COLUMBUS, Ohio — Frustrated by the inability of lawmakers to get President Joe Biden on the ballot this November, Gov. Mike DeWine is calling for a special session of the Ohio General Assembly to convene next Tuesday.
During a press conference on Thursday evening, DeWine said the purpose of the session would be for legislators to ensure that both Biden and former President Donald Trump will be on the the ballot for Ohio voters to choose.
"This is simply unacceptable," DeWine said in his remarks. "Ohio is running out of time to get Joe Biden -- the sitting President of the United States -- on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is simply not acceptable."
DeWine's press conference came amid uncertainty as to the status of President Joe Biden on this November's Ohio election ballot. Ohio law requires political parties certify their candidates with the Secretary of State “on or before” 90 days prior to an election. The issue is the Democratic National Convention where Biden will be officially nominated won’t take place until Aug. 22 — 75 days before the election.
But as lawmakers tried to solve the issue through legislation, a partisan fight ensued to keep foreign money out of state ballot campaigns, a year after cash tied to a Swiss billionaire boosted a successful effort to enshrine abortion rights in the solidly red state's constitution.
"I think when you ask Ohioans they would think that its a ridiculous situation that a foreign national can come into the state of Ohio, or not come into Ohio, and spend a significant amount of money to affect an Ohio ballot issue," said DeWine. "We do not allow them to do that for candidates, why in the world should we allow them to do that for a ballot issue?"
The Senate bill put the ballot fix and amendments that would ban foreign nationals from contributing to political campaigns to House Bill 114, a campaign child care bill. The Senate passed their bill during the May 8 session.
The House took Senate Bill 92 and stripped the bill of its previous language about last year’s special election and put it in the presidential nomination language — making it a clean bill. But the House adjourned before voting to approve their bill.
“There’s just not the will to do that (ballot fix) from the legislature,” House Speaker Jason Stephens told reporters earlier this week.
DeWine disagreed during his remarks.
"The Senate has passed several bills that would remedy this situation, however the House of Representatives has failed to do this," he stated.
You can watch Thursday's briefing from Gov. DeWine below.
Julie Carr-Smyth of the Associated Press and Megan Henry of the Ohio Capital Journal contributed to this report
Previous Reporting:
- Legislative leaders say Biden on Ohio ballot fix won't happen through lawmakers
- Deal to assure President Joe Biden is on Ohio's ballot stymied by fight over foreign money in politics
- Will President Joe Biden be on the Ohio ballot in November, and why that's even a question: Ohio Has Issues with Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney