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Frank LaRose is Wasting Ohioans’ Tax Dollars So He Can Run for Senate in Two Years 

Columbus, OH — Today, Gannett reported that Frank LaRose is hiring ‘one or two investigators’ on the taxpayer dime to look into ‘illegal voting.’ LaRose’s latest announcement comes after he turned over exactly one person who may have voted illegally – or 0.00000012% of all registered Ohio voters – to the authorities earlier this year. The truth is LaRose knows better, but he wants to run for Senate in two years, is scared of the other election denier he’s running against and needs the support of MAGA Republicans. So he’s pulling this political stunt at taxpayer expense. 

“Frank LaRose is using Ohioans’ hard-earned tax dollars for a political stunt so he can run for Senate in two years. LaRose himself only turned over exactly one alleged case of illegal voting to the authorities earlier this year. Now he’s creating a taxpayer-funded solution to a problem that doesn’t exist in order to further his own political ambitions,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes. 

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“DeWine Doesn’t Care:” The Mess Surrounding Mike DeWine’s Campaign This Week

 October 3, 2022 

Good Monday afternoon, and welcome back to Mike Check, your weekly source of all the infighting, conspiracy spewing and corruption that’s making headlines in and around Mike DeWine’s campaign and statehouse, courtesy of the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Here are some stories you may have missed:

DEWINE DOESN’T CARE. We’ll cut right to the chase this week, Mike DeWine simply doesn’t care about Ohio voters. With just under two months until Election Day, DeWine is trying to rewrite his entire record by making it seem like he cares about Ohio women and families. The truth? DeWine had four years to help Ohio families and invest in our children. Here are the results of his time in office: 

  • Health value – Ohio ranked 47th in the “health value dashboard” 
  • Life expectancy – Ohio has 13th lowest life expectancy of 75.3 years
  • COVID-19 safety – Ohio ranks 47th in terms of handling the pandemic 
  • Public health preparedness – Ohio named one of the least-prepared states for a future public health emergency 
  • Child well-being – Ohio is 31st in the nation, with rates of anxiety, depression and chronic school absenteeism skyrocketing 
  • Education – Ohio saw a marked decline in public education following the COVID pandemic and changes to state testing requirements 
  • Black maternal mortality – Black women in Ohio are two and a half times more likely to have a pregnancy-related death than white women 

DeWine’s sudden interest in children and families isn’t about making improvements on those disparities, it’s about distracting from his terrible record on abortion and women’s rights, which includes: 

  • DeWine has said he is ready to sign radical legislation into law after the Supreme Court ruled, including trigger ban legislation which would make no exception for rape or incest. He would also work to instate a previously signed six-week abortion ban.
  • DeWine fought to defund Planned Parenthood and pushed for the closure of clinics around the state. 
  • DeWine appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn the lower court ruling that kept Toledo’s last abortion clinic, Capital Care Network, open.
  • In July 2015, DeWine launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood of Ohio to ensure they were complying with state law banning the sale of aborted fetuses, though DeWine’s office had heard no accusations of wrongdoing.
  • DeWine voted against providing $10 million for education about emergency contraceptives; for making the morning-after pill available to survivors of sexual assault.
  • DeWine voted against a Senate resolution expressing support for Roe v. Wade and saying that the decision should not be overturned.
  • DeWine voted to prohibit military women and female military dependents from obtaining privately-funded abortions on overseas military bases.
  • DeWine wrote a brief in the Hobby Lobby case that the owners of Hobby Lobby should not have to forfeit religious beliefs to provide birth control for employees.
  • DeWine fought to strip the legal rights of abortion clinics to defend themselves.
  • DeWine failed to condemn Rep. Jean Schmidt’s comments that pregnancy from rape is an “opportunity.” 
  • DeWine told an anti-choice group that he would “go as far as we can” to attack reproductive rights in Ohio following the decision to overturn Roe. 

It’s clear that Mike DeWine has a lot to distract from. But Ohioans won’t be fooled. They know Mike DeWine is the most extreme anti-choice governor in the country and he’s no friend of Ohio women and families. 


