Ohio GOP looking to oust nonpartisan campaign finance oversight agency
Ohio Republicans approved a two-year spending plan that includes removing the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC), a nonpartisan body that oversees campaign finance in the state.
Ohio Republicans approved a two-year spending plan that includes removing the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC), a nonpartisan body that oversees campaign finance in the state.
The OEC is currently comprised of a seven-member board, with three Republicans and three Democrats all appointed by the governor. The six members then fill the final spot with someone who isn’t affiliated with either party. The commission oversees Ohio’s campaign finance laws and the complaints or referrals regarding them.
Under the new GOP plan, the commission will be replaced with a five-member body housed within the Secretary of State’s office called the Ohio Election Integrity Commission. The majority and minority leaders in both chambers of the state legislature would each appoint someone to the new commission, with the secretary of state filling the chairman seat on the board. This means that all seats will be filled by partisan elected officials; currently, Republicans would get the advantage.
The GOP has held the secretary of state’s office since 2011, with now U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R) and current Secretary Frank LaRose (R) each winning consecutive terms. LaRose is ineligible for reelection in 2026 due to term limits, but he has called for reforming the Ohio Elections Commission this year.
State Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) told reporters that the Secretary of State’s office is a better home for campaign oversight despite the current non-partisan aspect of the commission.
Cirino told reporters the current commission is not as “effective as it as it should be. Didn’t have a lot of teeth.”
“We feel it’s going to be better to monitor elections in the Secretary of State’s office,” he continued. “I think it’s a natural fit.”
Democrats blasted the proposal while debating the budget, with Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) calling it “complete garbage.”
“From public schools, to universities, to health care, to the Elections Commission,” DeMora said. “This bill is complete garbage that attacks the average Ohioan to benefit rich Republican donors.”
Including the changes in the state budget also avoids the GOP from having to hold public hearings on the issue, taking public concerns out of the process.
Heartland Signal encourages news organizations and content creators to use our content. You're welcome to republish this article for free as long as you follow our republishing guidelines.
Related Articles
Milwaukee County Exec. David Crowley drops bid for governor, narrowing Wisconsin Democratic primary field
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced Wednesday that he is dropping his bid to be governor, a decision that narrows the Democratic primary field for the second time in recent weeks.
Questions remain about Mitch McConnell’s health
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for 23 days after emergency responders found him unconscious, but his office has still not clarified the reason for his hospitalization. While Republican leadership pushes back on rumors of his decline, the silence from his office leaves crucial questions unanswered.
Wisconsin Supreme Court denies access to voter competency records
In a 5-2 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an activist group does not have the right to obtain the documents that notify election officials when someone is declared incompetent to vote by a circuit court judge.
