Yesterday, Vivek Ramaswamy posted an outrageously long, rambling tweet about the desperate need for voter ID laws in Ohio.

People immediately began mocking Vivek, because Ohio already has the strictest voter ID law in the country. Ohio’s Republican candidate for governor should probably know these things….

But it turns out Vivek had an ulterior motive.

Shortly after Vivek’s wild tweet, we learned that Statehouse Republicans plan to propose a new constitutional amendment tomorrow morning.

Their proposed amendment has two goals:

GOAL #1 — Bring Ohioans out to vote for Republicans in November.

In 2004, Republicans placed initiatives banning gay marriage on the ballot in several key swing states, including Ohio.

They hoped conservatives would show up to ban gay marriage — and vote for George Bush at the same time. Their plan worked.

Ohio Republicans’ new amendment seems like a very similar strategy. A huge majority of Americans support voter ID laws (even though voter ID laws are proven to stop legal, eligible Americans from voting).

Republicans are hoping to start a fight about voter ID so they can persuade more Ohioans to show up to vote for GOP candidates (like Vivek) who don’t excite them.

They’re hoping most voters don’t realize Ohio already has the strictest voter ID law in the country. They need people to think they’re showing up to protect our elections from imminent fraud.

GOAL #2 — Pave the way for Ohio to ban all voting except in-person on Election Day.

If you read Republicans’ proposed amendment, you’ll notice that most of it is already state law. That might make it seem like this amendment is not a big deal.

They’re hoping you don’t notice one little sentence right near the end.

“Nothing in this section requires the general assembly to pass laws allowing electors to vote in any location or manner other than in person at a polling place on the day of an election.”

They're paving the way for the state to ban all voting outside of in-person on Election Day.

With this amendment in our state constitution, Republican legislators could ban all early in-person voting. They could ban all absentee voting. They could force millions of Ohio voters to vote in-person on Election Day, causing massive lines. And lawsuits trying to stop them would be far more likely to fail.

Spread the word. This amendment will probably be on Ohio’s ballot this November.

They’ll tell you it’s about voter ID, but that is a lie. Ohio already has voter ID. This is about control. It’s about Republicans’ desperation to win at any cost.

We can’t let it pass.

Ohio’s Republican Statehouse supermajority plans to to give themselves a lengthy Summer break this year, so they’re trying to cram several months of evil into just a few weeks.

If you have some free time today (5/17/26) or tonight, there are many key bills that need public testimony!

Just go to TakeActionOhio.com, click on a bill that interests you, and take the actions listed.

For example, if you want to testify against the bill to ban diversity efforts in k-12 public schools(!!), click on “SB 113 and HB 155”:

You’ll be taken to a new section of the page that provides resources to help you submit testimony!

Statehouse Republicans are trying to overwhelm us by moving a lot of important bills incredibly quickly with very little advance notice.

Let’s make sure they aren’t successful.

The Ohio Statehouse is back in Session, and they’re diving in headfirst. Several important bills are scheduled for hearings on Tuesday (5/12) and Wednesday (5/13).

Do you have some free time this weekend? Pick a bill or two (or three!) from the list below and write some testimony!

Here are a few key bills that most urgently need public testimony:

HB 698 — the SB 1 Compliance Act

Remember SB 1, AKA the Higher Education Destruction Act? It’s only been in effect since last Summer, but it’s already radically altering how Ohio public colleges and universities operate.

HB 698 is a new SB 1 “compliance” bill that would force even more big government, nanny-state nonsense onto our colleges and universities.

This ridiculous legislation is based on a far-right internet conspiracy theory featuring strange, grainy videos claiming to “catch” Ohio professors saying no one is complying with SB 1.

The bill would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Anyone with any real connection to higher education in Ohio knows that colleges and universities are not only complying with SB 1, they’re severely over-complying.

I’ve personally spoken with students whose professors/lecturers are terrified to touch subjects such as climate change or immigration for fear of being accused of violating the new law. And I’ve personally attended peaceful protests at OSU that were surrounded by police who threatened to break up the event if anyone used amplified sound, sidewalk chalk, or any other basic protest tool banned by the university’s shameful new SB 1 policies.

HB 698 is also pretty obviously illegal. The Ohio Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled since at least 1939 that legislatures can’t force future legislatures to do anything (they can’t “obligate” future legislatures). This bill forces all future governors to include money in their proposed budgets that will only be given to Ohio’s public colleges and universities if they comply with SB 1.

The governor’s proposed budget is always introduced as a bill in the Statehouse. So HB 698 is an obvious effort to obligate future legislatures. It cannot be allowed to pass.

Ways to help stop HB 698:

1. Testify in-person on Tuesday 5/12 at 10 am. Use this template to guide you.

2. Can’t be there in-person? Use this template to submit written-only testimony against HB 698.

3. Attend the HB 698 hearing to show politicians we’re paying attention. We need as many Ohioans there as possible.

   1. WHEN: Tuesday 5/12/26 at 10:00 am

   2. WHERE: Ohio Statehouse — Room 017

SB 127 — Allow the state to close certain public schools and/or turn them into private schools

SB 127 would not only be terrible for our kids, it’s also a direct attack on parents’ rights, local control, and workers’ rights.

