SANDUSKY, Ohio — The political landscape of Ohio has experienced a seismic shift following the decisive defeat of Issue 1, a Republican-backed ballot measure that could have posed challenges to efforts aimed at safeguarding abortion access across the state. This unexpected turn has left Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who had prominently championed Issue 1 as a core element of his Senate campaign, in search of a new campaign focus.LaRose had poured his energy into advocating for Issue 1 over the past eight months, concurrently canvassing for his U.S. Senate bid during the last three weeks. Despite his vigorous efforts, Ohioans cast their votes against Issue 1, marking a 14-point loss for the referendum on Tuesday.
The reverberations of this defeat have sent Republicans into a tailspin, grappling not only with a string of losses following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year but also prompting speculation about the viability of LaRose’s fledgling Senate campaign.David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati, remarked on LaRose’s predicament, stating, “I think the challenge for LaRose now is to identify what can reignite his campaign. Issue 1 was meant to be that driving force. It’s not about hitting the panic button, but finding that spark that can rejuvenate his campaign seems elusive at the moment.”
LaRose had framed his Issue 1 campaign as an attempt to connect with voters like Nancy McKeen from Sandusky. Following LaRose’s appearance at Berardi’s Catering in Sandusky, McKeen, who was initially inclined to support LaRose’s opponent Bernie Moreno, was swayed by LaRose’s impassioned defense of the ballot measure.McKeen voiced her shift in perspective, sharing, “I made a choice because I believe he resonates better with our concerns. After hearing him speak, I appreciated his stance. He did an admirable job.”
The proposed GOP-led Issue 1 aimed to elevate the threshold required for a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution from a simple majority of over 50% to a higher bar of 60%. However, the referendum was rejected by voters, with a 57-43 margin against it.Notably, the impact of the Issue 1 vote stretches beyond Ohio’s borders due to an upcoming referendum set for later in the year, which will determine whether abortion protections are added to the state constitution. Had Tuesday’s vote succeeded, this future referendum would have been subject to the 60% threshold.In response to the outcome, LaRose affirmed his commitment to the ongoing fight to defend Ohio’s values. He stated, “I’ve consistently warned that our constitution is under threat, and that sentiment remains unchanged. My dedication to protecting Ohio’s core principles has only just begun.”