Democrats to nominate Biden in ‘virtual roll call’ to ensure he’s on Ohio ballot

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio Senate Democrats say the Democratic National Committee has found a way to ensure President Joe Biden is on the November ballot.

The Democratic National Committee will hold a virtual roll call ahead of its Aug. 19 convention to choose Biden as their nominee, ensuring the president is on Ohio’s ballot before the state’s Aug. 7 certification deadline.

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“It will happen sometime this summer but within the deadline period,” Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. “What they tell us is they will call convention leaders and be able to document enough members to vote Joe Biden to certify that he will be on the ballot.”

The announcement comes after the legislature is meeting this week at the order of Gov. Mike DeWine to ensure that Biden is on the ballot and to ban foreign money in Ohio elections.

“We, through, the past weeks, have been assured that we cannot count on an outcome coming, at this point from the supermajority,” Antonio said. “We have asked the Biden campaign to issue a statement, which they will do today, assuring the people in the state of Ohio that Joe Biden will be on the ballot because they are going to go in an alternative direction to find a solution that does not include the Ohio legislature.”

“I had suggested earlier that the Democratic Party could simply notify the state of Ohio as what they plan to do, they don’t have to decide they’re only going to do it at a convention,” Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.

In a statement, DNC Chair Jamie Harrison said they decided to take matters into their own hands to ensure no price is paid.

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“Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own,” said Harrison. “Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice.”

The DNC said there is “strong, effective precedent for this process,” as the proceedings they will use will closely mirror the 2020 convention. The DNC will vote on June 4 on a resolution to allow for a virtual party, then in coming weeks will move forward with the pre-nomination process.

Still, DeWine said Tuesday the Ohio legislature should find a permanent solution to the issue, and stressed “it is important that a bill or multiple bills that accomplish these common-sense measures come to my desk right away this week.”

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“While I understand the [DNC] has just today proposed a work-around to help get President Biden on the Ohio ballot, it is prudent legislation be passed to get this done,” said DeWine. “As I previously said, we do not want to leave something so basic as having the sitting President of the United States on the ballot to others when this can — and should — be done legislatively.”

The governor also called on Statehouse lawmakers to ban “foreign contributions” in Ohio campaigns, and argued “there are individuals who likely intend to put foreign money into ballot measures this fall and that groups promoting these initiatives might be relying on such support from foreign sources.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Frank LaRose said they have not been contacted by the Democratic Party or its legal counsel yet, but the option is viable.

“We haven’t been contacted by the Democratic Party or its legal counsel about the revisions they reportedly intend to make to their nominating process. Moving up the date of their formal convention vote to meet Ohio’s ballot access deadline was certainly one option offered by our office for consideration. The other option was legislative action to temporarily adjust the certification deadline. We’re encouraged to see the party is actively pursuing both solutions, and we look forward to seeing the details.”

The governor also called on Statehouse lawmakers to ban “foreign contributions” in Ohio campaigns, and argued, “There are individuals who likely intend to put foreign money into ballot measures this fall and that groups promoting these initiatives might be relying on such support from foreign sources.”

“I think it’s an urgent thing that we need to address,” Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said. “Do I think we will get the votes? It depends on attendance Thursday.”

“This bill is not about foreign money, which is already illegal,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “They are using this as a cover to get at what they really want to attack and that is weakening the citizen ballot initiative process.”

The Senate has passed four versions of a foreign money bill and while the House is working on its own language on both HB609 and HB1 (specifically for this special session), they have yet to take a vote.

“Our original plan to have this foreign money bill on the floor on June 12, you know, it’s still in effect,” Stephens said. “So, we will see how the special session goes and if we have to bring that language back up, whatever the language ultimately is.”

Stephens said the House language is not set in stone yet and open to amendments.

House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz (R-Cincinatti) said negotiations between the House and Senate on that bill are still ongoing in relation to the campaign bill.

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