The issue of whether President Joe Biden will appear on Ohio's fall ballot has become entangled in a partisan legislative battle over foreign money in state ballot campaigns. This conflict arose following a successful campaign last year, backed by a Swiss billionaire, to enshrine abortion rights in Ohio's constitution.
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposed a ban on foreign money in initiative campaigns, which led to a deadlock in resolving the ballot deadline issue before the Democratic National Convention. Despite the deadline passing without a resolution, both Republican and Democratic leaders remain confident that Biden will be on the ballot, although the specifics are uncertain.
Senate Republicans sought to leverage Biden's situation to push for a ban on foreign nationals contributing to ballot campaigns. This legislation was prompted by the involvement of Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss in funding various political causes in the U.S. A report revealed that Wyss-backed entities channeled significant funds to support the abortion measure and oppose a related constitutional amendment.
A compromise was reached in the Senate to combine the foreign nationals ban with adjusting the ballot deadline, which was met with criticism from Democrats. Meanwhile, the House proposed a separate solution to move the ballot deadline to accommodate the Democratic convention, but this plan faced obstacles and was not voted on.
Secretary of State LaRose condemned the House's inaction and accused Democrats of prioritizing foreign billionaires over resolving the ballot issue. He singled out Wyss as the individual responsible for potentially keeping Biden off the ballot in Ohio, alleging that Democrats rely on his funding for their campaigns.
Despite the ongoing political turmoil, there is still a possibility for the House to address the ballot deadline issue through an emergency vote. The situation underscores the challenges of balancing political interests and electoral processes in Ohio.
Hansjörg Wyss, born in Switzerland in 1935 and now residing in Wyoming, has emerged as a central figure in the debate over foreign influence in Ohio's elections.
