Ohio Republican lawmakers are negotiating with their Democrat counterparts to make sure President Joe Biden appears on the state’s presidential election ballot, according to Senate President Matt Huffman.
The deadline for political parties to nominate their presidential candidates is the issue in question.
President Biden is expected to be formally nominated for reelection at the Democratic National Convention, which will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
Mr. Huffman, a Republican, said earlier this month that the issue was “a Democratic problem.” On April 24, he softened his stance and told reporters, “Certainly, it’s something that’s going to happen. We need to take care of it.”Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, also a Republican, said he supports adjusting the deadline this year and for the long term.
“I think it’d be important that we fix this going forward, because one time there will be—the Republicans might fall under this situation in the future,” Mr. Stephens said.
The certification deadline for Ohio’s ballot is 90 days ahead of the general election. State lawmakers approved a temporary change in 2012 and for President Donald Trump in 2020.
Ohio lawmakers are discussing which existing bill they can include language for the adjustment instead of introducing standalone legislation, Mr. Huffman said.
“I think it’s going to happen, but it’s not going to happen today,” he noted on April 24.
Earlier this month, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote a letter to state Democrat officials warning that President Biden might not qualify for the general election ballot unless Democrats adjusted their convention date or convinced Republicans to change state law by May 9.
Ohio Republicans have a supermajority in the House and Senate.
In Alabama, legislation designed to ensure President Biden will appear on the presidential election ballot cleared the state Senate on April 23. The bill is similar to what was passed in 2020 to accommodate President Donald Trump.
President Biden’s campaign could ask the courts to place his name on the Ohio ballot, or the party could have a virtual convention before Aug. 7, ABC News reported.
Mr. Huffman believes that a federal judge will order President Biden onto the Ohio ballot. He pointed out that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump appears on the Colorado and Maine ballots because states can’t prevent federal candidates from ballot access.
Ohio Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio told reporters on April 24 that “all options are being explored” to get President Biden on the ballot.
Democrat Allison Russo, the Ohio House Minority Leader, said that “without a doubt, (President Biden) will be on the ballot.”
Attorney Don McTigue sent a letter to Mr. LaRose’s office saying that the Democrat Party would provisionally certify President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before the Aug. 7 deadline.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office responded that provisional approval is not permitted, and Mr. LaRose cannot change election deadlines.
President Biden faces a significant challenge in Ohio if he does appear on the ballot. President Trump won the state by eight points in 2016 and 2020. In addition to a supermajority in the state legislature, Ohio has a Republican governor (Mike DeWine), secretary of state (Mr. LaRose), and attorney general (Mr. Yost).Endorsed by President Trump, J.D. Vance was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Longtime Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown is seeking another term and faces President Trump-backed businessman Bernie Moreno in the general election this year.
President Biden is not the only candidate attempting to appear on the state’s presidential general election ballot. Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is collecting signatures to accomplish that feat.
Aug. 7 is also the certification deadline for independent presidential candidates in Ohio. Mr. Kennedy must submit at least 5,000 valid signatures.
