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Columbus, OH – Today, Ohio Democrats announced they submitted 100,637 signatures from Ohioans in all 88 counties to protect abortion rights and secure an abortion rights initiative on the ballot this November. 

“Ohio Democrats are proud to work with our partners in the reproductive rights space and do our part to get abortion rights on the ballot this November. As we wait for these signatures to be verified and approved, we’re already out in communities across the state fighting for reproductive rights by urging Ohioans to vote NO on August 8 so we can tell radical Republicans in November: we won’t go back,” said Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

The signature gathering process is a grassroots, volunteer-driven effort with support from Ohio Democrats and County Parties. To secure the initiative on the ballot, Ohioans must submit more than 400,000 valid signatures to Ohio’s Secretary of State.

At the same time Ohio Democrats have been collecting signatures, they’ve also been organizing in communities across the state to urge Ohioans to vote NO on Issue 1 in August. The August election is a political power grab by corrupt politicians and special interests to prevent Ohioans from protecting abortion rights in November.  

Ohioans interested in getting involved with Ohio Democrats’ work to protect abortion rights can sign up to volunteer HERE. 

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New reporting today from NBC details how Frank LaRose’s primary problems are spiraling out of control — highlighting LaRose’s ties to noted Trump-antagonist John Kasich, his pattern of downplaying Trump’s influence, and now his “gentle rebuke” of the former President. 
 
As Donald Trump’s shadow “hangs heavy” over Ohio Republicans’ “family fight,” this is the latest indication of just how messy and chaotic this primary battle will get. 
 
Read more:
 
NBC: How Trump’s legal woes are playing in Ohio’s GOP Senate primary
Henry Gomez
June 15, 2023

• In a key 2024 battle, Bernie Moreno is all-in on Trump. Matt Dolan is ignoring the spectacle. And Frank LaRose is playing to both sides.
   
• Ohio’s brewing 2024 Senate contest is turning into a real-time illustration of the different ways ambitious Republicans are navigating Donald Trump’s latest legal troubles. And given how acrimonious and expensive (and Trumpy) the last Ohio GOP Senate primary was — now-Sen. JD Vance eventually scored Trump’s endorsement in an early primary that foreshadowed how other Republican contests went — the dynamics are worth watching.
   
• Previously a Trump skeptic, Moreno is now among his most loyal defenders and had already planned to be in Bedminster for a previously scheduled Trump fundraiser. Trump has encouraged, but not officially endorsed, Moreno’s bid.
   
• Then there’s Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who has been telling donors he plans to enter the GOP primary soon. LaRose’s political roots — and many of his long-standing allies in the state party — tie back to former Gov. John Kasich, who carved out a stridently anti-Trump reputation after losing to him in the 2016 presidential primaries. Kasich even endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020. (Kasich is now an NBC contributor.)
   
• For example: LaRose accepted a Trump endorsement last year while seeking re-election as secretary of state, but more recently he has downplayed Trump’s influence over Republican voters. 
   
• LaRose has not gone out of his way to comment on Trump’s latest legal woes. When asked for comment Wednesday by NBC News, LaRose spokesperson Rob Nichols offered a statement that gently rebuked Trump — though not by name — but also included a common GOP criticism of how the Department of Justice is handling the case. 

See also: Mike Pence Makes #OHSEN Republicans’ “Family Fight” Even Messier; This “Family Fight” is Full Steam Ahead; Ethics Concerns Surround Frank LaRose’s “Shadow Campaign” for Ohio’s Senate Seat; More Gasoline Thrown On The Primary Dumpster Fire; ICYMI: Expect a “Bloody Fight” in #OHSEN Republican Primary; Ron DeSantis Creates Chaos in Republicans’ #OHSEN “Family Fight;” J.D. Vance Escalates Ohio Republicans’ “Family Fight” With Endorsement; Donald Trump Looms While the Field Takes Heat; Frank LaRose Doubles Down on His Trump Problem, Jabs at Bernie Moreno *Again*; The Buckeye Battle Continues

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.
 

NO WINNERS IN OHIO REPUBLICANS’ “FAMILY FIGHT”
 
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “We wouldn’t describe any of the potential Republican Senate nominees in Ohio as slam dunk candidates…”
 
Politico: “Republicans still are already beginning to face rocky primaries in states such as West Virginia and Ohio. And those favored candidates also have some liabilities that could plague them in the general election.”
 
Grab your popcorn – it’s getting messy!
 

LAROSE “100%” SAYS THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD
 

After being slammed last week for misleading Ohioans to raise money for his shadow campaign for Senate, Frank LaRose was caught red handed this week saying the quiet part out loud on State Issue 1 – admitting it is “100%” about abortion. 
 
WEWS-TV Cleveland: Ohio Sec. of State LaRose admits move to make constitution harder to amend is ‘100% about… abortion’
 
“Every single time LaRose has been asked if Issue 1 was related to an abortion vote, he has denied it…. But the words he said to reporters appear different than when he spoke to his supporters.”
 
“‘The Secretary of State’s office should be a nonpartisan position,’” Miller said. “‘This just shows that politics are creeping into how Secretary LaRose runs his office — and that’s disappointing.’”
 
