Recent political wins by Ohio Democrats have some thinking that the state might be swinging more towards being a "purple" state. But that might be wishful thinking. On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, host Mike Thompson talks with Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
Kondik's recent Politico piece is titled "No, Ohio Is Not in Play."
As Ohio Goes, So Goes the Nation
Ohio Democrats and Ohio progressives remain undefeated. They have not lost an election since they decisively turned back conservatives and Republicans who wanted to make it harder to change the state constitution and make it harder to pass an abortion rights amendment.
Of course, Ohio has not had an election in 23 days. However, the recent success of Ohio Democrats has some wondering if the state is turning back toward the center or getting a little more blue. However, that assessment is a bit premature.
Voting on an issue is not the same as voting for a candidate.
Snollygoster of the week
Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board, led by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, took an editor's red pen to the ballot language on the abortion rights amendment.
The board approved language that emphasizes the word "abortion," which is more clear than the term "reproductive medical treatment." Voters are voting on abortion, make no mistake.
The ballot board then substituted the word "fetus" with "unborn child." This is a more loaded term.
The rewrite also includes the line, "The amendment will always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of the pregnancy, regardless of viability, if a doctor determines the mother's life or health is in danger." This is true, but it is also loaded. After all, Ohio's current but on-hold 6-week abortion ban also allows an abortion at any stage if the mother's life is in danger.
Democrats have appealed the edits to the Ohio Supreme Court. It is unlikely that anyone who votes in November will be swayed by the ballot language if they even read it at all.
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