The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to intervene on behalf of a “Republican” candidate who was kicked off the GOP ballot after evidence surfaced tying him directly to the Democrat Party.
Samuel Ronan, a progressive who ran for Chair of the Democratic National Committee back in 2017, thought he could sneak onto the GOP primary ballot in Ohio’s solidly conservative 15th Congressional District.
On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison ruled that the Franklin County Board of Elections acted within its authority when it voted to remove Ronan from the ballot, clearing the path for incumbent Rep. Mike Carey.
Judge Morrison ruled that Ronan allegedly lied about being a Republican.
In an order filed April 6, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison allowed the Franklin County Board of Elections to remove Ronan from the race. The two Republican members of the four-person county board voted last month to kick Ronan out of the race while the two Democrats voted to keep him on.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose later broke the 2-2 tie and sided with his fellow Republicans against Ronan’s candidacy. Ronan appealed the decision in federal court, and Morrison initially issued a temporary restraining order allowing him to remain in the race. That order is now vacated.
Ronan already appealed Morrison’s decision to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with Morrison. Ronan is now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. A response to his application for an injunction is due by noon on April 8.
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Franklin County GOP Central Committee member Marc Schare filed the protest against Ronan’s candidacy, pointing to past statements from Ronan while he was a longshot candidate for chair of the U.S. Democratic National Committee and a recent Facebook comment Ronan made.
Ronan told The Dispatch his statements are being mischaracterized. Ronan argues that he should be allowed to present his progressive ideology as a Republican and let the GOP voters decide.
However, SCOTUS refused to intervene, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place.