Uncategorized

The infighting in the Ohio Senate slugfest only got more heated this week as Bernie Moreno attacked Frank LaRose *again* for bungling State Issue 1. LaRose has closely tied himself to the upcoming August election – going so far as to defend State Issue 1 on the debate stage this week and catching serious flak in the process.  
 
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. 
 

LAROSE FEELS HEAT OVER STATE ISSUE 1

Bernie Moreno attacked Frank LaRose for bungling the messaging around State Issue 1 and making the August election “100%” about abortion – a comment LaRose has paid for every day since.
 

LAROSE THEN WENT ON DEFENSE, TRADING BARBS WITH MORENO

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME LAROSE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY REPUBLICANS FOR BADLY POSITIONING STATE ISSUE 1…

…OR BY OHIOANS. ON THE DEBATE STAGE THIS WEEK, LAROSE WAS “REPEATEDLY JEERED” FOR HIS TIES TO STATE ISSUE 1.

A REMINDER OF WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING ABOUT FRANK LAROSE A WEEK INTO HIS SENATE CAMPAIGN: 
 

Statehouse News Bureau: LaRose enters race for the U.S. Senate while being at the forefront of a controversial ballot issue
 
Cleveland.com: “And while it’s too simple to say that [LaRose’s] political fortunes will rise or fall with State Issue 1, his close ties to the measure will offer plenty of chances for him to catch attacks from across the political spectrum.”
 
Cleveland.com: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s Senate primary race will be preceded by his tough race to get Issue 1 passed in a special August election.”
 
Ohio Capital Journal: “Over the next four months, LaRose will have to balance Senate fundraising and campaigning with running two elections… LaRose is one of the proposal’s chief advocates and after initially speaking against August elections when lawmakers eliminated them last year, LaRose supported bringing back this August election to consider Issue 1.”
 
The Vindicator: “Finally, LaRose is one of the primary backers of state Issue 1, which would make it much harder for constitutional amendments to pass if voters approve it Aug. 8. LaRose is so connected to the issue that his Senate cause could be impacted if it is defeated.”
 
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
 
Bernie Moreno when asked what the biggest animal he could take on with his bare hands and win is: “Well that’s easy, I have two of them in my primary: The RINO.”

This isn’t the first time LaRose has faced legal questions and ethics concerns

Frank LaRose has been in the Ohio Senate slugfest for ten days and is already facing an ethics complaint for his sketchy shadow campaign, filed by an Ohio Republican. The complaint alleges that Frank LaRose “illegally ran a de-facto campaign for the U.S. Senate for months without disclosing how it was funded.” 
 
This isn’t the first time LaRose’s sketchy shadow campaign has raised legal questions and ethics concerns – including that his super PAC is being run by the same operatives behind the largest corruption scandal in state history. Earlier this year, the Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC.
 
Ohioans – including his opponent Bernie Moreno – have been slamming LaRose for weeks for “campaigning out of his office” and being more focused on his political agenda than doing his job. 
 
Read more:
 
Cleveland.com: Elections complaint accuses Frank LaRose of flouting election law during lead up to U.S. Senate campaign
Andrew Tobias
July 27, 2023

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose, leading up to the official start of his bid for the U.S. Senate, illegally ran a de-facto campaign for the U.S. Senate for months without disclosing how it was funded, a recent federal elections complaint filed by a local Republican activist alleges.
• Meanwhile, LaRose filed no paperwork documenting any campaign expenses, King said, while also raising more money for the Leadership for Ohio Fund than he’d be allowed to if he were a declared candidate. The Leadership for Ohio Fund also has made no public disclosures, although it may soon after registering with the Federal Elections Commission as a Super PAC on July 15, just before LaRose announced his candidacy.
• King’s complaint alleges LaRose clearly had decided he would get in the race weeks ago, when in early May, he told a potential donor he was “‘preparing to, hopefully soon, announce [his] candidacy for this office.’” LaRose has telegraphed plans to run for the U.S. Senate since around then, telling donors and reporters that he would make a decision on the race “soon” while making arguments for himself as a candidate. In late April, LaRose also attended a fundraiser hosted by the Leadership for Ohio Fund at the Washington, D.C., home of Barry Jackson, ex-House Speaker John Boehner’s former chief of staff, according to NBC News.
• The FEC complaint speculates that LaRose, before declaring his official candidacy earlier this month, may have raised money for the Leadership for Ohio Fund in excess of the $3,300-per-donor limits.
• “To me in my untrained, non-campaign eye, it’s pretty clear what he’s doing,” King said.

