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Columbus, Ohio- Ahead of the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs Jackson, Ohioans are still facing Republican attacks on their right to an abortion even after overwhelmingly voting to enshrine those rights in the state constitution.

Last week, Ohio Republicans in the state legislature introduced a bill to criminalize all abortions and ban IVF and some forms of birth control, including IUDs. Republican proponents of the legislation openly admitted their goal was to overturn the amendment that Ohioans passed in the Supreme Court. 

This isn’t the first time Ohio Republicans attempted to rip away rights Ohioans overwhelmingly voted for. Here’s tricks Republicans tried as it became clear their extreme agenda was out of touch with Ohioans.

First, Republicans tried to trick voters into changing the state constitution in a move that Secretary of State Frank LaRose openly admitted was 100% about… abortion. Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected them at the polls.

Then, Republicans on Ohio’s ballot board crafted confusing and incorrect ballot language that contained misleading information about what the amendment would do in an attempt to scare voters. Ohioans overwhelmingly passed the amendment anyway.

Now, even after a judge ruled that the amendment voters passed made Ohio’s six week ban unconstitutional, Republicans haven’t gotten the message. Republicans in the state legislature want to charge women who have an abortion at any stage with homicide, ban IVF, and some forms of birth control such as IUDs.

Ohio voters have spoken loud and clear, but Republicans instead are insistent on ripping away the rights Ohioans voted for. While Republicans work overtime to hurt Ohioans, Democrats will always fight to ensure Ohio won’t go back.

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Columbus, Ohio- Earlier this week, Ohio Republicans moved a budget forward that is packed with freebies for billionaires while gutting public education and ripping healthcare from Ohio families. The rigged Republican supermajority that presided over Ohio’s slip down the rankings is back with a budget that leaves working Ohioans behind while making sure to take care of their billionaire donors.

Check out what Ohioans are reading about the billionaire-first Ohio budget as it moves into conference committee: 

Signal Ohio: Near-final version of Ohio budget will knock adults and babies off Medicaid, experts and analysts say

• Lawmakers are close to finalizing a state budget that includes changes to Medicaid that could cause a significant number of Ohioans, including children and babies under three, to lose health care coverage.

• The state budgeting process began in January and is due to be completed at the end of June. But looming on the horizon are federal changes to Medicaid that could have the potential to cost Ohio billions regardless of changes it makes to the state program.

Cleveland.com: Ohio Republicans’ state budget priorities: Helping the rich while aiming to cut spending for the poor

• While lawmakers are still crafting the enormous budget plan, many of their current proposals would generally favor wealthier individuals while potentially creating difficulties for many struggling Ohioans. The Ohio Senate’s draft budget plan, unveiled last week, would offer a $1.4 billion state income tax cut, only for taxpayers making more than $100,000 per year.
• GOP lawmakers also generally agree that two billionaires, in particular, should get an additional $600 million: Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who want the state money to help them pay for a new $2.4 billion stadium in suburban Brook Park. 

• To balance the budget, GOP lawmakers have taken aim at a variety of programs and services at various points in the budget process, including cutting funding to public libraries (a proposal that has since been removed) and programs that address lead poisoning, which particularly affects impoverished children.

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Senate GOP moves to give wealthiest Ohioans tax cut

• Ohio Republican senators have proposed a flat income tax for the state’s top earners, which would result in a projected $1 billion loss in the general revenue fund.

• Many cuts for programs that benefit lower-income families have already been proposed in the budget. Funding for schools, Medicaid, libraries, lead abatement, food banks and child care face funding decreases from the current status or from the governor’s budget.

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Columbus, Ohio- This evening, members of the Ohio Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee elected Kathleen Clyde as Chair. As she steps into her new role leading Ohio Democrats to success in 2026, Chair Clyde released the following statement: 

“After years of failed governance from illegal Republican supermajorities, Ohioans are seeing their bills climb and their quality of life drop while billionaires line their own pockets. With every statewide office and a U.S. Senate race on the ballot, Ohio has key opportunities to elect Democrats who actually work for Ohioans and get our state back on the right track.

Already, Ohioans are fed up with Republicans as they push a budget that prioritizes special interests and their billionaire backers while working families fall behind. I’m grateful to Ohio Democrats for putting their trust in me during this critical election cycle, and I’m looking forward to getting to work,” said Chair Clyde.

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Columbus, Ohio- As the Senate prepares to consider Trump’s budget bill, Senator Jon Husted is still dodging questions about his support for Medicaid cuts that could rip away healthcare from as many as 500,000 Ohioans. Cuts to Medicaid are extremely unpopular in Ohio but Husted doesn’t want to admit his vote was bought by billionaires and special interests. 

When asked directly if he supported cuts, he refused to directly address the question- instead claiming a budget that would actually cost working families access to food, healthcare, and more would save them money. He then went on to say there was a need to “find savings” somewhere. 

“While Husted dances around questions about whether or not he’ll vote to cut Medicaid, families across Ohio are anxiously waiting to find out if they’ll be able to access the healthcare they need,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Husted has previously admitted he just does whatever Donald Trump wants. Ohioans clearly can’t count on him to stand up for their healthcare.”

Ohioans can contact Senator Husted at 202-224-3353 to urge him to vote against any bill that will rip away access to healthcare. 

READ MORE reporting from the Columbus Dispatch about what could be at stake if Husted votes to cut Medicaid: 

• As many as 500,000 Ohioans could lose Medicaid coverage under federal legislation that aims to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda.

• The U.S. House passed a sweeping budget bill last week that would slash Medicaid and food stamps, cut taxes and roll back climate policies. The measure would make unprecedented changes to the Medicaid program, which serves over 3 million patients in Ohio.

• While Republicans who backed the bill say Medicaid restrictions will help the government save hundreds of billions of dollars, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that it would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $625 billion, the decrease in revenue expected to result from millions of Americans losing their health insurance may exceed those savings.

• An early estimate from KFF, a health policy research organization, determined that 307,000 to 512,000 Ohioans could lose coverage – numbers that may increase under the latest version of the bill.

• Medicaid provides health coverage to over 1.3 million children in Ohio and pays for nearly 40% of births in the state. 

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Columbus, Ohio- Following the beginning of Pride Month, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement:

“Pride month is a time to honor the contributions LGBTQ+  Ohioans have made to our state, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and commit to continuing to fight for equality for all. 

While there will still be celebrations across Ohio, this year will be undoubtedly tainted by the actions of Republicans in our federal and state government who have chosen to target LGBTQ+  Ohioans at every turn. Instead of addressing our state’s rising cost of living or corruption in our state government, Republicans would rather drive young LGBTQ+ Ohioans away from the state.

Democrats will always stand with the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to fighting alongside them for a more welcoming Ohio where everyone can thrive,” said Chair Walters.

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