Ohio Republican Party Statement on Democrat Supreme Court Announcement

COLUMBUS—Today, Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Cameron Sagester released the following statement regarding the ODP’s Ohio Supreme Court announcement:

“With today’s announcement, the Ohio Democrat Party has chosen to double down on candidates who are soft on crime and will make our communities and families less safe. Justices Donnelly and Stewart will have to explain to the people of Ohio why they voted to prevent judges across Ohio from considering public safety when setting bail for those accused of violent crime, and Judge Forbes will have to explain to voters whether or not she agreed with the decision of her ticket mates.

In contrast, the Ohio Republican Party’s endorsed candidates, Justice Joe Deters, and Judges Megan Shanahan and Dan Hawkins, are all former prosecutors who know firsthand the impact judges have on the safety of the people of Ohio.

We look forward to presenting the choice between the experienced law officials of the Ohio Republican Party and the radical activists of the Ohio Democratic Party to voters in 2024.”

Background:
  • The Ohio Republican Party formally endorsed Justice Joe Deters, Judge Dan Hawkins, and Judge Megan Shanahan for Ohio Supreme Court in 2024.
    • The Ohio Republican Party will soon be announcing which seat the endorsed candidates will seek.
  • Deters, Hawkins and Shanahan are all former prosecutors who understand what it takes to keep Ohioans safe and dangerous criminals off our streets.
  • In 2022, Ohioans sent a clear message when Republicans swept all three Ohio Supreme Court races.

LTE: Biden and Brown Let Veterans Down

In his recent op-ed, Sherrod Brown claims to be a friend of veterans. The sad reality is that since Joe Biden took office, he and Sherrod Brown have let down our servicemen and women every step of the way.

The botched withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster, with 73% of veterans having a negative view of the debacle. Brown remains silent when Joe Biden repeatedly disrespects our servicemembers. A Gold Star mother even described Biden’s conduct at dignified transfer ceremony as, ‘Total disrespect.

The unfortunate fact is, our military has reached crisis levels of low recruitment, and confidence in the US military is at the lowest in 25 years.

All this comes as Joe Biden and Democrats like Sherrod Brown embolden our enemies and degrade our allies’ confidence on the world stage.

This is a critical period of time, and the weakness shown by Biden and Brown is sending our country down a very dangerous course. Our veterans and service members deserve better than the failed leadership of Joe Biden and Sherrod Brown.

Alex Triantafilou is Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.

Submitted to Delaware Gazette on 11/13/2023

Triantafilou: Every Ohioan should vote ‘no’ on Issue 1

As an unapologetically pro-life Ohioan and Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, I personally see it as our duty to protect as many unborn babies as possible. Fighting for those who have not yet had an opportunity to have a voice of their own is fundamental.

However, as I have discussed this issue at length, I understand that there are many Ohioans who believe there should be some ability for women to obtain an abortion. How far into pregnancy that ability should exist seems to be the crux of the debate we are seeing unfold since the fall of Roe v Wade.

Complete abortion ban? Heartbeat Bill? Banned after the first trimester? Banned when the baby can feel pain or is viable? Coming to a consensus on what degree of restriction there should be on abortion is the heart of the abortion debate.

Where Democrats are missing the mark is that they have excluded themselves from having an honest conversation.

Whether it is Gavin Newsome in California or Sherrod Brown here in Ohio, Democrats are completely incapable of articulating what legal restrictions they are in favor of. Leading up to the 2022 election, I was amazed to watch someone like Tim Ryan, a formerly pro-life Democrat, completely subscribe to this idea that there should be zero restrictions on abortion. Clearly the old mantra of “safe, legal, and rare” is nothing but a relic in today’s Democrat party.

Now, Democrat extremism is on full display with Issue 1. Democrats are using the landmark Dobbs decision to push for the most radical and extreme proposal we have ever seen in Ohio.

Issue 1 is intentionally deceptive and was clearly constructed to eliminate all legal restrictions on abortion, so long as a Planned Parenthood abortionist declares it necessary.

This amendment also takes the dangerous step of allowing parents to be cut out of the decision-making process if their minor child becomes pregnant. Parents have a right to be involved in these life-changing decisions, yet Democrats are more than happy to cast them aside if it helps them achieve their goals.

Make no mistake, voting No on Issue 1 is not just for staunchly pro-life Ohioans. Even those who may consider themselves pro-choice should take a hard look at what this amendment will actually do. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, Democrats chose to push for the elimination of every restriction on the books, even up to the moment of birth.

This dangerous overreach is the decision they came to, and it is up to Ohio to search our collective conscience and realize that codifying unfettered abortion, on demand, even in the late stages of pregnancy, is not the answer.

Regardless of where you stand on what constitutes a reasonable restriction on abortion, Issue 1 is clearly bad for our state. Every Ohioan should vote “No” on Issue 1.

Author Alex Triantafilou is Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party

First appeared in Highland County Press on October 23, 2023.

LTE: Issue 1 Too Extreme for Ohio

DEAR EDITOR: Democrats and far-left abortion lobbyists would have you believe that Issue 1 is simply about codifying Roe v. Wade. In reality, this extreme amendment goes much further and is not in line with the vast majority of Ohioans’ values.

Roughly eighty percent of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in the third trimester, yet this amendment does not even provide basic protections for babies who are fully formed, can feel pain, and can survive outside the womb.

All it takes to skirt around their vague and dishonest language is for a Planned Parenthood abortionist to give their stamp of approval to have the abortion, regardless of the circumstances.

