State Issue 1 Still Suffocating Frank LaRose’s Senate Launch
August 7, 2023
1 day until Ohioans decide on LaRose’s amendment
Ohioans will decide on Frank LaRose’s amendment tomorrow and LaRose’s close ties to State Issue 1 continue to “obscure” his Senate campaign.
LaRose has been a candidate in Ohio’s primary slugfest for less than a month and has already been dogged by ethics complaints, controversy, and criticism from his primary opponents for how he’s mishandled State Issue 1 – suffocating his Senate campaign launch in the process.
LaRose has not been able to outrun his admission that State Issue 1 is “100%” about abortion, which is “roil[ing]” his attempt to benefit special interests and silence the Ohioans he is supposed to be working for.
Here’s what Ohioans are reading about Frank LaRose less than 1 month into announcing his Senate campaign:
NBC: “LaRose also is facing scrutiny — on the right and the left — for emphasizing the abortion angle ahead of Tuesday’s vote, as well as for what his critics call a divided focus between his political ambitions and the special election he is responsible for administering… Critics wonder if LaRose is distracted or spread too thin. He announced his Senate campaign three weeks ago, right as the Issue 1 homestretch began.” [8/6/23]
The Atlantic: “LaRose has been spending a lot of his time explaining the amendment to confused voters, including Republicans…The challenges LaRose has faced in selling voters on the proposal soon became apparent. When I asked a pair of women who had questioned LaRose during his speech whether he had persuaded them, one simply replied, ‘No.’” [8/4/23]
WBNS: “Now there’s more controversy surrounding the August special election… The Libertarian Party of Ohio has filed a complaint against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.” 8/3/23]
Anna Staver, Columbus Dispatch: “Yeah, you know, there are some folks saying that Frank LaRose has really made this his issue: He helped introduce it with Representative Brian Stewart, he’s championed it throughout the legislative process, and that if it fails, right, if we don’t raise the bar on protecting our constitution, that it will fall on him… He could take the blowback from that and that maybe could hurt his U.S. Senate campaign…” [8/3/23]
WOUB: “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.” [8/1/23]
Ideastream: “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.” [8/1/23]
The Columbus Dispatch: “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.” [8/1/23]
Ohio Capital Journal: “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.” [8/1/23]
Cleveland.com: “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.” [8/1/23]
The Messenger: “Frank LaRose has made himself the face of the controversial ballot issue that Ohio voters will vote on next week… If Issue 1 is defeated soundly, it would be a blow to LaRose’s political capital, considering how much he has campaigned in support of the issue.” [7/31/23]
Cleveland.com: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose – a key figure behind the looming State Issue 1 election to make it harder for citizens to propose and pass constitutional amendments – wants his political rivals to chip in for the cause.” [7/31/23]
The State of Ohio: Frank LaRose tied to State Issue 1; “I think that will really strongly be used against him in campaigns.” [7/31/23]
Heartland Signal: Frank LaRose “repeatedly jeered” by Ohio crowd while debating in favor of State Issue 1. [7/26/23]
The Vindicator: “Finally, LaRose is one of the primary backers of state Issue 1, which would make it much harder for constitutional amendments to pass if voters approve it Aug. 8. LaRose is so connected to the issue that his Senate cause could be impacted if it is defeated.” [7/21/23]
Cleveland.com: “And while it’s too simple to say that [LaRose’s] political fortunes will rise or fall with State Issue 1, his close ties to the measure will offer plenty of chances for him to catch attacks from across the political spectrum.” [7/20/23]
Cleveland.com: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s Senate primary race will be preceded by his tough race to get Issue 1 passed in a special August election.” [7/19/23]
Ohio Capital Journal: “Over the next four months, LaRose will have to balance Senate fundraising and campaigning with running two elections… LaRose is one of the proposal’s chief advocates and after initially speaking against August elections when lawmakers eliminated them last year, LaRose supported bringing back this August election to consider Issue 1.” [7/18/23]
Statehouse News Bureau: “LaRose enters race for the U.S. Senate while being at the forefront of a controversial ballot issue” [7/17/23]
WEWS: “Concerns raised over Sec. of State LaRose’s ethics before August election”