August 3 Ohio Primary is TODAY!

 

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Update: Ohio Primary on Tuesday

 

It is likely at this point that either Nina Turner or Shontel Brown, both Democrats, will win the primary on Aug. 3 for the US House seat formerly held by Marcia Fudge in Ohio’s 11^th Congressional district.  John Sexton at Hot Air has

written a couple of times about the battle in Ohio between the socialist wing of the Democratic Party, which is supporting Nina Turner, and the more establishment wing which is supporting Shontel Brown. Today HuffPost reports that establishment money is pouring into the race now that Brown seems within striking distance:

Moderate Democratic groups, donors and even some Republicans are flooding Ohio’s 11th Congressional District with millions of dollars in a bid to elect Shontel Brown and defeat progressive favorite Nina Turner in Tuesday’s special primary election.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), along with Democratic Reps. Joyce Beatty (Ohio), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) and Bennie Thompson (Miss.), are headlining a get-out-the-vote event for Brown this weekend as well.

I was aware that Jim Clyburn, the 3rd ranking Democrat in the House, was supporting Brown, but I hadn’t been aware of why he decided to get so involved in the race. According to HuffPost, Nina Turner made a big mistake last month when she appeared on a panel with well-known rapper named Killer Mike. (Killer Mike had some interesting things to say to rioters and to CNN last summer).

Speaking on a panel with rapper “Killer” Mike Render, Turner appeared to express agreement when Render said it was “incredibly stupid” for House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) to have endorsed Biden without demanding more in exchange.

Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, endorsed Brown days later and was soon featured in one of her TV ads.

. . .

Bringing the heavy hitters off the bench to oppose your campaign seems, well, incredibly stupid. But this type of blunt talk about the Democratic Party is what Nina Turner is known for. In fact, there’s a new anti-Turner ad which basically argues that she’s not really a Democrat at all.

. . .

More at the link here, including some videos.

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No in-person primary voting for you

Unless you are homeless or disabled, there will be no in-person primary voting for you. (See our previous blogpost here.)  Cleveland.com reports that a judge has upheld the changes to the election timetable and method of voting – mostly by mail.  Not good news, but here it:

A federal judge on Friday declined to step in and change a plan Ohio lawmakers unanimously approved to alter the state’s primary election, which will now be held almost solely by mail through April 28 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. District Judge Michael Watson ruled that a coalition of voting-rights groups that filed suit Monday over the Ohio legislature’s plan did not show that the rights of residents would be disenfranchised enough to override the law.

Even if the plan, named House Bill 197, isn’t perfect, that’s not enough to intervene, the judge wrote in his 27-page opinion.

“The Constitution does not require the best plan, just a lawful one,” wrote Watson, whose courtroom is in Columbus. “. . .

. . .

. . . He said the state is not in violation of the National Voting Rights Act.

Here’s one part I find particularly objectionable:

[Watson] said voters had many chances to vote either at boards of elections or by mail prior to the original primary date.

Voters who planned to vote on Election Day at their polling place are penalized for not voting early.

Read the rest of the report here.

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Ohio primary bills and Photo ID Lobby Day info

Photo credit: oxlre.org

These just in from Ohio Tea Party Patriots via Marianne:

Ohio's Turf in Play There is a bill that just passed the House that would push our primary date back another week.  That would mean six more states would do their primaries before us, making Ohio less relevant in the process.   Also, Ohio is a winner take all state.  That means the candidate that received the most delegate votes, receives all the delegate votes, rather than the ones that actually voted for the candidate. Assuming Governor Kasich intends to run for President, if he received one more delegate vote than all the other candidates, he would receive all the delegate votes from Ohio. Why would our legislature want Ohio to be LESS relevant in an election cycle.  Could it be because Kasich is concerned about the lack of support he'll garner from his own state, especially since our state budget has expanded under his leadership?   Could it be because Kasich went against the will of the people and his legislature when expanding Medicaid, which is now 33% higher than projected? Could it be because Kasich continues to lie about Common Core and insult the parents of the children forced to deal with it, while he sends his girls to private school? If they should be changing anything, it should be the "winner takes all" rule.

It's About the Party Not the People Unfortunately, this battle over turf happens at every level, Federal, State and Local.  The role of the Party is to protect the Party and its turf, that is the only way to be successful in the party's agenda, whatever it may be. So how do we protect the people?  It starts at the local level. Become the Party.  Ask yourself: Who is my precinct rep in my county party? If you don't know, find out by calling your Central Committee Chair or your County Board of Elections.  If you don't have one, run for the office.  All you need is five valid signatures on your petition (always get more). Your precinct rep is your voice at the local level.  Know who they are or become one. If you need help, let CTPP  know.

Photo ID Lobby Day Just a reminder for this Wednesday's Photo ID Requirement Lobby Day: WHEN: Wednesday, April 29th: 10:00 a.m. - Attend press conference 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Meet with legislators WHERE: Ohio Statehouse Atrium (East Entrance) If you are unable to attend, please contact your state Representative and Senator and let them know that you support voter photo identification.  Ask them to show support and co-sponsor the legislation. Click here to contact your representative   Click here to contact your Senator # # #