Democrats from the Statehouse to the White House have made their stance clear. They want to legalize taxpayer-funded abortions, on demand, at any stage of pregnancy. Whether you are staunchly pro-life, or believe there should be some access to abortion, this amendment goes much too far. Don’t be fooled. Every Ohioan should vote “No” on Issue 1.

Alex Triantafilou is Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.

Submitted to the Columbus Dispatch on October 20, 2023.

As Early Voting Begins, Chairman Triantafilou Urges Ohioans to “Bank Your Vote”

COLUMBUS—Today, voters across Ohio will begin to cast their ballots early, in-person and via secure absentee ballot. The Ohio Republican Party and local GOP partners are encouraging Republican voters to maximize the number of votes against Issue 1 and Issue 2 by banking their “NO” votes early.

“The best way to defend innocent life, protect Ohio’s workers, and make your voice heard is to Bank Your “NO” vote on Issues 1 and 2 before Election Day,” said Chairman Alex Triantafilou. “We must turn out more voters than ever before if we want to keep Ohio red and protect our conservative values.

Earlier this year, the Ohio Republican Party partnered with the Republican National Committee and GOP leaders to launch the “Bank Your Vote” initiative as a way to drive more Republicans to the polls ahead of Election Day.

“Bank Your Vote,” is a nationwide campaign focused on maximizing pre-Election Day voting. For more information, visit https://oh.bankyourvote.com/.

Joe Biden Moves Forward with Trump’s “Vanity Project”

COLUMBUS—Yesterday, Joe Biden “stunned” his allies in Washington by moving forward with construction of the border wall that he also says doesn’t work….. Huh?

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown has described the wall as Trump’s “vanity project,” and Democrats boldly labeled the commonsense project to physically secure the border as “racist.

Because of their unhinged response to Republican border policies, they created an unprecedented border crisis. Their crisis is even leading big-city Democrat mayors to rebuke their failed policies. New York Mayor Eric Adams went so far as to say Biden’s border crisis will “destroy New York City.”

Every Democrat in Congress owns this crisis, consistently voting for policies that make the border and country less secure.

Bottom Line: The Biden Administration’s latest move is nothing less than laughable in the face of their complete failure to lead. If Democrats like Sherrod Brown would have been serious about addressing this crisis instead of trying to score political wins against Donald Trump, our border, communities, and families would be safer.

Ohio GOP Statement on Congressman Jordan’s Bid for House Speaker

COLUMBUS—Today, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou released the following statement regarding Congressman Jim Jordan’s bid for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives:

“Congressman Jim Jordan is a staunch conservative and a fearless advocate for the America First movement. I fully support his bid to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Ohioans across the Buckeye State are confident in his leadership and ability to end the Democrats’ insanity in Washington.”

Democrats Want Zero Restrictions on Abortion

COLUMBUS–Last week, the Ohio Republican Party put out a straw Twitter poll asking which Ohio Democrat will be the first to clearly outline what legal restrictions they believe there should be on abortion.

While the overwhelming majority of respondents clearly understand that Democrats want ZERO restrictions on abortion,  a not-so-close second place went to Sherrod Brown. But we wouldn’t get our hopes up.

Sherrod is already trying to run and hide from the dangerous recreational marijuana amendment, yet he frequently brags about his 100% voting record on anti-life issues.

Brown voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to protect unborn children from late-term abortion after five months of pregnancy.

Brown has voted to eliminate or prevent protections for children born alive after failed abortions.

Brown has voted to allow tax-dollars to be used for elective abortion.

And the list goes on.

If Brown actually believes there should be any restrictions on abortion, he should clearly say so. However, his record strongly indicates otherwise. At best he might steal Gavin Newsom’s talking points…. Or Nan Whaley’s… or Tim Ryan’s….

Bottom Line: Despite being widely unpopular, it is abundantly clear that Democrat officials and abortion lobbyists want zero restriction on abortion. They tie themselves in knots to avoid even saying that it is wrong to abort a baby in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sherrod Brown should be honest with Ohio— he wants zero legal restrictions on abortion. Issue 1 is an overreach, and no restrictions is exactly what we will get if it passes.

Ohio Republican Party Pass Resolutions Against Issues 1 & 2

Columbus—Today, the Ohio Republican Party State Central Commitee formally endorsed a “no” vote on November’s Issue 2, which would legalize unfettered marijuana access across Ohio. Additionally, the party passed resolutions condemning Issue 1 and supporting JD Vance’s Freedom to Breath legislation.

“Issue 2 is a dangerous proposition that will endanger children, hurt Ohio businesses, and weaken our workforce. Across the board, Ohioans must remember to vote ‘NO’ this November on Issue 1 and Issue 2.”—Chairman Alex Triantafilou, Ohio Republican Party

As more states legalized marijuana between 2017 and 2021, the number of very young children eating edible forms of marijuana spiked dramatically. This is partially because the marijuana industry has proven they are unwilling to be responsible with their product, often packaging it to look like everyday children’s snacks.

Ohioans remember past “normalization tactics” pushed by the marijuana industry like “Buddie the Marijuana Bud.” Don’t expect them to stop targeting children, and putting them at risk, if Issue 2 passes in November.

The Ohio Republican Party previously endorsed against Issue 1, but passed an additional resolution today to reaffirm our commitment to defeat the radical proposal.

In addition to November’s Issues, the Ohio GOP unanimously endorsed and is encouraging passage of JD Vance’s Freedom to Breath legislation being considered in the U.S. Senate, while also expressing support for similar legislation at the state, local, and school level.

Please see the attachments for the full text of today’s Issue 1 and 2 resolutions. All three resolutions were passed unanimously by the committee.