amendment and therefore supports upholding the current restrictive law in Ohio – which bans abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.

• Bernie Moreno supports a national abortion ban and does not support exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.

• Frank LaRose supports a national abortion ban and opposes exceptions for rape or incest. LaRose spearheaded August’s State Issue 1 which would have benefitted special interests, silenced Ohioans, and made it harder to pass Issue 1 in November – admitting it was “100%” about abortion. When that flopped, Frank LaRose “twist[ed]” the ballot language for the November amendment to purposefully mislead and “confuse” Ohioans. A new poll recently found LaRose’s language has a measurable impact on support for State Issue 1 when compared to the original ballot language. LaRose also said he supports Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of top military confirmations – saying Tuberville’s position is “the same position I would support in the Senate.”

• Matt Dolan celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it “exciting.” Dolan has said defeating the November amendment is a priority, and is open to supporting a national abortion ban.

Trick or Treat? This field always picks “trick…” 🎃  

• Frank LaRose “dove deep into [his] bag of tricks” to deceive voters by rewriting the November ballot language to intentionally mislead Ohioans.

• Bernie Moreno tricked Ohioans when he said, “I’m not going to take personal wealth and buy a Senate seat” before writing himself a $3 million check.

• Matt Dolan is using a too-good-to-be-true “cheap loan” to bankroll his campaign, a trick  keeping his second Senate campaign afloat.

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LaRose Puts His Political Ambitions Ahead Of Ohioans As He Pushes For Total Abortion Ban

Columbus, OH – There is more proof Frank LaRose’s “twist[ed]” State Issue 1 ballot language is misleading and silencing Ohioans as they vote to overturn the state’s dangerous abortion ban. Ohioans have been calling out LaRose for weeks for his misleading language and now a new poll from Ohio Northern University finds that LaRose’s language has a measurable impact on support for State Issue 1 when compared to the original ballot language – which over 700,000 Ohioans supported – and could be “critical” to the outcome despite a majority of Ohioans supporting abortion rights. 

Before rewriting the ballot language, LaRose put himself at the center of August’s State Issue 1, which flopped and would have silenced Ohioans while benefiting special interests. LaRose has also said that even if State Issue 1 passes, he would overrule the majority of Ohioans who oppose banning abortion by voting for a national abortion ban in the Senate.

“Frank LaRose has proved he will do whatever it takes to ban abortion in Ohio, no matter how much it hurts Ohioans,” said ODP Spokesperson Reeves Oyster. 

Read what Ohioans are saying about Frank LaRose’s efforts to mislead Ohioans and pass a total abortion ban in Ohio: 

• Cleveland.com Editorial Board: “The issue’s supporters say the Ballot Board summary is intentionally misleading and fails to meet the standards required by Ohio law. At the least, it’s an attempt by LaRose to have his thumb on the scale of fairness – again.”

• Howard Wilkinson, WVXU: “Now, the Republican majority of his five-member Ohio Ballot Board — chaired by LaRose and tasked with the job of approving ballot language — stands accused of trying to stack the deck against the abortion rights amendment by inserting what abortion rights groups call misleading, inaccurate and inflammatory language into what should be a simple statement of fact.”

• Huffington Post: “But the five-member Ohio Ballot Board, led by anti-choice advocate and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, on Thursday approved anti-choice language to be used in the initiative, which may confuse voters.”

• Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal: “Instead, LaRose recast the amendment to purposely mislead and deceive. His draft is slanted with such routinely deployed anti-abortion propaganda it could have been dictated, word for word, by Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis. LaRose’s specious interpretation of the proposed amendment to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution is deliberately deceptive with provocative wording to unfairly prejudice outcome.”

• Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner:“[Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board] obfuscated the actual language of the proposed state constitutional amendment by substituting their own language and creating out of whole cloth a veil of deceit and bias in their desire to impose their views on Ohio voters about what they think is the substance of the proposed amendment.”

• Mia Lewis, Common Cause Ohio: “You have over 700,000 people who signed petitions and three people on the ballot board get to decide what appears on the ballot. There’s something really wrong with that picture… Clearly, Frank LaRose and his allies are trying to put their thumbs on the scales.”

• Veronica Strevel, Ohioan: “But then − in a slap in the face to all Ohioans, let alone the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who signed on to that language − LaRose abused his elected office by recently rewriting the language voters will see when they enter the voting booth this November.”

• Janet Ladrach, Ohioan: “Issue 1 is about more than abortion. It’s about government overreach into women’s health, with regard to contraception, miscarriage care, fertility treatment and the right to maintain a pregnancy. You won’t find contraception, miscarriage care or fertility treatment listed on the ballot language when you vote in the November election because Secretary of State Frank LaRose has the authority to rewrite proposed amendments for clarity. In this case, the “clarity” has clouded the issue.”

