Friends,
The Ohio Scoop is your weekly political fix, filled with the most up-to-date information about Ohio Democrats and everything happening on the campaign trail here in Ohio. We’re here so you can get your political scoop, all in one place.
If you’re new to the list, welcome. You were added because you are one of Ohio Democrats’ best supporters. For those of you who are returning, welcome back.
We need to fill you in on everything that happened this week, so let’s jump right in.
Drinks with Dems
Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters will be in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 16th for an evening cocktail reception.
We’re hoping to pack the house with Democrats from all over the Cincinnati area to join the amazing host committee of local elected Democrats. RSVP BELOW.
The Big Scoop
Hear ye, hear ye! Come one, come all to Ye Olde Familye Reunione!
*clears throat* I mean…
Please join us at the Ohio Democrats Family Reunion on Saturday, July 15th.
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If you are interested in sponsoring the Ohio Democrats Family Reunion, please reach out to Emily Feltz at efeltz@ohiodems.org.
A Sprinkle of News
Signature collection to put reproductive rights on the ballot is well underway and Ohio Democrats have collected 30,000 signatures from across the state. We are partnering with reproductive rights champions who are leading the ballot initiative as we work together to tell GOP politicians: we won’t go back.
Check out Cuyahoga County Democrats dropping off a stack of completed petitions this week!
If you want to get in on the fun and circulate a petition yourself, you can sign up BELOW to for a Zoom training. Upon completion of the training you will receive a petition to circulate.
Sign Up to Circulate a Petition
If you want to help out but can’t circulate petitions yourself, you can sign up to make calls with us! These are vital calls to recruit people to our signature gathering canvasses throughout the state. Every person we recruit to canvas with us helps us immensely in our signature collection.
Add Some Nuts
Please be certain your seat back is straight up, your seat belt is fastened, and place your tray tables in an upright position, because we’re about to take our weekly dive into the chaos of the Republican Senate primary.
First up, Fraudulent Frank LaRose. Although LaRose is not an officially announced candidate, it seems that Fraudulent Frank already has a Trump problem.
Speaking at a closed-door political event in late April, LaRose told a group of Ohio Republicans that Trump’s endorsement doesn’t carry the same weight it used to. OOF! I don’t think Trump is going to like that one.
This comes less than a year after LaRose welcomed Trump’s endorsement for Secretary of State in 2022. It seems like there’s trouble in paradise…
Millionaire Bernie Moreno continues on his tour around the state, making sure to diss his opponents at every chance he gets.
Meanwhile, it came out this week that Millionaire Matt Dolan owns $15,000-$50,000 in Norfolk Southern stock. Yes, the company behind the horrific train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Millionaire Matt also recently voted for SJR2 which would make it harder for voters to amend our Ohio Constitution by raising the threshold for passage from 50% to 60% as well as create an August primary.
Our Senator Sherrod Brown continues to fight for Ohioans, calling out Norfolk Southern, not only for their slow response in East Palestine, but for their lack of upkeep on infrastructure around Ohio. Senator Brown also doesn’t own any individual stocks and is a vocal opponent against the practice.
Gone Bananas
Last week, we filled you all in on the latest Republican anti-voter power grab, a plan that would effectively end citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio and create a taxpayer-funded, $20 million special election in August. HJR 1 and SJR 2 would make it harder for voters to amend our Ohio Constitution by raising the threshold for passage from 50% to 60%.
The House did not pass HJR 1 off of the floor again this week. It’s possible that the decision not to vote on the resolution was made in the wake of an uproar of disapproval.
Last week, four former Ohio governors, two Democrats and two Republicans, came out publicly in opposition to the plan. This week, bipartisan county election officials joined in the opposition, calling HJR1 “a slap in the face”. Also this week, hundreds of people showed up on the Statehouse lawn to protest HJR1 in the hours before the vote was canceled.
It’s clear that Republican politicians in Columbus know they’re on the wrong side of the issues that are important to working Ohioans. So now they’re attempting to rig the rules and make it nearly impossible for citizen-led ballot initiatives to pass – all so they can consolidate power for themselves and do the bidding of their special interest pals.
ICYMI
Opinion | Republicans Did Something Most People Don’t Like, So They’re Changing the Rules – The New York Times
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown introduces bill to fight fentanyl-related money laundering – cleveland.com
Ohio political leaders respond to Joe Biden’s reelection bid – cleveland.com
Sherrod Brown emphasizes his populist side in bid to win Senate race in red state
Most Republicans would vote for Trump even if he’s convicted of a crime, poll finds
Until Next Time
Ohio Democrats are gearing up to re-elect Senator Sherrod Brown in 2024. Please consider contributing as much as you can to help Ohio Democrats.
If you’re unsure about how much more you can contribute, simply reply to this email. We’d be happy to help.
As always, thank you for standing with us. I am immensely grateful for your partnership.
Onward,
Emily Feltz
Finance Director, Ohio Democrats
Paid for by The Ohio Democratic Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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