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Frank LaRose Wants to Make Sure Ohioans Have Another Election Denier To Choose From For Secretary of State 


Watch Video of the Exchange HERE

Columbus, OH —In a sit-down interview with Karen Kasler on The State of Ohio, Frank LaRose was asked about his tweet supporting Donald Trump’s claims of voter fraud that blamed Ohio media for ‘trying to minimize voter fraud to suit their narrative.’ LaRose doubled down on his dangerous election rhetoric, telling Kasler, “There are concerns that President Trump has raised that I think are valid.” This comes after LaRose announced he referred exactly one person who may have voted illegally in Ohio to law enforcement. That represents 0.00000012% of all registered voters in Ohio in 2020. Nationally, studies show the rate of voter fraud nationwide to be between 0.0003 percent and 0.0025 percent (meaning Americans are more likely to be struck by lightning than commit voter fraud). 

The truth is that Frank LaRose knows better than the election lies he continues to spout. But he has a political problem (her name is Tore Maras), and LaRose needs to do his best to appeal to MAGA Republicans so he can run for Senate in two years. So, LaRose is ignoring his constitutional duties and oath of office, spouting election lies and once again only looking out for his own political interests. 

“Frank LaRose is so hellbent on running for the U.S. Senate in two years, he’s willing to debase himself and the office he was elected to. LaRose is once again spouting election lies to try to keep MAGA Republicans happy, but they don’t trust him any more than the rest of us do. Instead of playing political games, Frank should be working to expand voting rights in our state and knock down barriers to voting. But Frank’s more interested in himself than any Ohioan he was elected to serve,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes.  

You can see the full interview here.

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Former GOP Lawmaker: J.D. Vance A ‘Craven Shapeshifter’ Regurgitating MAGA Speak

Columbus, OH – Former GOP State Representative Joan Lawrence scorches J.D. Vance as a “craven shapeshifter” and a “chameleon who will do anything to get elected” in a new op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch. 

Read more below: 

Columbus Dispatch: Former Ohio lawmaker: J.D. Vance a ‘craven shapeshifter’ regurgitating MAGA speak
October 3, 2022

  • Joan W. Lawrence served in the Ohio House of Representatives as a Republican from 1983 to 1999 and was director of the Ohio Department of Aging under Gov. Bob Taft from 1999 to 2006.
  • If you don’t know who J.D. Vance is, you’re not alone. Neither does J.D. Vance.
  • He’s running for the U.S. Senate as a hardcore MAGA Republican and a diehard Trump fan, never mind that he used to be a Never-Trumper. In fact, he’d love nothing more than for you to forget that inconvenient fact.
  • But that’s the J.D. Vance I could’ve seen myself supporting.
  • In 2016, Vance said Trump was “reprehensible” and “cultural heroin” and wondered whether Trump might be “America’s Hitler.” But when Vance decided to run for the Senate, he went full MAGA, complimenting Trump at every opportunity.
  • Even Trump knows it. “J.D. is kissing my a**. He wants my support so bad!” the former president said at a rally in Ohio recently.
  • His opposition to Trump isn’t the only thing he has backtracked on.
  • Vance has flip-flopped on issue after issue. During the 2016 campaign, Vance wrote in USA Today, “Trump’s actual policy proposals, such as they are, range from immoral to absurd.” That year, he said that building a wall was “a simple solution” to a “complex problem.” But in April, he said at a rally, “Can we please, for the love of God, finish Donald Trump’s border wall on the southern border?”
  • One of Vance’s favorite issues is the opioid crisis. He discussed it in his memoir, and he’s talked about it for several years. But here too, Vance’s record isn’t as good as it seems. Vance founded a group called Our Ohio Renewal to fight opioid addiction.
  • Not only did it not achieve much success, but Vance hired someone who questioned the role of prescription painkillers in the opioid crisis. Most of the money the nonprofit raised was spent on staff salaries. None was spent on charitable activities. So much for Vance’s concern about opioid addicts.
  • Vance used to call for a more moderate GOP. A little more than a decade ago, he wrote a series of articles where he endorsed affirmative action, savaged Republicans as anti-science, and rejected partisan vitriol. “Of all the things I can’t stand about politics,” he wrote, “the tendency to emotionalize a difficult topic is probably the worst.” He wanted a more measured and moderate Republican Party, one that was more socially inclusive.
  • But now Vance is anything but moderate. He opposes same-sex marriage and wants to ban abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. He said people in “violent” marriages shouldn’t get divorced. He said that rape and incest were “inconvenient.” That’s certainly putting it mildly.
  • Instead of distancing himself from extremists in his party, he welcomes them.
  • He said he was “proud” to have Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s endorsement. Greene, in case you don’t know, blamed wildfires on space lasers funded by “Rothschild Inc.” and said there’s no evidence that a plane crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11. She is, in other words, a lunatic. But rather than denounce her, Vance embraces her.
  • These flip-flops and contortions aren’t just embarrassing. They show exactly the kind of person J.D. Vance is—a craven shapeshifter who will say whatever he needs to say to get elected.
  • I have a hard time believing that he actually cares about border security or even the opioid crisis.
  • He simply regurgitates MAGA talking points because that’s what it takes to get MAGA votes. But here’s my question: Once he has their votes, what will he do next? Who knows? Vance surely doesn’t.
  • He’s a chameleon who will do anything to get elected. That’s why we shouldn’t elect him.