• Joy Bennett, Ohioan: “LaRose’s attempt to deceive us by changing the abortion amendment’s ballot language is disgraceful. He’s abusing his position as secretary of state to overrule us. What will stop him from doing the same as senator?”

• Bethany Double, Ohioan: “LaRose is using his role as Ohio Secretary of State to push his own agenda, and he will do the same if he is elected to the U.S. Senate. We cannot forget he has openly voiced his support for a national abortion ban. He does not care what Ohioans want and would override us if he goes to the Senate.”

• Angie Charles, Ohioan: “They’re going to reach even deeper into that soiled bag to defeat Issue 1, the reproductive rights amendment, in November. In fact, they’ve already started. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who chairs the Ohio Ballot Board, created deceitful language for the amendment on the ballot.”

• Eric Haidet, Ohioan: “I feel like I can’t read the news anymore without seeing another new Secretary of State Frank LaRose scandal. How many times are we going to let this elected official manipulate us for his own personal gain?”

See also: What Ohioans are Saying: LaRose “Abusing His Position as Secretary of State to Overrule Us”; Frank LaRose “Dove Deep Into [His] Bag of Tricks” to Mislead and Overrule Ohioans… Again; Frank LaRose “Intentionally Misleading” Ohioans, Trying to Overrule Voters; “A Slap in the Face:” Frank LaRose Not Working for Ohioans; What Ohioans Are Saying: “Shame On LaRose for Silencing Ohioans”; One Year After National Abortion Ban Introduced, Here’s A Reminder That #OHSEN Field Supports Abortion Bans; Frank LaRose Called Out for Putting “Thumb on the Scale of Fairness – Again” After Rewriting November Ballot Language; Shot, Chaser, Lime: Frank LaRose Tries to Silence, Overrule Ohioans *Again*; Frank LaRose Slammed for “Trying to Stack the Deck” Against Ohioans; Frank LaRose “Twists” Ballot Language to “Confuse,” “Deceive” Ohioans

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Columbus, OH –  It’s been another busy week in the Ohio Senate slugfest. This week, Trump’s presence continued to loom large and endorsements threw more gasoline on the fire while LaRose is now facing yet another scandal as he makes it clear he will do whatever it takes to support his political ambitions. 

Here’s what you missed this week in what has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country.

NEWT GINGRICH THROWS MORE GASOLINE ON THE SLUGFEST FIRE

Newt Gingrich – a major Trump ally – endorsed Bernie Moreno this week, sparking more infighting in this already messy slugfest. 

In Gingrich’s defense, it doesn’t take much to start a fight between these boys.

Here is how LaRose and Dolan responded to Moreno’s new endorsement: 

Frank LaRose’s Campaign: “Despite running once and spending a great deal of his own money, Bernie hasn’t registered with Ohio voters and I don’t see that changing — he’s a car salesman and that comes across.”

Matt Dolan’s Campaign: “[Bernie is] an ideological shape-shifter who will say or do anything to get elected. Maybe that helped him sell cars, but it destroys trust with voters and it would make him a lousy Republican nominee.”

FRANK REEKS OF DESPERATION WHILE FAILING TO OUTRUN HISTORY OF TRUMP CRITICISM

LaRose is in quite the “pickle.”

This week, columnist Howard Wilkinson points out that while LaRose “desperately” tries to outrun his history of Trump criticism, Trump is not a strong believer in the “forgive and forget” mindset.

How could Trump not forgive LaRose for being a Never Trumper, calling him racist, and downplaying the value of Trump’s endorsement? Frank better run faster because his past is “catching up with him.”

LAROSE QUIETLY PURGES VOTERS WEEKS BEFORE OHIOANS WILL DECIDE ON AMENDMENT HE OPPOSES

It’s a new week, which means Frank LaRose is facing a new scandal. This week, reports showed that LaRose used his official office to quietly purge thousands of voters weeks before Ohioans will decide on an amendment – which he opposes – to overturn Ohio’s dangerous abortion ban.

Media outlets and lawmakers alike are questioning LaRose on his decision and noting that LaRose “squeez[ed] removals between an August vote on an issue he favored and a November election with an issue he opposes.” 

This isn’t the first time LaRose has used his official office to support his political ambitions. After his August amendment flopped, LaRose rewrote and “twist[ed]” the November ballot language to trick Ohioans into voting for an abortion ban.

MORENO SLAMS LAROSE FOR BEING THE BIGGEST LOSER OF AUGUST AMENDMENT

Moreno once again slammed LaRose for August’s Issue 1 fourteen-point-loss this week. 

