Newly declared candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, called on Monday to his GOP Senate challengers to help support Ohio State Issue 1 in the final days before the August 8th special election to vote on it.
Issue 1, if approved by voters, would mandate a 60 percent approval percentage for any future constitutional amendments, call for signatures from all 88 counties, and do away with the opportunity to “cure” petitions by collecting additional signatures if necessary.
LaRose issued a call to action to his opponents in the Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate, Republican State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, to stand united alongside him in the final days before the August 8th election to vote on Issue one and to consider making a significant financial investment towards the Vote Yes campaign.
According to LaRose, the three political candidates need to come together and show support for Issue 1.
“The Yes on Issue 1 campaign has been outspent by more than three-to-one by radical activists from California to New York looking to buy their way into Ohio’s constitution. We need to stand united against this unprecedented assault on our state’s values. Matt, Bernie, and I will have plenty of time to focus on the Senate race after this election. Right now, Ohio needs all three of us to come together and do whatever we can to win this campaign, ” LaRose said.
LaRose claimed that both Dolan and Moreno have contributed millions of dollars to their past and current political campaigns and alleged that both candidates have reported personal assets and net worth, putting them among the wealthiest Ohioans.
LaRose requested that Dolan and Moreno both contribute $1 million each to help fund the closing days of the campaign for State Issue 1.
“My opponents have the personal financial ability to help us win this, and I hope they’ll step up. In the Army, I learned that real leadership is about sacrifice. I’m not personally wealthy, but in the past seven months, I’ve given everything I can of my time and effort. I’ve left it all on the field, and I’ll keep working until the polls close on Election Day. I’m humbly asking Matt and Bernie to do the same by helping us secure this critical victory for our state,” LaRose said.
The Ohio Star contacted Dolan for comment on LaRose’s request and did not receive a reply before press time.
David DiStefano, campaign manager for Moreno, told The Star that Moreno will continue to rally support behind State Issue 1 and he has agreed to match dollar-for-dollar any personal donation that LaRose decides to give.
“Bernie Moreno has quietly donated six figures of his own money to the effort, and will continue to rally support behind the cause. As of right now, we are unaware of any similar personal contribution from LaRose, but we are excited to announce that Bernie has agreed to match dollar-for-dollar any personal donation that Frank decides to give,” DiStefano told The Star.
Ohio State Issue 1 comes at a time when pro-abortion activists are working to pass a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would legalize abortion throughout the state.
A second proposed amendment that would eventually raise the state’s minimum wage will likely appear on a 2024 ballot.
Voters will decide whether to approve State Issue 1 during a statewide special election on August 8th.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Frank LaRose” by Frank LaRose.
