Half-dozen Dems win court battle to get on Aug. 2 legislative ballots in Ohio

The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday told Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to add six Democrats to legislative ballots for the August 2 primary but said two Republicans didn't make the cut.

The court granted an order that gets William DeMora, Anita Somani, Elizabeth Thien, Leronda Jackson, Bridgette Tupes and Gary Martin on the ballot but denied a request by Republicans Shafron Hawkins and Mehek Cooke.

Democrats and Republicans interested in running for legislative seats sued because while the primary date was moved to Aug. 2, the Feb. 2 filing deadline wasn't moved. They wanted the deadline bumped as well.

LaRose argued in the case that filing deadlines are set by state law, not his office. And once a federal court set the Aug. 2 primary date, it was already past the time frame allowed for candidates and write-in candidates to declare their candidacy.

In court documents, LaRose warned about the "impracticability of adding new candidates or re-opening filing periods."

The case resulted from the protracted battle over redistricting.

In 2015, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment for a new way to draw legislative district maps. The new system was supposed to foster bipartisanship and curb partisan gerrymandering. Following the 2020 census, the new process was put into play.

It did not go well.

The seven member Ohio Redistricting Commission passed legislative maps without Democratic support, so the maps would only be in effect for four years instead of a decade. Interest groups sued. In 4-3 split rulings, the Ohio Supreme Court five times rejected four sets of maps, including one set twice.

In the midst of the legal challenges, Ohio held its May primary for statewide and other contests but skipped it for legislative races because the maps weren't finalized until May 27.

While the primary was moved to Aug. 2 for legislative races, the Feb. 2 filing deadline was not. Taxpayers will foot the $20 million bill for that second primary.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Redistricting: Ohio Supreme Court allows 6 candidates on Aug. 2 ballot