Controversial podcaster files to run for Ohio's top elections office

Feb. 1—COLUMBUS — A controversial podcaster alleging that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump has filed petitions to run for Ohio's top elections office.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office reported that Terpsichore "Tore" Maras-Lindeman was among those filing petitions to seek the Republican nomination for secretary of state.

On Monday's episode of the Tore Says Show, Ms. Maras-Lindeman talked about driving home from Columbus, although she's made no official announcement.

"Today when I filed paperwork for something I'm not going to talk about, because I filed it officially today, I thought to myself, you know what, I'm glad it's with the Republican Party," she said. "Because we need real Republicans and fake Democrats.

"We need fake Democrats because the real Democrats want slaves," she said, referring to refugees and illegal immigration.

Mr. Trump carried Ohio by more than 8 percentage points in 2020 and, unlike key states where he lost, Ohio has never been among the states targeted by lawsuits alleging fraud.

Mr. LaRose, a staunch defender of the legitimacy of Ohio's election system, is seeking the GOP nomination for a second term in the May 3 primary election. In addition to Ms. Maras-Lindeman, former state Rep. John Adams, of Sidney, is seeking to block his path to re-election.

On the Democratic side, Forest Hills Councilman Chelsea Clark filed for her party's nomination.

This was taking place as Mr. LaRose referred 62 people to Attorney General Dave Yost's office for investigation of potential voter fraud.

Of those, 31 are believed to be noncitizens who registered but did not vote. The other 31 are noncitizens who may have cast a ballot in the 2020 election or earlier.

"Our state is proof positive you don't have to choose between secure or convenient elections," Mr. LaRose said. "We have both. In Ohio, easy to vote and hard to cheat aren't mutually exclusive. At the end of the day, these referrals are all about accountability."

Wednesday marks the deadline for candidates to file petitions, although many already have filed.

In other late developments, Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer on Tuesday said he will file petitions to run for Ohio treasurer, completing — at nearly the last minute — the Democratic slate of candidates for the May 3 primary election.

Barring a surprise entry, Mr. Schertzer would be expected to square off in November against Republican Treasurer Robert Sprague, of Findlay, who filed Tuesday.

"I look forward to making a formal announcement soon and talking with voters all across Ohio about how we can create jobs, balance budgets, and bring small-town values to Columbus," Mr. Schertzer said.

Mr. Schertzer was a public school teacher and city councilman before becoming mayor in 2008. He was briefly an unofficial statewide candidate four years ago when he was selected by gubernatorial candidate Connie Pillich as her running mate.

His announcement follows Monday's entry by Nelsonville City Auditor Taylor Sappington for state auditor, hoping to challenge Republican incumbent Keith Faber, of Celina, this fall. Mr. Sappington served on city council before being elected auditor.

"We've all been paying for the corruption and games in the politicians in this state who forgot their roots long ago," he said. "They lost something along the way, and for them it's gone forever. But we can change all that. We can take back our state. We can be leaders that inspire the next generation."

As of Tuesday Mr. Sprague and Mr. Sappington had filed their petitions, but Mr. Faber and Mr. Schertzer had not.

The filing deadline has been extended to March 4 for Ohio candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives as they continue to wait for a congressional district map to be finalized. The filing period opens on Feb. 19.

Here's an update on who did file Tuesday or had made arrangements to so in the secretary of state's office.

OHIO GOVERNOR

Democratic former Cincinnati mayor John Cranley and his running mate, state Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), filed. The team of former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Cuyahoga County Councilman Cheryl Stephens is expected to file Wednesday.

On the Republican side, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted had yet to file for re-election, but the team of former state Reps. Ron Hood and Candace Keller did. Also expected are the teams of former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci with conservative filmmaker Joe Knopp and Columbus area cattle farmer Joe Blystone with Iraq veteran Jeremiah Workman.

U.S. SENATE

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D., Akron); Morgan Harper, Columbus consumer protection attorney and community organizer, and T.J. Johnson, a Columbus area information technology executive, filed for the Democratic nomination, hoping to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican.

In the crowded field of Republicans, former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken, Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance, state Sen. Matt Dolan (R. Chagrin Falls), investment banker Mike Gibbons, Dublin businessman Mark Pukita, central Ohio businessman Neil Patel, and Robert Graham have filed.

Among others expected to file before the deadline are former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno.

OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL

Mr. Yost filed for re-election while his would-be Democratic challenger, state Rep. Jeff Crossman (D., Parma), also filed.

OHIO SUPREME COURT

Justices Sharon Kennedy and Jennifer Brunner filed for the Republican and Democratic nominations, respectively, for chief justice.

Meanwhile, Republican Justice Pat DeWine and Democratic appellate Judge Marilin Zayas, of Cincinnati, filed as did GOP Justice Pat Fischer and his Democratic challenger, Columbus area appellate Judge Terri Jameson, of Columbus.

First Published February 1, 2022, 2:32pm