(The Center Square) – An Ohio law to ban foreign money to promote ballot measures in the state will stand.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the ban gives voters peace of mind as the potential for more and more ballot measures to come to a vote increases.
“The litigation is over, and Ohioans can now be certain that foreign money won’t be used to hijack our state constitution again,” LaRose said in a statement. “With at least six potential ballot issues on the horizon for 2026, this clarity and protection couldn’t come at a better time.”
The dismissal comes more than a year after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a trial court’s stay put in place a month earlier.
The Republican-majority Ohio General Assembly put the ban in legislation that was part of a plan to assure then-President Joe Biden would appear on Ohio’s ballot in November 2025.
“For nearly two years, I’ve sounded the alarm about a loophole that allowed foreign money to bankroll statewide ballot campaigns,” LaRose said. “The General Assembly acted quickly to stop it, and, almost immediately, activist groups sued to keep their foreign dollars flowing. They failed, and Ohio’s ban on foreign dark money has been rightfully upheld.”
The original bill on the House floor did not include a ban on contributions from lawful permanent residents. However, Republican lawmakers added the provision as an amendment over the objection of other Republicans.
In ordering the original stay, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson said the proposed foreign money ban on amendment campaigns violates the First Amendment rights of non-U.S. citizens living in the country legally.
He said in his ruling that if lawful permanent residents can serve in the military, they should be able to make political contributions.
Ohio had previously banned contributions from foreign nationals to candidates or candidate committees.