Tonight, Frank LaRose will defend his close ties to an effort designed to benefit special interests and silence the voices of the Ohioans he’s supposed to be working for on the debate stage. Watch the debate, hosted by WCMH, at 7 PM ET here.
 
What to watch for at tonight’s debate:

• Frank LaRose will continue to double down on his close ties to the August special election and State Issue 1, an effort designed to benefit special interests and silence the voices of the Ohioans he’s supposed to be working for.
   
• Frank LaRose will have to answer for ethics concerns regarding his close ties to State Issue 1 after saying in 2019 that “the people of Ohio need to know that their chief elections officer is calling balls and strikes.”
   
• Frank LaRose will try to rewrite his admission that the August special election and State Issue 1 are “100%” about abortion.
   
• Frank LaRose will be forced to explain why he was against August special elections – saying that they lead to “a handful of voters… making big decisions” – before he was for them.

LaRose has consistently criticized Trump’s influence

Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers in the wake of endorsing Donald Trump after refusing to do so in 2016, 2020, and even last week as he entered the Republican slugfest for Ohio’s Senate seat. LaRose’s “about-face” endorsement follows years of criticizing Trump – including downplaying his influence and recently saying the former President’s support “doesn’t carry the same weight it used to.”
 
Questions Frank LaRose must answer after putting his finger in the wind and endorsing Donald Trump:

• You refused to endorse Donald Trump in 2016, 2020 – when he was the Republican incumbent – and even last week. What changed?
   
• In 2019, you refused to endorse or campaign with Trump with the excuse that “the people of Ohio need to know that their chief elections officer is calling balls and strikes.” As Secretary of State, you are still responsible for overseeing elections. What changed?
   
• When asked about endorsing Donald Trump a week ago, you said: “I haven’t made a decision yet… there’s a long time to go in the Republican primary.” What changed?
   
• In May, you said that Donald Trump’s influence “doesn’t carry the same weight it used to.” What changed? 
   
• You called Donald Trump “disgusting,” “appalling,”and “not a role model for children.” What changed?
   
• You denied criticism that you are “climb[ing] the political ladder” and should instead focus on the August special election, saying you would still consistently campaign for State Issue 1. Now, you’re dining with Trump in New Jersey despite the election – which you are charged with administering and are closely tied to – being two weeks away. What changed?

Meanwhile, the former President has praised Bernie Moreno – including 48 hours before LaRose’s announcement. Moreno has also been endorsed by J.D. Vance, who has a close relationship with Trump.

LaRose’s endorsement comes after he has consistently downplayed the former President’s influence

Frank LaRose put his finger in the wind today and endorsed Donald Trump for President after failing to endorse Trump in 2016, 2020, and even last week as he entered the Republican slugfest for Ohio’s Senate seat. LaRose’s announcement comes after he has consistently downplayed Trump’s influence.
 
“Frank LaRose is doing everything he can to make up for his previous criticism and decision to not endorse the former President in 2016, 2020, and even last week,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “This is just the latest example of LaRose putting his finger in the wind to try to help himself get ahead.”
 
Donald Trump has praised Bernie Moreno twice – including 48 hours before LaRose’s announcement. Moreno has also been endorsed by J.D. Vance, who has a close relationship with Trump.
 
Here’s what else you need to know about Frank LaRose and Donald Trump:

• LaRose did not endorse Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, or even last week as he entered the Republican slugfest for Ohio’s Senate seat. When asked if he would endorse Donald Trump in 2024 seven days ago, LaRose said: “I haven’t made a decision yet on that. As far as, you know, who I may endorse, there’s a long time to go in the Republican primary.”
• LaRose was recently caught on tape downplaying the value of a Trump endorsement at a closed-door Republican gathering. At the event, LaRose said that Trump’s support “doesn’t carry the same weight it used to” and criticized Bernie Moreno, who Trump has praised.
• LaRose previously condemned Trump as “disgusting,” “appalling,”and “not a role model for children.”