United States: In a delectable twist of fate, President Biden—who has endeavored to prevent former President Trump from appearing on ballots in various states—might find himself excluded from the Ohio ballot come Election Day. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued this amusing admonition on Tuesday, illustrating yet another episode of Democratic ineptitude and double-dealing.
Despite receiving several weeks of forewarnings from LaRose’s office and the state legislature, the Ohio Democratic Party has comically stumbled into the possibility of disqualifying Biden from the ballot. LaRose, a Republican, highlighted that the Democratic Party has yet to propose any solution that adheres to the current law, according to certain reports.
Ohio’s election statute mandates that parties must certify their presidential candidates at least 90 days prior to Election Day. However, in a move reminiscent of a novice’s error, the Democratic Party intends to certify Biden at its national convention in Wisconsin on August 19, merely 75 days before the election—brazenly defying the law.
“I’ve articulated from here to Colorado that it’s in the electorate’s best interest to have a choice in the presidential race. As Ohio’s chief elections officer, I am also compelled to uphold the law,” LaRose declared, scarcely concealing his frustration.
“As it presently stands, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee will not appear on the Ohio ballot. This is not my decision. It stems from a legal conundrum created by the party, which has yet to present a legally acceptable resolution,” he continued, likely shaking his head in disbelief.
“The Ohio House Speaker stated today there won’t be a legislative solution, so I’ve dispatched a letter to the Ohio Democrats’ chair, seeking (once more) a solution that honors the law and respects the voters. I trust they’ll act swiftly,” he concluded, probably laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
Ohio Democrats previously suggested that Ohio could accept a “provisional certification” for Biden’s candidacy, but LaRose swiftly dismissed this ludicrous proposal, noting that state law provides no such allowances.
LaRose underscored that either the state legislature must amend the law to permit Biden’s certification or the Democratic Party must rectify its mishap. Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, another Republican, bluntly stated that lawmakers won’t rescue Biden. “There’s simply no willingness to do that from the legislature,” Stephens told reporters, likely with a smirk.
Even Democratic Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo couldn’t mask her exasperation with her own party’s ineptitude, stating, “We’ve witnessed the dysfunction here in this place. It’s evident that individuals have failed to set aside partisanship, hyper-partisanship, and infighting.… At this point, you’re likely to see either some sort of intra-party repercussions or perhaps judicial action,” as per certain reports.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine assured voters that Biden would be on the ballot in November, arguing that if the legislature doesn’t act, then it will be resolved by the court.
Ohio Democrats have yet to respond to LaRose’s Tuesday letter. The irony of Biden’s dilemma—potentially being excluded from the ballot while having sought to exclude Trump—is nothing short of poetic justice. This debacle is a fitting testament to the chaos and mismanagement that has come to characterize the Democratic Party.