Latest news with #Issue1
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Ohio representative dies
(WKBN) – Former State Rep. Ron Hood has died. Hood, who was born in Warren, passed away on Saturday, according to his obituary. Hood, a staunch conservative, served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was first elected in 1994. He sponsored the 'heartbeat bill' in 2018, which sought to ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically at six weeks. The bill was signed into law in 2019 but is no longer in effect after voters passed Issue 1 in 2023. During his time as representative, Hood also pushed to remove the requirement to obtain a permit for concealed carry. Ohio Conservatives PAC posted on its Facebook page that Hood was 'a good man and a true defender of liberty.' Hood left the Statehouse in 2020 and unsuccessfully ran as governor in the 2022 Republican primary. Hood was 55 years old. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After bitter defeats last year, Ohio Democrats are biding time as GOP moves full swing into 2026
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first television ads dropped this week in the Ohio governor's race that's still more than a year off. The early onslaught by a super PAC allied with Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy drove home how quickly the former bellwether state 's ruling Republicans are seizing the spotlight and staking claims to five statewide executive offices that are opening in 2026. All that urgency begs a question: Where are Ohio Democrats? Fresh off a pair of difficult losses last year — the bitter defeat of three-term U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, and the rejection by voters of the anti-gerrymandering amendment known as Issue 1 — the party's efforts at building anything close to a winning 2026 ticket have so far been muted, and for some, moving too slowly. Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director who helped guide Ohio through the early days of the pandemic, is running for governor as a Democrat — methodically building financial support and a statewide campaign. Though she gained recognition appearing on daily COVID-19 briefings that aired statewide in early 2020, Acton also is a newcomer to politics who lacks the political might of someone like Brown, who before last year had reliably won statewide victories going back decades. Meanwhile, only two other Democrats — southwest Ohio oncologist and first-time candidate Brian Hambley for secretary of state, and tainted former state Rep. Elliot Forhan for attorney general — have launched campaigns. The lack of activity accompanies Democrats' broader struggles nationally to coalesce around a strategy for countering actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their Republican allies in Congress. The debate over how to respond has divided party leaders, with some advocating for lying low — even as crowds of angry citizens throng congressional town halls, clog Capitol Hill phone lines and stage protests and marches in the streets. Others want to see the party combat November's bitter defeats at both the national and state levels more strenuously. 'People are being quiet right now and sort of circling the wagons and kind of trying to figure out how to respond,' said Dr. J. Cherie Strachan, director of the University of Akron's Bliss Institute of Applied Politics. As he exited the Senate in December, Brown vowed he'd be getting back to politics in some way. That prospect is among reasons that other aspiring Ohio Democrats are biding their time, according to several party insiders granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Others say it's Republicans who are starting too early, not Democrats who are late. It's unclear if Brown will run, and, if he does, what office he might seek. It could be the governorship, setting up a contested primary with Acton. It could be the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Vice President JD Vance, which successor Jon Husted must defend next year. Brown recently offered a treatise of sorts in The New Republic magazine for restoring the national Democratic Party with a pro-worker message, prompting speculation he might even be aspiring to the presidency. Once Brown's plans are known, plenty of other Democrats will be ready to go, predicted Greg Beswick, a former Ohio Democratic Party executive director. Though it's been 20 years since Democrats won a statewide executive office in Ohio, he said the party is watching for falling approval ratings for Trump and Musk to create opportunities in 2026. 'I do think that they're going to be able to recruit folks and be able to run when they start seeing these items,' he said. 'I think it's been easier for the Republicans, quite frankly. It's the shuffling of the deck of folks that want to make sure they keep a job.' That shuffle includes Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost running for governor, Auditor Keith Faber running for attorney general, Secretary of State Frank LaRose running for auditor and Treasurer Robert Sprague running for secretary of state. Besides Brown, other high profile Democrats believed to be weighing runs in 2026 are: former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who lost a tighter than expected Senate race to Vance in 2022; Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, who won key Republican concessions for her party last session; and former U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach, a former Ohio attorney general candidate who led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under President Joe Biden. Katie Seewer, a spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party, said they anticipate at least one Democratic candidate will emerge for each of the statewide races. She said the party has been seeing lots of enthusiasm at organizing events across the state. 'People are fired up and ready to go,' she said. Strachan said contested primaries would strongly benefit the party, by garnering media attention and energizing voters.
