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LEAKED: #OHSEN Slugfest Candidate’s Christmas Wish Lists

Columbus, OH – In honor of the upcoming holidays, today the Republican Senate field’s Christmas wish lists leaked for all Ohioans to see. It’s been a busy year of misleading Ohioans, trying to eliminate Ohioans’ reproductive rights, and LOTS of infighting for the field. We hope they get what they asked for!

OOPS! Looks like Matt Dolan forgot to do this wish list… It’s okay though, we know he can afford anything he wants.

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After Ohio Voters Resoundingly Reject Extreme Six-Week Abortion Ban, GOP Politicians Get to Work on Total Abortion Ban Behind Closed Doors

Columbus, OH – After trying and failing twice to rip fundamental rights away from Ohio women this year, Ohio Republicans keep doubling down on their war on women. Yesterday, Morgan Trau of WEWS-TV reported anti-abortion activists are working behind closed doors with GOP politicians at the statehouse to introduce a total abortion ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill would also make having an abortion or taking an abortion pill a homicide. 

Passing the bill would overrule the will of Ohio voters, who defeated the six-week abortion ban in Ohio by 14 points, and the lead anti-abortion activist behind the bill admits the goal of the legislation is to “normalize the idea of a total ban.”  

“From Frank LaRose, Bernie Moreno and Matt Dolan to corrupt politicians at the statehouse, it’s clear Ohio Republicans will stop at nothing to overrule Ohio voters and continue their ongoing war on women. Make no mistake: abortion is on the ballot in 2024, and we must defeat any politician who wants to insert themselves into the private, personal medical decisions that should be made between a woman and her doctor,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Every Republican running for U.S. Senate has said they would overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban:

  • Matt Dolan celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it “exciting.” Dolan said defeating the November amendment was a priority and said he would support a national abortion ban.

Republican politicians not only tried to take away abortion rights, they’ve supported spousal rape, cast doubt on a ten-year-old rape victim, called rape an ‘opportunity,’ and said they want to ‘go as far as we can’ to limit reproductive healthcare. It’s clear these politicians are disconnected from reality and hold extreme views that are dangerous for the future of our state. 

Read more from Morgan Trau HERE and below: 

  • Anti-abortion advocates say they are working with Ohio lawmakers to put forward a total abortion ban. This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed the state’s appeal to enforce a near-total abortion ban.
  • It’s happening behind the scenes. Right now, anti-abortion advocate Austin Beigel is working with lawmakers to introduce a total abortion ban.
  • It would create a total abortion ban, with an exception for the life of the mother. It would make the procedure or abortion pill a homicide.
  • The draft is currently being discussed in the “Pro-Life Caucus,” a group of 27 Republicans inside the Ohio House. There is at least one sponsor and several other cosponsors, according to Beigel.
  • Beigel knows this will be a legal challenge, but he is also trying to normalize the idea of a total ban. By continuing to introduce it, it may get passed further down the line, he argued.
  • “It would be going against the majority of the voters, yes, I fully acknowledge that,” Beigel responded. “Voters can decide to do things that are immoral and evil; That has been a deeply historical part of our country and the majority of people have desired evil at many times in our culture’s history.”

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3 For 3: Three Months Out, Three Things To Know About The #OHSEN Slugfest

Columbus, OH – With the Ohio Senate primary three months away, here are the three things Ohioans have seen from this “bruising” battle so far: 

As this primary continues to heat up, the #OHSEN Slugfest is “descending into [a] bloodbath” as the field makes it clear they are more focused on fighting each other than fighting for Ohioans.

  • Politico: “In Ohio, the race against Brown has degenerated into a three-way brawl between a state senator, a businessman and the sitting Ohio secretary of state.”
  • 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…”

No one in the field is fighting for or standing up for Ohioans. 

  • Bernie Moreno is a mega-millionaire who won’t work for Ohioans. Moreno wants to overturn the Affordable Care Act and doesn’t understand the daily concerns facing Ohioans.
  • Frank LaRose is incompetent, wasteful with taxpayer funds, and is more focused on advancing his political ambitions than working for Ohioans.
  • Ultra-wealthy Matt Dolan doesn’t understand the concerns of working Ohioans and won’t  stand up for them. 

The entire field supports a national abortion ban and would overrule the majority of Ohioans who voted to protect reproductive rights and overturn the state’s existing ban. 

  • Matt Dolan celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it “exciting.” Dolan said defeating the November amendment was a priority and said he would support a national abortion ban.

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REMINDER: #OHSEN Field Would Eliminate the Affordable Care Act

Five Years After Donald Trump Celebrated Dismantling The ACA, The #OHSEN Field *Still* Supports Ripping Healthcare Away from Millions of Ohioans 

Columbus, OH – On the five year anniversary of Donald Trump celebrating a court ruling that threatened to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Ohioans are being reminded that Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan still support eliminating the ACA. Last month, Trump reiterated his promise to dismantle the ACA if elected – which would put 857,000 Ohioans at risk of losing their coverage and jeopardize care for nearly 2 million Ohioans with a preexisting condition. 

What you need to know about Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan’s attacks on Ohioans’ healthcare:

  • Bernie Moreno: “[The Affordable Care Act] actually made health care much more expensive. So we have to let the markets work… So that’s, that’s answer number one on healthcare.”
  • Frank LaRose: “Obamacare continues to be a disaster and I will work with [Trump] when I’m in the U.S. Senate to fix the many mistakes of the Obama and Biden administrations.”
    • Frank LaRose in 2012: “I’m committed now more than ever to work to repeal this bad law and replace it with real healthcare reform…”
  • Matt Dolan: “[The Affordable Care Act] was conceived wrongly, implemented poorly and has become a tool of partisan grift.”

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Another Shady Deal: Frank LaRose’s New Financial Disclosure Can’t Explain “Highly Unusual” Six-Figure Loan

Columbus, OH – After refusing to file his required financial disclosure for 26 days, Frank LaRose submitted the report late and failed to explain the “highly unusual” and “myster[ious]” six-figure loan he made to his campaign. LaRose has refused to answer questions about the $250,000 loan for months despite claiming in July that he couldn’t bankroll his campaign. 

“Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers on his latest shady deal and the source of his six-figure loan,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster.

Read more about LaRose’s latest shady deal:

  • Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose reports a savings account with between $500,000 and $1 million in deposits. That’s notable given the $250,000 loan LaRose made to his campaign earlier this year. LaRose’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment to better explain his finances.” [12/12/23]
  • Cleveland.com: “LaRose’s personal wealth also has attracted greater interest since he loaned his campaign $250,000 in October. LaRose did not disclose any debts on his form, suggesting he did not take out a loan to obtain the $250,000.” [12/11/22]
  • WCMH: “This delay has caused opponents to raise questions about a $250,000 contribution he personally loaned to his campaign.” [12/7/23]
  • Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.” [11/16/23]
  • Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]
  • Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23] 

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