#OHSEN Slugfest: Trump Looms Large, The Infighting Escalates, and Frank LaRose Faces Another Scandal
October 27, 2023
Columbus, OH – It’s been another busy week in the Ohio Senate slugfest. This week, Trump’s presence continued to loom large and endorsements threw more gasoline on the fire while LaRose is now facing yet another scandal as he makes it clear he will do whatever it takes to support his political ambitions.
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.
NEWT GINGRICH THROWS MORE GASOLINE ON THE SLUGFEST FIRE
Newt Gingrich – a major Trump ally – endorsed Bernie Moreno this week, sparking more infighting in this already messy slugfest.
In Gingrich’s defense, it doesn’t take much to start a fight between these boys.
Here is how LaRose and Dolan responded to Moreno’s new endorsement:
Frank LaRose’s Campaign: “Despite running once and spending a great deal of his own money, Bernie hasn’t registered with Ohio voters and I don’t see that changing — he’s a car salesman and that comes across.”
Matt Dolan’s Campaign: “[Bernie is] an ideological shape-shifter who will say or do anything to get elected. Maybe that helped him sell cars, but it destroys trust with voters and it would make him a lousy Republican nominee.”
FRANK REEKS OF DESPERATION WHILE FAILING TO OUTRUN HISTORY OF TRUMP CRITICISM
LaRose is in quite the “pickle.”
This week, columnist Howard Wilkinson points out that while LaRose “desperately” tries to outrun his history of Trump criticism, Trump is not a strong believer in the “forgive and forget” mindset.
How could Trump not forgive LaRose for being a Never Trumper, calling him racist, and downplaying the value of Trump’s endorsement? Frank better run faster because his past is “catching up with him.”
LAROSE QUIETLY PURGES VOTERS WEEKS BEFORE OHIOANS WILL DECIDE ON AMENDMENT HE OPPOSES
It’s a new week, which means Frank LaRose is facing a new scandal. This week, reports showed that LaRose used his official office to quietly purge thousands of voters weeks before Ohioans will decide on an amendment – which he opposes – to overturn Ohio’s dangerous abortion ban.
Media outlets and lawmakers alike are questioning LaRose on his decision and noting that LaRose “squeez[ed] removals between an August vote on an issue he favored and a November election with an issue he opposes.”
This isn’t the first time LaRose has used his official office to support his political ambitions. After his August amendment flopped, LaRose rewrote and “twist[ed]” the November ballot language to trick Ohioans into voting for an abortion ban.
MORENO SLAMS LAROSE FOR BEING THE BIGGEST LOSER OF AUGUST AMENDMENT
Moreno once again slammed LaRose for August’s Issue 1 fourteen-point-loss this week.
Following LaRose’s failure in August, Moreno was very vocal about the significant role LaRose played, saying that State Issue 1’s failure is a “preview of what would happen with Frank LaRose at the top of the ticket in 2024.”
Moreno only doubled down – and even managed to take a swipe on Dolan in the same breath.
Moreno on the Restore Liberty Podcast: “And as you know, Issue 1 that we had in August failed, it was supposed to raise the threshold to a majority from a simple majority, certainly not a super majority. But unfortunately, that effort was wrought with a lot of problems, messaging issues. Quite frankly, just gonna be, be blunt and say the Secretary of State Frank LaRose really screwed that up. And we lost, we lost by a lot, lost by 14 points. And the reality is that not only do I blame him for the failure in August, but I also blame him for when he was a state senator or Matt Dolan was in the State Senate, why didn’t they, George, put this on the ballot years ago?”
LAROSE STILL DODGING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS COSTLY MOVE
Ohioans are fed up with LaRose’s lack of accountability and transparency on his costly office move. Last week, three Ohioans submitted public record requests to various state agencies calling for answers from LaRose on his decision to move his official office to his campaign HQ – costing taxpayers $600,000.
But LaRose is doing what he does best: dodging questions, refusing to provide answers, and making it clear he isn’t working for Ohioans.
LAROSE PREPARES FOR A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN
SLUGFEST COUNTDOWN
145 days left until this Slugfest comes to a head and the infighting just keeps getting worse.
WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING ABOUT THIS SLUGFEST
New York Times: In Tight G.O.P. Primary in Ohio, Newt Gingrich Picks His Candidate
WXVU: Analysis: Frank LaRose wants Trump’s endorsement. Will he get it?
Cleveland.com: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose quietly ordered purge of thousands of inactive voters last month
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
LaRose on conservative radio: “Yeah, that’s just BS from Bernie, this is the kind of slick talk from an inexperienced elitist that really is just gonna say whatever he can to get an applause line.”
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