This bill:

• Expands reliance on problematic standardized test scores

• Expands criteria for labeling schools as “underperforming”

• Forces the “underperforming” districts to take drastic actions such as closing schools, transferring control to private operators, replacing staff, and more

• Will likely lead to mandatory school closures that squander prior investments in school buildings

• Will likely force Ohio school districts to transfer control of schools to external, private operators that have no link to the community

• Could lead to mass job losses for school staff, which would have a major impact on local communities

• Overrides collective bargaining law and local collective bargaining agreements

• Read the full bill analysis here

Ways to help stop SB 127:

1. Testify in-person on Tuesday 5/12/26 at 3:30 pm. Use this template to guide you.

2. Can’t be there in-person? Use this template to submit written-only testimony against SB 127.

3. Attend the SB 127 hearing to show politicians we’re paying attention. We need as many Ohioans there as possible.

   1. WHEN: Tuesday 5/12/26 at 3:30 pm

   2. WHERE: Ohio Statehouse — South Hearing Room

SB 160 — Ban insurance companies from forcing patients to switch medications

A good bill! A genuinely good bill!

Ohio SB 160 is a bipartisan bill that would ban insurance companies from forcing patients to switch medications in the middle of the year without a medical reason.

What the bill does:

• Bans health insurers from taking certain actions with respect to drugs during a health benefit plan year, including:

  • Increasing cost-sharing

  • Reducing coverage

  • Forcing patients to switch medications by removing drugs from plan formularies

• Full bill analysis here

Ways to support SB 160:

1. Testify in-person on Tuesday 5/12/26 at 4:00 pm. Use this template to guide you.

2. Can’t be there in-person? Use this template to submit written-only testimony in support of SB 160.

SB 163 — Require AI watermarks, ban AI child porn, ban AI-based identity fraud

It’s true! ANOTHER good bill!

Ohio SB 163 needs to become law as soon as possible. This crucial bill would:

• Ban child pornography made using artificial intelligence (AI)

• Ban identity fraud using an AI replica of a person’s persona

• Require content generated by AI to have a watermark. That way, you wouldn’t always have to wonder whether images you see online are real or AI fakes.

• Read more here

Ways to support SB 163:

1. Testify in-person on Wednesday 5/13/26 at 9:45 AM. Use this template to guide you.

2. Can’t be there in-person? Use this template to submit written-only testimony in support of SB 163.

Check out TakeActionOhio.com for lots more key bills that need testimony and phone calls!

Have you heard about Ohio HB 486, the “Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act”?

This bill is moving quickly through the Statehouse and may move again next week.

It would urge public schools and universities to teach about “the positive impacts of” Christianity on American society.

HB 486 openly focuses on promoting one religion over others.

In the original version of the bill, the word “Christianity” appeared several times. Republican legislators have recently replaced the word, “Christianity” with “Judeo-Christian values, ” but the bill’s intent remains obvious. No other religions are even mentioned.

Statehouse Republicans even added language to HB 486 to explain how it’s Constitutional — which means they know it likely isn’t. The bill declares that:

• “the teaching of the historical, positive impact of religion on American history is consistent with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution”

• teaching about Christianity’s impact on American history and culture “is imperative to reducing” anti-Christian “hate and violence”

• teaching about Christianity’s impact on American history an culture “is factual and is not proselytization or a violation of the First Amendment”

The bill also lists several pages of examples of ways educators could provide pro-Christian instruction.

There are so many things wrong with this bill.

For example, a historically accurate education on Christianity would require students to learn about the religion’s negative impacts as well. For many years, Christianity was used to justify the slave labor necessary to physically build America. Think the bill sponsors would be pleased if teachers used their legislation to teach that fact??

Another problem? If the bill sponsors simply wanted to highlight the impacts of religion on US history and government, then this bill is completely unnecessary. Current Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies already require students to study the influences and impacts of religion on American history, government, and policy.

HB 486 has already passed the Ohio House (click here to see who voted for it). Now it’s receiving hearings in the Senate Education Committee.

Want to help stop HB 486? Take these actions:

1.) Email Brenner@OhioSenate.gov and say, “please add me to the Senate Education Committee notice list.” You’ll start receiving emails any time the committee is going to meet!

2.) Tell Committee Chair Andrew Brenner not to give HB 486 any more hearings: (614) 466-8086 or Brenner@ohiosenate.gov

3.) Draft your testimony now — So you’re ready to submit it when the opponent testimony hearing is announced

4.) Tell your state senator that HB 486 just came over from the House. Tell them to HELP STOP this bill (Find your state senator by typing your address below this map)

At 8:06 am EST this morning, Donald Trump posted that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

There’s no way to read the president’s post other than as a threat to use nuclear weapons against the innocent people of Iran. To my knowledge, there’s no other way to destroy an entire civilization in one night.

Thankfully, Trump has since backed off from his threat (after apparently giving Iran everything they wanted??), but nothing can undo the damage he has done.

Throughout the day, politicians and pundits from all political parties have been demanding that President Trump be removed via the 25th Amendment and/or impeached and removed from office.