Associated Press
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
After bitter defeats last year, Ohio Democrats are biding time as GOP moves full swing into 2026
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first television ads dropped this week in the Ohio governor's race that's still more than a year off. The early onslaught by a super PAC allied with Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy drove home how quickly the former bellwether state 's ruling Republicans are seizing the spotlight and staking claims to five statewide executive offices that are opening in 2026. All that urgency begs a question: Where are Ohio Democrats? Fresh off a pair of difficult losses last year — the bitter defeat of three-term U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, and the rejection by voters of the anti-gerrymandering amendment known as Issue 1 — the party's efforts at building anything close to a winning 2026 ticket have so far been muted, and for some, moving too slowly. Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director who helped guide Ohio through the early days of the pandemic, is running for governor as a Democrat — methodically building financial support and a statewide campaign. Though she gained recognition appearing on daily COVID-19 briefings that aired statewide in early 2020, Acton also is a newcomer to politics who lacks the political might of someone like Brown, who before last year had reliably won statewide victories going back decades. tainted former state Rep. Elliot Forhan for attorney general — have launched campaigns. The lack of activity accompanies Democrats' broader struggles nationally to coalesce around a strategy for countering actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their Republican allies in Congress. The debate over how to respond has divided party leaders, with some advocating for lying low — even as crowds of angry citizens throng congressional town halls, clog Capitol Hill phone lines and stage protests and marches in the streets. Others want to see the party combat November's bitter defeats at both the national and state levels more strenuously. 'People are being quiet right now and sort of circling the wagons and kind of trying to figure out how to respond,' said Dr. J. Cherie Strachan, director of the University of Akron's Bliss Institute of Applied Politics. As he exited the Senate in December, Brown vowed he'd be getting back to politics in some way. That prospect is among reasons that other aspiring Ohio Democrats are biding their time, according to several party insiders granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Others say it's Republicans who are starting too early, not Democrats who are late. It's unclear if Brown will run, and, if he does, what office he might seek. It could be the governorship, setting up a contested primary with Acton. It could be the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Vice President JD Vance, which successor Jon Husted must defend next year. Brown recently offered a treatise of sorts in The New Republic magazine for restoring the national Democratic Party with a pro-worker message, prompting speculation he might even be aspiring to the presidency. Once Brown's plans are known, plenty of other Democrats will be ready to go, predicted Greg Beswick, a former Ohio Democratic Party executive director. Though it's been 20 years since Democrats won a statewide executive office in Ohio, he said the party is watching for falling approval ratings for Trump and Musk to create opportunities in 2026. 'I do think that they're going to be able to recruit folks and be able to run when they start seeing these items,' he said. 'I think it's been easier for the Republicans, quite frankly. It's the shuffling of the deck of folks that want to make sure they keep a job.' That shuffle includes Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost running for governor, Auditor Keith Faber running for attorney general, Secretary of State Frank LaRose running for auditor and Treasurer Robert Sprague running for secretary of state. Besides Brown, other high profile Democrats believed to be weighing runs in 2026 are: former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who lost a tighter than expected Senate race to Vance in 2022; Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, who won key Republican concessions for her party last session; and former U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach, a former Ohio attorney general candidate who led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under President Joe Biden. Katie Seewer, a spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party, said they anticipate at least one Democratic candidate will emerge for each of the statewide races. She said the party has been seeing lots of enthusiasm at organizing events across the state. 'People are fired up and ready to go,' she said.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers push to hold men accountable for role in conception
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio lawmakers are preparing to introduce a bill that would make it a crime for men to have unprotected sex if they do not intend on having a baby. The bill, proposed by Reps. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) and Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood), would make it illegal for men for actions 'without the intent to fertilize an embryo.' Where Columbus, central Ohio cities stand on their DEI initiatives 'The goal is to draw attention to some of the bills that have been passed in the legislature and also around the country that police or restrict reproductive rights for women,' said Somani, who is also an OBGYN. 'Having intercourse, having a baby, involves two people. … The intent is to say that men are equally responsible.' The bill, called the 'Conception Begins at Erection Act,' allows exceptions, such as when a man wears contraception. It would also not apply to couples in the LGBTQ+ community. If the bill were to become law, men could be fined $1,000 for their first offense, $5,000 for their second offense and $10,000 for any further offense. 'This ridiculous proposal demonstrates yet again that Democrats are not serious about helping women and their children,' said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. 'Instead of acting like professional adults, Reps. Somani and Rader have embarrassed their constituents and would rather get 'likes' from the radical left on social media than offer solutions to help pregnant women.' 