Following LaRose’s failure in August, Moreno was very vocal about the significant role LaRose played, saying that State Issue 1’s failure is a “preview of what would happen with Frank LaRose at the top of the ticket in 2024.”

Moreno only doubled down – and  even managed to take a swipe on Dolan in the same breath. 

Moreno on the Restore Liberty Podcast: “And as you know, Issue 1 that we had in August failed, it was supposed to raise the threshold to a majority from a simple majority, certainly not a super majority. But unfortunately, that effort was wrought with a lot of problems, messaging issues. Quite frankly, just gonna be, be blunt and say the Secretary of State Frank LaRose really screwed that up. And we lost, we lost by a lot, lost by 14 points. And the reality is that not only do I blame him for the failure in August, but I also blame him for when he was a state senator or Matt Dolan was in the State Senate, why didn’t they, George, put this on the ballot years ago?”

LAROSE STILL DODGING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS COSTLY MOVE

Ohioans are fed up with LaRose’s lack of accountability and transparency on his costly office move. Last week, three Ohioans submitted public record requests to various state agencies calling for answers from LaRose on his decision to move his official office to his campaign HQ – costing taxpayers $600,000. 

But LaRose is doing what he does best: dodging questions, refusing to provide answers, and making it clear he isn’t working for Ohioans.

LAROSE PREPARES FOR A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

SLUGFEST COUNTDOWN

145 days left until this Slugfest comes to a head and the infighting just keeps getting worse. 

WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING ABOUT THIS SLUGFEST

New York Times: In Tight G.O.P. Primary in Ohio, Newt Gingrich Picks His Candidate

WXVU: Analysis: Frank LaRose wants Trump’s endorsement. Will he get it?

Cleveland.com: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose quietly ordered purge of thousands of inactive voters last month

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

LaRose on conservative radio: “Yeah, that’s just BS from Bernie, this is the kind of slick talk from an inexperienced elitist that really is just gonna say whatever he can to get an applause line.”

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Columbus, OH – Today, the Ohio Senate Slugfest will get even nastier as Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan come together for another showdown in Akron. With an already “messy,” and “bruising” battle underway, the infighting will only get worse tonight as the candidates make it clear they are not fighting for Ohioans. 

Over the last two weeks, this Slugfest has been more brutal than ever with the field relentlessly attacking one another over fundraising numbers, August’s State Issue 1, and foreign policy. 

Here’s a refresher of the recent jabs before the field meets on the debate stage tonight: 

• Bernie Moreno attacked Frank LaRose for lying and putting his political ambitions ahead of Ohioans. The jabs followed an explosive memo published by the Moreno campaign that slammed LaRose for being “immersed in scandal, political ineptitude and negative press.”

• Bernie Moreno on Frank LaRose: “We put up with so much bad behavior in politics. The reality is, you just got elected for four years as Secretary of State, you’re running for Senate, that’s part of the problem. Shouldn’t you do the job you just got elected to do?”

• Trump-ally Andrew Surabian: “At an Ohio U.S. Senate Forum, Bernie Moreno roasts Frank LaRose over his support for funding Ukraine.”

• Frank LaRose’s campaign on Bernie Moreno, after LaRose downplayed the Trump endorsement and refused to endorse the former President in 2016, 2020, and even the first week of his Senate campaign:“President Trump is smart enough not to be conned by a used car salesman into buying a lemon.”

• Matt Dolan’s campaign on Bernie Moreno trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat after promising to not “write [himself] a big fat check:” “Bernie Moreno pledged to Ohioans on numerous occasions that he wouldn’t self-fund his campaign. What’s clear is that the former used car dealer’s credibility is eroding as quickly as his donor support.”

• Matt Dolan’s campaign called out LaRose’s “weak” fundraising.

What Ohioans read after the last Slugfest Showdown:

• Cleveland.com: Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates clash in election season’s first candidate forum

• Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates clash over foreign policy in first forum

• Daily Caller: GOP Senate Candidate Accuses Primary Opponents Of Supporting Amnesty In Fiery Exchange

More on the Ohio Senate Slugfest:

• Daily Beast: Ohio Is Shaping Up to Be the Messiest Senate Primary of 2024

• NBC: “Ohio’s Senate race next year is expected to be one of the most expensive in the country. It will start with what already has the makings of a messy, Trump-influenced primary…”

• The Messenger: Another competitive and expensive GOP primary is brewing in the Buckeye State

With less than five months left in the primary, this slugfest is only getting nastier as it becomes crystal clear that none of the Republicans running for Ohio’s Senate seat are fighting for Ohioans. Find more details about tonight’s Slugfest Showdown here.

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