“In Serious Trouble,” “Obscuring” His Senate Campaign: LaRose’s Close Ties to State Issue 1 Continue to Backfire
August 2, 2023
6 days until Ohioans decide on LaRose’s amendment
Ohioans will decide on Frank LaRose’s amendment in six days and LaRose’s close ties to State Issue 1 continue to backfire – putting him “in serious trouble” while “obscuring” his Senate campaign.
After trying to pull his primary opponents closer to State Issue 1, LaRose’s “hail mary pass to save his political career” is being called a “sign of desperation.”
LaRose is also now facing another ethics complaint, filed by the Libertarian Party of Ohio, for violating federal law by making himself the face of an amendment that would benefit special interests and silence the Ohioans he’s supposed to be working for.
“The writing is on the wall: LaRose’s missteps have hurt himself and State Issue 1 while suffocating his Senate campaign launch,” said ODP Spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “If State Issue 1 fails, LaRose will be crowned Ohio’s biggest loser.”
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Cleveland.com: Did Issue 1 creator Frank LaRose just throw a Hail Mary pass to save his political career? Today in Ohio
August 1, 2023
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose asked his Republican opponents in the U.S. Senate race, state Sen. Matt Dolan and car salesman Bernie Moreno, to contribute $1 million apiece to help fund the State Issue 1 campaign.
- Is it a sign of desperation?
- One week from today, Ohioans who have not voted early will go to the polls on Issue 1, the move by Frank LaRose to persuade voters to disembowel themselves. We see lots of signs that this thing is going down, and we had one more Monday, when LaRose threw a Hail Mary pass to keep his backing of this terrible thing from destroying his political future. What did he do?
- [00:02:28] Chris Quinn: “He (LaRose) put his whole stock and trade in [Issue One], which is odd for a Secretary of State who’s supposed to protect the voters. He’s doing the opposite. He’s led the charge, he’s done it sleazy the whole way. And if this goes down, his opponents in the senate race are going to say he’s a loser. Bernie’s already saying, ‘Hey, you, you went the wrong way. You should be talking about protecting the Constitution, not abortion.’”
- [00:04:20] Chris Quinn: “The guy is in serious trouble and I hope when it goes down, if it goes down, he’s done – because he really shouldn’t have a seat at the table anymore.”
Cleveland.com: Barbie and Issue 1: Darcy cartoons
Jeff Darcy
August 1, 2023
- “Previews of the Barbenheimer sequel, ‘Barbenheimer- Issue 1′ contain a climax scene showing a giant mushroom cloud of hot pink hues obscuring ‘Frank LaRose for Senate’ and ‘Super Majority needed for State Constitution Amendments’ signs. Along with Barbie giving a ‘thumbs up’ to a ‘No’ vote on Issue 1, and Ken voting ‘Yes.’
- In another sign Issue 1 sponsors fear its failure, Ohio Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Frank LaRose requested his two wealthier, but lesser known, Senate opponents, Matt Dolan and Bernie Moreno, contribute $1 million each to the Issue 1 campaign for TV ads and voter outreach.
- Issue 1 is undemocratic and attempts to suppress voting rights and the principle of a simple majority rule, which makes it all the more appalling that LaRose is one of its strongest proponents when he’s a former Green Beret and current Ohio Secretary of State, whose chief duty is to protect and promote the vote, not suppress & abort it.
Ideastream: Libertarian Party of Ohio: Secretary of State’s pro-Issue 1 stance breaks federal law
Jo Ingles
August 1, 2023
- Saying he’s breaking federal law, the Libertarian Party of Ohio has filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel against Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose. At issue is the Hatch Act, which regulates political activities of public officials.
- LaRose has been outspoken in the party’s efforts to convince Ohio voters to approve Issue 1. That question on the Aug. 8 special election ballot would make it harder to pass future constitutional amendments by requiring a 60% passage threshold instead of a simple majority. It’s before voters months ahead of an abortion access and reproductive rights amendment on the November ballot.
- “And therein lies the problem – with Frank LaRose going out there campaigning in favor of Issue 1 while supposedly having to be an impartial election administrator.”
- Issue 1 is the only question on the Aug. 8 special election ballot. Last year, LaRose led a charge for HB 458, a law to get rid of most August special elections. But lawmakers pushed for the vote before a reproductive rights amendment in the fall. Republican lawmakers, including LaRose, have said the change is about abortion, but have also recently added that it goes beyond that.
- “‘Two-faced Frank’ needs to be called out and that’s what we are doing,” Irvine said.
The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Libertarian Party says Frank LaRose violated federal law with Issue 1 campaign
Haley BeMiller
August 1, 2023
- The Libertarian Party of Ohio has accused Secretary of State Frank LaRose of violating federal law for campaigning in favor of Issue 1 on the Aug. 8 ballot.
- “For someone who is using Issue 1 to campaign for federal office, LaRose should probably be more familiar with federal laws while administering federal funds,” said Travis Irvine… “Libertarians have known all too well since 2013 that ‘Two Faced Frank’ will do whatever it takes to get ahead.”
WOUB: LaRose calls on his GOP U.S. Senate opponents to pony up $1 million for pro-Issue 1 campaign
Jo Ingles
August 1, 2023
- Next month’s controversial effort to make it harder to amend Ohio‘s constitution is coming into next year’s Republican U.S. Senate primary.
- “Frank LaRose has, from the start, taken leadership of this issue, going back to last year. And he has put in the sweat equity. He’s done over 60 events across the state,” Kindel said, noting LaRose’s appearances in televised debates and at Republican dinners and forums. “Frank LaRose is really putting in that grass roots support.”
- “What Ohio needs is a Secretary of State that is paying attention to the job to which he was elected. Instead, ours is trying to divide Republicans at the last minute. He’s also spent more time shooting fake jogging ads and fundraising in Washington, D.C., to fuel his own political career,” DiStefano said, referring to LaRose’s campaign launch video. “So, we’re curious: How many of LaRose’s D.C. fundraisers were in support of Issue 1?”
Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Libertarians allege Secretary of State LaRose mixing Issue 1 campaign with official duty
Nick Evans
August 2, 2023
- The Libertarian Party of Ohio has filed a complaint with federal officials alleging Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s Issue 1 advocacy violates the Hatch Act.
- The law prohibits employees and certain officeholders from using their authority to influence the outcome of an election.
- The complaint argues that because LaRose’s office administers federal election funds, his campaign activity is subject to Hatch Act provisions.
- He goes on to argue that LaRose’s tweets demonstrate the intermingling of official and campaign activity. But they also hint at a much more extensive effort to sway voters. LaRose’s “many appearances and meetings to trumpet Issue 1 pile on to demonstrate his ‘well-established pattern’ to get his message in support of Issue 1 across to voters,” Brown wrote.