Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio has ignited a firestorm among conservatives by pushing for President Joe Biden's inclusion on the state's November ballot. This effort comes in response to a timing issue related to the Democratic convention, which is scheduled too late to comply with Ohio's ballot access laws. Historically, such issues have been quietly resolved by state legislators, but this year, it threatens to cause a partisan clash in the GOP-controlled legislature.
DeWine announced on Thursday that he is calling a special session of the Ohio General Assembly to begin on May 28. The purpose is to pass legislation ensuring that both former President Donald Trump and President Biden will be on Ohio's ballot in November. Additionally, he is urging lawmakers to prohibit campaign spending by foreign nationals.
"Ohio is running out of time to get the sitting President of the United States on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is unacceptable," DeWine said in a statement. "Ohioans should have the opportunity to cast a vote for either of the major party candidates."
DeWine's move has sparked intense criticism from Trump supporters, who accuse him of betraying his party. Joe Mannarino, a conservative podcast host, called DeWine a "traitor to his nation" for trying to get Biden on the ballot. Former U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell echoed this sentiment, criticizing DeWine for aiding Democrats while Republicans face significant challenges.
On the social media platform X, Trump supporters labeled DeWine a "RINO" (Republican in name only) and suggested he might be a secret Democrat. Some have even called for his replacement. DeWine, who has had a strained relationship with Trump, has not endorsed him for the 2024 election. "I've always said that I will support the Republican nominee. I'm a Republican," DeWine told CNN in March. "But my focus this year is going to be on a lot of local races, particularly the United States Senate."
Interestingly, some within the MAGA movement support DeWine's decision. Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, rumored to be a potential VP pick for Trump, praised DeWine's call for a special session. "It's a reasonable compromise: Republicans keep foreign money out of our state ballot process, and both major parties' nominees will be on the ballot," Vance wrote on X.
However, not all see DeWine's efforts as a step toward bipartisanship. David Pepper, a former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, criticized DeWine for favoring a "right-wing" approach to putting Biden on the ballot instead of a clean, bipartisan fix. "He's taking Ohio down the path that concessions must be made in order for Ohio voters to participate in America's presidential democracy," Pepper stated, referring to the potential implications for the state's constitutional amendment process.
The controversy extends to the mechanics of the special session itself. DeWine expressed frustration with his party's lawmakers, particularly in the state House, for not taking significant steps to address the issue. "The Senate has passed several bills that would remedy this situation," DeWine said. "However, the House of Representatives has failed to do this."
Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters criticized the GOP for political gamesmanship, urging them to pass a clean bill to ensure Biden's ballot access. "Despite Republicans' political gamesmanship, we're confident Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot," Walters stated.
Across the aisle, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou agreed with DeWine's decision to call a special session, expressing confidence in Trump's chances of winning decisively.
Ohio, once a critical swing state, has leaned Republican in recent elections. In 2020, Trump won the state with 53.3% of the vote compared to Biden's 45.2%. The trend suggests that Ohio might not be as contested in future elections, but ensuring ballot access for both major candidates remains a contentious issue.