Even the most extreme talking heads — from Tucker Carlson to Alex Jones to Marjorie Taylor Greene — have broken away from the president.

Here’s what Ohio’s Congress members are saying:

Democratic Rep Shontel Brown was the first Congress member from Ohio to speak out:

Republican Rep Warren Davidson then shared a lengthy post titled, “America First Resolves Iran.” He didn’t call for Trump's removal, but did state opposition to America's "all-out" war:

Next, Rep Greg Landsman — one of the only Democrats who voted to support Trump’s Iran war — shared this vague commentary:

Then Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur issued a statement:

Then Democratic Congresswoman Emilia Sykes:

And Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty:

After it become clear that President Trump’s threats were once again empty (thank God), Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown reiterated her support for invoking the 25th Amendment:

And that’s it.

Ohio’s Republican Congress members continued posting throughout the day as though nothing had happened. Dave Joyce tweeted about a ribbon cutting. Dave Taylor tweeted about the trucking industry. Mike Rulli whined about a Christopher Columbus statue. It was surreal.

An entire nation spent today wondering if it was their last day on Earth, while the rest of the world watched helplessly in horror. No matter their political party, every credible elected official should be demanding the president’s immediate removal from office. Anything less is a dereliction of duty.

If your Congress member fails at this very basic task, they are complicit in Donald Trump’s threats and in any war crimes he commits. They must be held accountable.

We can’t let this go. We can’t forget. The lives of our brave service members and tens of millions of Iranian citizens hang in the balance.

Ohio Statehouse Republicans have clearly learned a few tricks from Donald Trump, including the value of creating chaos.

They’ve scheduled committee hearings on dozens of important bills in the same two-day span this week.

Several of the committees that are accepting public testi…

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This morning, news broke that Ted Carter, president of The Ohio State University, has abruptly resigned over an “inappropriate relationship” with someone who received “access to top officials” while “seeking public resources to support her personal business.”

We now know that C…

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As you’re likely aware, gas prices have skyrocketed since President Trump illegally bombed Iran last week.

On Friday morning, GasBuddy shared a list of states with the biggest recent rise in gas prices. Ohio was #3 on the list. Today we’re #2…

This is on top of the outrageous co…

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Today we learned that Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, “has turned over the voter registration data of nearly 8 million Ohioans to the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Why does that matter?

First of all, your state government just gave your private voting data to …

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Last night, while most Americans slept, Donald Trump illegally bombed Iran without congressional approval. At least 100 school children were murdered in the attack. Many others died as well.

HOW OHIO’S U.S. SENATORS RESPONDED:

Shamefully, both of Ohio’s U.S. Senators — Bernie Mo…

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Yesterday, the Ohio House passed SB 63, which will ban Ranked Choice Voting in Ohio and punish communities that try to use it.

New York City used Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in their recent, high-profile mayoral election. RCV gives more candidates a chance to prove themselves an…

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This is Republican State Rep Rodney Creech.

Rep Creech represents Ohio House District 40, which includes all of Preble County and parts of Montgomery and Butler Counties.

Last year, Rep Creech was removed from his Ohio Statehouse committees after credible allegations of child se…

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Three years ago, Ohio citizens gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures and placed an initiative (Issue 2) on the ballot to legalize adult-use marijuana.

In November 2023, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved Issue 2 with over 57% of the vote. That’s a huge percentage in a s…

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You might have heard that there’s a group of people collecting signatures to end (abolish) property taxes in Ohio.

Today, Governor Mike DeWine (a Republican) tried to explain how bad that would be for our state.

If we abolish property taxes, Ohio would need to find other ways to…

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It’s a major election year, and the Ohio legislature is about to return from their winter break. That can only mean one thing: campaign messaging bills.

The Statehouse Republican supermajority will focus on passing bills they can discuss on the campaign trail through…

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I live in Columbus, Ohio, one of several cities that has been terrorized by ICE raids in recent months. It’s been tough to get into the Christmas spirit while our neighbors live in fear of masked goons jumping them in the Kroger parking lot.

As a Catholic, I struggle…

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In news that will shock no one — Governor DeWine has caved to his party’s extremists in every possible way.

Statehouse Republicans sent the governor four bills that will cause immense harm to Ohio communities. He signed all four of them.

We had hoped the governor would…

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Have you attended a “How Things Work at the Ohio Statehouse” advocacy training yet? We’ve got two virtual options coming up!

The first is a Lunch & Learn with Blue Ohio!

• WHEN: Tomorrow (Thursday 12/18) at 12:00 pm

• WHERE: Register here

Option 2 will be held in mid-January

• …

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Will Governor DeWine do the right thing? Or will he cower and cave to his party’s extremists?

He only has a few days left to decide.

Ohio Statehouse Republicans have sent the governor four bills that would cause immense harm to our state. He can choose to sign the bil…

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INCREDIBLE BREAKING NEWS from Indiana!

The Indiana Republican supermajority has REJECTED Trump’s demand that they rig the state’s congressional district maps to remove ALL Democratic seats.

Indiana legislators have faced every kind of pressure imaginable during this p…

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