The Second Ohio Primary Election

I am regularly surprised by the number of people who do not know that Ohio is having a second primary election in 2022. This second primary happens on August 2 and early voting has already started. There is very little on the ballot in Clermont County in this second primary, but what is on the ballot is very important.

The reason we are having a second primary is because the Republican dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission repeated drew Ohio House and Ohio Senate districts which the Ohio Supreme Court held to be in violation of the Ohio Constitution. Republicans got a federal court in Columbus to rule that primary elections for those offices must go forward using the Republicans’ maps whether or not those maps violate fundamental Ohio law.

However, this litigation prevented primary candidates for state house and state senate from being on the May primary ballot. Hence, we are having a second primary election in August to determine candidates for state house and state senate. We’re also electing men and women to the two parties’ state central committees because state central committee members are elected from the state senate districts.

We do not have state senate candidates on the ballot in Clermont County in 2022.  However, we do have state house candidates.

If you live in Loveland, Milford, Owensville, Goshen Township, Miami Township, Stonelick Township, or Union Township, you are in Ohio House District 62. There is one candidate on your Democratic primary ballot for state representative in District 62: Brian Flick. One vote puts Brian on the November ballot to challenge incumbent Jean Schmidt. However, a strong showing in the primary will help Brian’s campaign for November. If you live in District 62, please vote a Democratic ballot in the August 2 primary and vote for Brian Flick.

The other state house district covering Clermont County is District 63. The Clermont part of District 63 includes Batavia Township, Batavia Village, Bethel, Chilo, Felicity, Franklin Township, Jackson Township, Monroe Township, Moscow, Neville, New Richmond, Ohio Township, Pierce Township, Tate Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, Williamsburg Township, and Williamsburg Village. Your Democratic primary ballot in District 63 does not show a candidate for state representative.  Instead, there is a space for a write-in. Richard J. Perry, previously our candidate for county commissioner, has qualified as the write-in candidate for his nomination. We are required to get Rich at least 50 votes to get his name on the November general election ballot. If we don’t, right-wing Republican incumbent Adam Bird will be running for re-election unopposed. If you live in District 63, it is vital that you vote in the Democratic primary and that you write-in Rich Perry for state representative. Those of us who live in District 63 are entitled to a choice for state representative.  Please write-in Rich Perry to give us that choice.

Stay safe.