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Here’s What They’re Saying: Ohio Dems Highlight Mike DeWine’s Weakness Across Ohio

Watch Ohio Democrats’ Not-So-Strong Ohio Video Wrap-up HERE

Columbus, OH — Over the last month, Ohio Democrats have crossed Ohio to meet voters where they are and lay out how Mike DeWine’s weakness is taking our state backward. For the past four years, DeWine has caved time and time again on the issues that matter most to working families. 

“On issues ranging from abortion rights to gun violence to redistricting to the the largest public corruption scandal in state history, Mike DeWine’s weakness is costing Ohioans big time and taking our state backward,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters.

Key examples of DeWine’s weakness include:

  • Abortion Rights – Mike DeWine told an anti-abortion special interest group that he wants ‘to go as far as he can’ to rip away reproductive rights in Ohio. 
  • Gun Violence – Despite promising to ‘do something’ to combat gun violence, DeWine caved to the gun lobby and signed gun bills that are opposed by Ohio law enforcement because they make Ohioans less safe. 
  • FirstEnergy Bribery Scandal – ‘State Official 1’ has been dodging questions since October about what he knew and when about the largest public corruption scandal in state history, a scandal that continues to cost Ohioans $287,000 every single day. 
  • Redistricting – Even as he acknowledged the maps he was passing were likely unconstitutional, DeWine ignored voters, caved to his own party and rubber stamped seven illegal, GOP-gerrymandered maps. 

With this kind of record, it’s no wonder Mike DeWine is scared to debate Nan Whaley. He’s spent his whole time as governor selling out to the wealthy and well-connected and leaving Ohio workers to pay the price. 

Ohio Democrats present at stops across the state included: Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters, Ohio Secretary of State candidate Chelsea Clark, Ohio Treasurer candidate Scott Schertzer, Ohio Auditor candidate Taylor Sappington, Lima 5th Ward City Councilmember Jamie Dixon, Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr., Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, Toledo City Councilmember At-Large Nick Komives, State Rep. candidate Erika White, State Rep. Lisa Sobecki, State Rep. Casey Weinstein, State Senate candidate Anthony Eliopoulos, State Rep. candidate Bryan Burgess, U.S. House candidate Craig Swartz, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla.

Ohio Democrats, like former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, are offering a better way forward: moving our state forward by investing in working families and putting kitchen-table, economic issues front and center.

Read more media coverage from Ohio Democrats’ Not-So-Strong Ohio Tour below: 

Hometown Stations Lima: “Not-So-Strong Ohio” tour makes a stop in downtown Lima

“Ohio Democrats are saying that residents have been paying too much for too long for the current leadership in the state capital and they say it needs to stop.” 

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“The “Not-So-Strong Ohio” tour by Ohio Democrats made a stop in downtown Lima Tuesday morning. The candidates for secretary of state and state auditor were on hand. They say the corruption and special interests are costing the residents of Ohio. Governor DeWine’s weakness is hurting working families and he is failing to provide the leadership expected from a governor. They say the Democratic ticket on the ballot this fall is the change that Ohio needs.”  

Lima News: Dixon: ‘Ohioans deserve better’

“The Democratic party has begun the start of something new. Democratic Candidates Taylor Sappington, and Chelsea Clark rallied together to begin a tour known as the ‘Not-So-Strong-Ohio.’ The goal is to journey the state of Ohio and address abortion, gun violence, redistricting and the FirstEnergy bribery scandal.

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“Ohioans deserve better,” said Dixon. “We deserve a leader like Nan Whaley and the leaders that have joined us today. Ohioan’s interest first. Stand for the people and with the people.