'Forever': How Meredith Gaudreau got a tattoo using her late husband's ashes Somani said the legislation was modeled after a similar bill introduced in Mississippi under the same name. The Mississippi bill, introduced in January, would also criminalize 'discharging genetic material' without the intent to conceive a baby and outlines the same penalties. For the bill to be enforced, it would rely on residents reporting each other, Somani said. While Somani and Rader recently announced the proposal on social media, it has not yet been formally introduced. The pair is debating the best time to introduce it, given the House is currently working on state budgets, according to Somani. 'I would say if you're offended and insulted by this bill, then think about all the bills that have been done to police women and be offended by those also,' Somani said. In November 2023, Ohioans passed Issue 1, which enshrined residents' right to an abortion in the state's constitution. However, Somani said she anticipates legislation attempting to recognize fetuses as people will be introduced at the Statehouse this General Assembly, so she believes this bill is a 'proactive' move. Ohio higher education bill fast-tracked at Statehouse 'As an OBGYN, I think the decisions that we make on healthcare belong between the patient and the provider, whether that patient is male or female,' Somani said. 'I don't believe we should legislate, but I do believe we should draw attention to these things so that people understand that legislating abortion care is not better than legislating male reproductive care.' Although Somani does not believe the bill has a chance of passing, she thinks it is important to start a conversation about legislation that 'unfairly' restricts women's reproductive freedoms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio Democratic lawmakers propose ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act'
State Rep. Anita Somani, D-Dublin, talks with people gathered for the Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom rally for Issue 1, October 8, 2023, outside the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.) A new bill in Ohio would make it a crime for men to ejaculate without intending to have a baby. 'You don't get pregnant on your own,' state Rep. Anita Somani, D-Dublin, said. In between performing multiple surgeries as an OBGYN Friday, the Democrat explained that she wants to start regulating men's reproductive health care. 'If you're going to penalize someone for an unwanted pregnancy, why not penalize the person who is also responsible for the pregnancy?' she said. She introduced legislation that would make it a felony for men to 'discharge semen without the intent to fertilize.' Somani and state Rep. Tristan Rader, D-Lakewood, joined forces to propose a bill nicknamed 'Conception Begins at Erection Act.' There are some exceptions, such as when protection or contraceptions are used during sex. It also wouldn't apply when an individual is masturbating, donating sperm, or if the intercourse takes place between members of the LGBTQ+ community and thus doesn't 'produce ova.' So what this would apply to is sex without a condom and without actually wanting to procreate. This felony would cost violators thousands of dollars, with a max of $10,000 per discharge. 'It's beyond ridiculous what's going on here,' Republican activist Austin Beigel laughed. 'It's a mockery of the most basic biological concepts.' The humorous aspect is something both Beigel and Somani agree on. 'If you think it's absurd to regulate men, then you should think it's equally absurd to regulate women,' Somani responded. 'So this is to make a statement,' she said. 'It is a statement,' Somani said with a laugh. Ohio voters overwhelmingly legalized and protected the right to abortion in 2023. Issue 1 passed 57%-43%, and it enshrined reproductive rights into the state constitution. Ohioans have the right to make their own decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing pregnancy. The state is prohibited from interfering with or penalizing someone for exercising this right. Despite this, anti-abortion advocates like Beigel are trying to reverse it. He is the president of End Abortion Ohio. He said that in the coming weeks, lawmakers will introduce a new bill to criminalize abortion totally. 'It just says human life begins at conception,' he said. 'Therefore, all the protections that are offered to other people under the state law are also offered to the pre-born.' He said the bill is called the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act. 'It will be being introduced very soon,' he said. Beigel believes the legislation could hold up in court because of the equal protection provision in the U.S. Constitution. He said the state constitution is now in violation of the 14th Amendment to the federal charter. Legal experts have routinely criticized this argument, saying it won't hold up. Beigel knows there will be a legal challenge, but he is also trying to normalize the idea of a total ban. By continuing to introduce it, it may get passed further down the line, he argued. 'Would this bill be going against the will of the voters?' Beigel was asked. 'Yeah, look back at American history… The issue of slavery was popular with the majority at certain times, and so it is absolutely possible for the majority of a state's populace to support something that's evil and something that's wrong,' he responded. Somani has criticized that argument throughout the years for being inaccurate, while Democrats have called it racist to suggest abortion is similar to slavery. The nonstop effort of anti-abortion activists is one of the reasons why this legislation is needed, the Democrat said. 'Just like abortion bills have penalized physicians or created felonies for physicians and patients, the intent of the bill is to show that we should not be policing any anybody's reproductive rights,' Somani said. Beigel added that he understands that Somani is being satirical but that she is missing the mark. 'The pro-life movement has never tried to regulate women's bodies,' he claimed. 'We're trying to regulate the actions of people who want to kill another person.' He said that Somani's bill is invasive and isn't based on science, questioning how the Democrats are spending their time. 'If they think that it's a waste of taxpayer money, well, then they should think the same on the other side,' the doctor responded. She is also sick of the Republicans choosing which bills are 'jokes' or not since she thinks their legislation 'destroying public education in the state' or 'not supporting kids getting free meals at school' are both absurd. 'I think this hits the idea of 'Republican freedom' and 'men's freedom,' and so that's why it's touching such a big nerve,' Somani said. This bill likely isn't conceivable in the GOP-controlled legislature, but it is heating up the conversation. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