WVXU: Commentary: Finally, Frank LaRose confirms what we 100% already knew
 
“Frank LaRose and Matt Huffman — two Republicans who are Ohio’s chief elections officer and most powerful legislator, respectively — can’t keep their stories straight on State Issue 1.”
 
“A more accurate name might be Save Our Constitution from Ideas We Don’t Like. Like abortion rights. But, shh, that’s supposed to be a secret.”
 
“LaRose’s head appears to be on swivel these days. He seems to be of two minds on a number of issues.”

MIKE PENCE STIRS THE OHSEN POT

Mike Pence had a busy week attacking Donald Trump and causing headaches among the OHSEN field. It will only get worse from here as the Presidential primary heats up and the candidates vying for Ohio’s Senate seat are forced to pick sides. A reminder on where they stand: 
 
Bernie Moreno called Trump “the greatest president of my lifetime” and is the only candidate in the race who has endorsed the former President. 
 
Matt Dolan is ignoring Trump and appeared alongside a campaign event with Trump-nemesis Ron DeSantis in Ohio last month. 
 
Frank LaRose has not endorsed Donald Trump and has been spotted with both Trump-nemeses Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis – who he has also financially supported. LaRose was caught on tape downplaying the value of a Trump endorsement – an admission of his own problems with the former President.
 
And if you had any doubts about just how messy this will get…

Columbus, OH – With Mike Pence – another Trump-nemesis – officially entering the Presidential primary today, expect Ohio Republicans’ “family fight” to only get messier. As the candidates in this race are forced to navigate fault lines within the Republican party while attacking one another, this primary – which has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” battles in the country – is going downhill quickly.

What you need to know about the latest “family fight” in the #OHSEN field:

• Bernie Moreno called Trump “the greatest president of my lifetime” and is the only candidate in the race who has endorsed the former President. Moreno authored an op-ed earlier this year saying that candidates who refuse to support Trump should be “disqualified” and secured Trump-loyalist J.D. Vance’s endorsement.
• Matt Dolan is ignoring Trump and appeared alongside a campaign event with Trump-nemesis Ron DeSantis in Ohio last month. Dolan has been slammed by conservative radio and the field for being “Democrat-light.”
• Frank LaRose declined to endorse Donald Trump’s current bid for the Presidential nomination and has been spotted with both Trump-nemeses Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis – who he has also financially supported. LaRose was caught on tape downplaying the value of a Trump endorsement – an admission of his own problems with the former President.

See also: This “Family Fight” is Full Steam Ahead; Ethics Concerns Surround Frank LaRose’s “Shadow Campaign” for Ohio’s Senate Seat; More Gasoline Thrown On The Primary Dumpster Fire; ICYMI: Expect a “Bloody Fight” in #OHSEN Republican Primary; Ron DeSantis Creates Chaos in Republicans’ #OHSEN “Family Fight;” J.D. Vance Escalates Ohio Republicans’ “Family Fight” With Endorsement; Donald Trump Looms While the Field Takes Heat; Frank LaRose Doubles Down on His Trump Problem, Jabs at Bernie Moreno *Again*; The Buckeye Battle Continues

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Ohio Republicans’ “family fight” is full steam ahead. Here’s what you missed in what has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country. 

NOTHING CAN STOP THIS “FAMILY FIGHT”
 
Nothing can stop this “family fight” from devolving into a chaotic mess. With the candidates wasting no time attacking one another, it’s clear whoever emerges from this primary will be bruised, battered and out of touch with Ohioans. But don’t take it from us:
 
J.D. Vance: “We’re going to have a very brutal primary in the State of Ohio, just like we did in 2022.” 
 
Cook Political Report: “This is still a primary that could become hotly contested.”
 
USA TODAY: “[The prospect of unseating a Democratic incumbent] threatens to produce a wide open GOP primary similar to the knock-down, drag-out fight in 2022 for the nomination for the state’s other Senate seat.”
 
SPEAKING OF ATTACKS… LAROSE HAS A BAD WEEK, THROWS ELBOWS AT MORENO AND DOLAN
 
Frank LaRose had another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week as his “shadow campaign” for Ohio’s Senate seat raised more ethics concerns. While the pressure mounts, LaRose is throwing elbows at his opponents, telling donors that “neither of them have the strength” to win. 

Read the highlights:
 
The Columbus Dispatch: “But some campaign finance experts say the arrangement allows the secretary of state to raise limitless funds in the dark while promoting a potential U.S. Senate bid…Still, critics believe LaRose, as the state’s chief election official, should be held to a higher standard.”
 
Tribune Chronicle: “Perhaps LaRose’s campaign should steer a little further away from ‘isn’t really illegal.’”
 
WEWS: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent out a fundraising request disguised as an important letter, confusing and upsetting voters… ‘I’ve been horrified by it and thinking that LaRose is using his office in this way, taking advantage of his position,’ he said. ‘It was an attempt to mislead me.’”

DONALD TRUMP CASTS BIG SHADOW IN #OHSEN, STORM BREWS AHEAD OF MIKE PENCE ANNOUNCEMENT 

Trump’s presence continues to cast a big shadow on the primary field as some candidates rush to curry favor with the former President while others *cough* Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose *cough* are either ignoring or downplaying the former President’s influence. 
 
With three new contenders expected to get in the Presidential primary next week, one thing is certain…