WFMJ-TV Youngstown: Mayor Criticizes DeWine’s Actions

“My problem with that is that you have to have a license for driving cars. Now you don’t have to have license or any instruction for carrying a gun and I think that puts our officers at a disadvantage, puts out citizens at a disadvantage for what I call responsible gun ownership.” [Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown] 

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“Now Lindsay, the mayor and Dewine have had multiple conversations when it comes to issues pertaining on abortion rights and redistricting but says he’s gone off course since. More importantly he says these elected officials need to be held accountable, Lindsay.”

WNWO-TV Toledo: Ohio Democrats Tour Around State

“Ohio Democrats are traveling around the state on a Not-So Strong Ohio tour. Today they made a stop in Toledo. The group expressed their concerns over Governor DeWine’s time in office. Stating their disagreements over how abortion rights, gun violence, the FirstEnergy scandal and redistricting were handled.

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“Whether it’s women’s reproductive health, guns, common sense gun control, to say nothing of being at the center of the largest corruption scandal in the history of Ohio, it’s time for change.” [Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz]

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“We reached out to Governor DeWine’s team this afternoon to get a comment but we have not heard back.”

WTOL-TV Toledo: Democrats Rally in Lucas County

“Local and state democratic leaders were in town stomping for gubernatorial hopeful Nan Whaley. Ohio Democrats met in Toledo as part of their Ohio Not Strong tour. Toledo Mayor Wade  Kapszukiewicz says Governor Mike DeWine represents a failure of leadership. It’s time for change in Ohio.”

WTVG-TV TOLEDO: Ohio’s Governor Race

“Several Democratic leaders in Toledo today, blasting DeWine’s record on things like guns.

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“Democrats here in Toledo and some statewide candidates were making their case for Whaley today by illustrating what they say are failed policy by DeWine and his administration. They include signing off on the six week abortion ban and a huge focus today was on gun laws. Now you might recall after that mass shooting Dayton in 2019, the governor proposed several gun reform measures calling it Strong Ohio but many of those measures never became law and Democrats said today that’s because he wasn’t strong.

The Sojourner’s Truth: Ohio Democrats Bring the “Not-So-Strong Ohio” Tour to Toledo

“Last week, Ohio Democrats brought their “Not-So-Strong Ohio” tour to Toledo as part their election strategy to tour the state attacking Gov. Mike DeWine and the Republican Party’s stance on abortion, guns, the ongoing First Energy scandal and the redistricting map that has greatly favored Republican candidates.

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“[Marion Mayor Scott] Schertzer took aim at the First Energy scandal and the cost to Ohioans which has been placed at $287,000 per day.

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“The “Not-so-Strong” tour is hitting a number of Ohio cities and communities focusing on the four major issues of guns, abortion, the First Energy bribery scandal and redistricting.

The Chronicle-Telegram: State Democratic candidates campaign in Elyria

“Statewide Democratic Party candidates descended on Elyria on Thursday, campaigning at Ely Square as part of the “Not-So-Strong-Ohio” tour and taking aim at Republicans and the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine.

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“Ohio secretary of state candidate Chelsea Clark, state auditor candidate Taylor Sappington, state treasurer candidate Scott Schertzer and local Ohio Senate candidate Anthony Eliopoulos gathered at the Ely Square gazebo, making their pitches to Ohio voters on the stakes in this election.

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“Among issues they addressed were abortion rights, gun violence and the House Bill 6 corruption scandal.”

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“Under DeWine and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Republicans are pursuing radical agendas that are pushing businesses away from the Buckeye State,…”

Statehouse News Bureau: Ohio Democrats Blast Republican Mike DeWine for Being ‘Weak’ on Policies and Special Interests

“Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters said Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has shown he is “weak” and beholden to special interest groups that drive much of the state’s policy.

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“Walters said Ohioans are paying $287,000 every day because of the nuclear bailout DeWine signed into law in 2019. Since that time, federal charges have been filed against five people, including the former head of the Ohio Republican Party and the former speaker of the Ohio House. DeWine has not been charged in connection with that case and parts of the law have since been repealed.

“The Democrats said the bottom line is DeWine cannot be trusted to do what is right for Ohioans. And though DeWine is touting new jobs and an improved business climate in his ads for re-election, Walters said he’s trying to take credit for new planned economic development in Ohio from Intel and other companies that is happening because of someone else.
 

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