There Is Much on the Line for the 2022 Midterms in Ohio
The May 3rd primary in Ohio for the 2022 Midterms is fast approaching. As maps have yet to be approved, there will be a split primary with the State Representative, State Senate, and State Central Committee not on the ballot. The date for the State races has yet to be set, but most likely will be August 2nd, the special election date. In the May 3rd primary, voters will nominate candidates for statewide offices, U.S. Congress, County Commissioners, County Auditor, Clerk of Courts, and several judicial offices.
In 2021, the Ohio state legislature showed just how destructive Republicans can be when given virtually unchecked power, a trend that is continuing in 2022.
Access to guns has drastically increased due to several new laws passed by the Ohio legislature, and there are still some being considered in 2022. SB 215 was just signed by the governor. This bill allows virtually any adult to legally carry a concealed gun in public without a permit, background check, or training. The bill also eliminates the requirement to inform a police officer of the gun. Lying if an officer asks is a misdemeanor, but gun owners don’t have to say anything unless asked. SB 293 would prohibit Ohio and cities from requiring gun owners to pay a fee or get liability insurance. HB 99, which passed the House in November and is now pending in the Senate, would reduce the number of hours of training teachers need to carry a concealed weapon in a school from 700 to 20. Another bill in the works is HB 325, which would ban law enforcement from confiscating firearms during a statewide emergency. There is no obvious reason why this would be a good move, but it is backed by the NRA, which is a terrible sign. And it’s important to note that gun violence in Ohio is on the rise, as are gun deaths. Ohio needs more laws protecting Ohioans from guns, not putting more guns into the hands of irresponsible and unprepared owners.
Another concerning bill moving through the legislature is House Bill 109, otherwise known as the Anti-Protest Bill. The bill recently passed the house along party lines and is now awaiting a vote in the Senate. HB 109 would increase penalties for crimes committed by protestors when law enforcement deems the protest a riot. There are also two new felonies created by the bill, including riot assault and vandalism. It also would increase penalties for misdemeanors like disorderly conduct that occurs during a riot and expand corrupt activity laws to include those who knowingly helped plan a riot. This would leave organizers open to civil lawsuits if an event they organize turns violent through no fault of their own. It is also important to note what could be called a riot and held under these standards. For example, if four or more people commit disorderly conduct with intent to commit another misdemeanor, a protest can be called a riot. This could mean as little as five people standing in the street blocking traffic. It’s also important to note that there is already an anti-riot bill, which was enough to prosecute the people who vandalized the statehouse in 2020, so there is no need for an additional bill except to scare protestors and jail those who protest things law enforcement doesn’t agree with.
Ohio has also proposed an anti-trans youth bill, following a nationwide trend. The bill, known as the Save Adolescents from Experimentation or SAFE Act, would prohibit specific medical coverage for LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans or non-binary people. It would prevent youth from receiving gender-affirming care by no longer allowing doctors or other healthcare workers to provide medical procedures, hormone blockers, or cross-sex hormones for trans-youth. Another provision of the bill would require counselors to tell parents what their child says in therapy, including if they are gay. Healthcare workers who do not comply would have their licenses removed and would be vulnerable to lawsuits. It would also take away public funding from institutions that help transgender youth and prevent insurance and Medicaid from covering the procedures. Laws like this are absolutely horrifying and pointlessly cruel.
When it comes to abortion, the state legislature has been just as moronic as can be expected. HB 378 would force healthcare providers to tell patients that it is possible to interrupt the medical abortion process, which is factually inaccurate. It would require doctors to lie to their patients and spread medically inaccurate information. Last year, a law required the fetal remains from surgical abortions to be buried or cremated. Clinics that did not dispose of the remains humanely would face a first-degree misdemeanor, clinic license suspension, or fines. That law is currently blocked and under litigation. Another law was passed back in December that would require doctors, in the rare case that a baby is born alive following an attempted abortion, to try to save the baby’s life. An amendment to this bill also prevents physicians who teach medical students or who are affiliated with public hospitals and institutions from having any association with abortion providers. The law is unnecessary, considering physicians are already required to provide life-saving care and that these situations are incredibly rare.
Ohio is also dealing with an extended and painful redistricting process. Ohio passed two constitutional amendments making the redistricting process less partisan in 2015 and 2018. Still, the redistricting commission, which comprises 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats, has been unwilling or unable to follow the new standards thus far. The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down multiple proposed maps so far. The congressional maps are also in litigation. They would give at least 10 of Ohio’s 15 congressional districts to Republicans, and two other districts are highly competitive. For reference, Ohio is about 45% Democrat and 55% Republican, so a reasonably fair division of seats would be 8 to 7. The Supreme Court has declared all sets of maps thus far proposed partisan and unfairly favoring Republicans. With the May 3rd primary coming up soon, there may soon be discussions of changing the primary date. Democrats on the commission have fair maps drawn, but Republicans have refused to consider them so far. Any maps the Democrats do not vote for will only be in place for four years, as opposed to the ten they are supposed to, due to a provision in the constitution. It is hard to say where things will go from here, considering how crazy things have been so far, but it is hard to imagine it will be quick or simple.
Ohioans will be voting on a lot this primary season, both on May 3rd and for the State primaries. There are several interesting characters on the ballot. Senator Rob Portman’s seat is up for grabs due to his retirement, and Democrats are hoping to pick up the seat, although it will be difficult. The race is seen as Lean Republican, so it is likely the winner of the Republican primary will win, but we can’t count Democrats out just yet. The Republican primary has seven contenders and five major players. The two in the lead currently are Josh Mandel and Mike Gibbons. The other three major candidates are JD Vance, Jane Timken, and Matt Dolan. All except Dolan support Trump, although Trump has not yet endorsed any candidate. Both Republicans in the lead are highly conservative. Josh Mandel’s campaign emphasizes this support of Trump and supports finishing the border wall, opposes teaching critical race theory, thinks the 2020 election was stolen, and was the first statewide official to back the heartbeat abortion ban. In a debate in January, he called Black Lives Matter activists “thugs,” called COVID “a bioweapon manufactured by the Chinese Communist Party” to defeat Trump, said there is no such thing as separation of church and state, and discussed immigration, calling it an invasion. Gibbons is also a supporter of Trump and supports the continuation of the border wall. He said he would end late-term abortion and confirm justices to the Supreme Court who would overturn Roe v Wade. He also rejects critical race theory and has attacked other candidates for not supporting Trump enough. He has the endorsement of Senator Rand Paul. There are two candidates in the lead for the Democrats, US Representative Tim Ryan, and attorney Morgan Harper. Ryan represents a working-class district and is supported by the Democratic establishment, while Harper is a member of the party’s progressive wing.
It is critical to get out and vote in the May 3rd Primaries, State Special Elections, and General Elections to elect Democrats up and down the ballot to represent Ohio at both the Federal and State levels. Mobilizing to get out the vote for the Special Election later this year will be critical. As the Republican-controlled statehouse and Senate continue working this legislative session, passing some truly horrific laws, Ohioans get to make a decision about the direction they want their state to go in. If you are unhappy with the pro-gun, anti-safety, anti-trans, anti-choice, and anti-protestor laws being passed, please get out and make your voice heard. Ohio deserves better than laws like these. Ohioans deserve true representation and people who will fight for them. Join us to help make that happen.
by Betsy Zalinski
