Ohio’s secretary of state suggested Friday that the Democratic National Convention may be held too late for President Joe Biden to appear on the state’s general election ballot, according to a letter obtained by NBC News.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a letter to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters, “The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to convene on August 19, 2024, and the August deadline for nominating a presidential candidate. It will be held more than a week after the 7th.”
ABC News first reported the existence and contents of the letter.
LaRose continued in his memo that this oversight could be corrected in two ways. Either the Democratic Party brings forward its nominating convention, or the Ohio General Assembly has until May 9 to “establish an exemption to this statutory requirement.” In accordance with state law.
LaRose’s letter also included copies of Ohio Representative Allison Russo, the minority leader in the state House of Representatives, and state Sen. Nikki Antonio, the minority leader in the state Senate.
A spokesperson for the Biden campaign told NBC News that the campaign is “monitoring the situation in Ohio and is confident that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states.”
The Democratic Party is listed as a major party on ballots in all 50 states.
In the primary earlier this year, Mr. Biden did not appear on New Hampshire’s ballot because the primary was held in violation of the Democratic National Committee, which had approved the date on which South Carolina was scheduled to hold its primary earlier. I chose not to. Nevertheless, Biden won the New Hampshire primary with a write-in campaign.
