WASHINGTON—Three of the nation’s leading election integrity and government oversight organizations released the following statements today condemning Ohio Speaker Jason Stephens for siding with Democrats by refusing to advance legislation that passed the Ohio Senate to prohibit foreign funding of ballot initiatives in the state.
Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy Catherine Gunsalus:
“Ohioans deserve elections that are free and fair—not influenced by foreign billionaires allowed to bankroll Left-wing causes at the expense of American citizens. The Ohio Senate passed a bill to protect elections months ago, but Speaker Stephens failed to get the legislation to the floor of the House and instead sided with Democrats to ensure it would not pass this session.
“In a crucial election year with generational ballot measures on the line, the Speaker’s decision to put politics over election integrity is unacceptable. Conservatives will not relent in our calls to get foreign meddling out of every election and protect the votes of all Ohioans. Voters should make note of Speaker Stephens’s refusal to get the job done.”
Honest Elections Project Action Executive Director Jason Snead:
“The issue is simple: Should we ban foreign money in politics, or not? But Ohio Democrats would rather preserve their foreign dark money slush fund than protect election integrity. Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens must decide: Will he stand with Democrats and their foreign billionaires, or protect Ohio elections from foreign interference.
“Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has given hundreds of millions of dollars to the liberal Sixteen Thirty Fund, which, in turn, has doled out tens of millions to promote left-wing ballot measures in the Buckeye State. Foreigners are already prohibited from donating to candidates, why should ballot initiatives be any different? Outlawing foreign influence in the democratic process, whether it supports conservative or liberal causes, should be a bipartisan priority.”
Americans for Public Trust Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland:
“Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Sixteen Thirty Fund, which has turned around and spent more than $14 million to influence Ohio politics. And now, Ohio liberals are so committed to keeping this foreign dark money ATM that they’re playing high stakes games with partisan presidential politics to keep a ban on foreign funding from passing.
“Their opposition to a measure overwhelming supported by their own constituents is wrong, and Speaker Stephens should act to get foreign interference out of our elections.”
In February, the Ohio Senate passed legislation to ban foreign funding from flowing to ballot issue campaigns, which the Speaker has refused to assign to a committee for debate. However, even clearer language to prohibit foreign funding was included in a substitute version of HB 114, which also passed the Ohio Senate earlier this week. Speaker Stephens chose to effectively side with the Left by leaving the foreign funding prohibition out of the legislation.
As reported by Honest Elections Project Action and Americans for Public Trust, foreign interests influencing our elections is not just a hypothetical problem. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has given $243 million to the Left-wing Sixteen Thirty Fund, which advocates for progressive policies across the country. The Sixteen Thirty Fund spent more than $14 million on ballot campaigns in Ohio in 2023. According to recent polling, 85% of registered voters in Ohio agree that foreign nationals should not be influencing our elections, while 68% would support a law to block indirect foreign influence of elections.
Ohio currently ranks 12th out of 51 on The Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard.
BACKGROUND:
The Heritage Foundation: Election Integrity Scorecard
Honest Elections Project: Safeguarding our Elections
Americans for Public Trust: Foreign Influence in State Ballot Issues
Heritage Action: Ohio Senate Bans Foreign Funding of Elections, House Should Do the Same
Heritage Action is a grassroots organization with two million conservative activists nationwide. Heritage Action advances the policies of our sister organization, The Heritage Foundation, and works to make them a reality.
Americans for Public Trust is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to restoring trust in government by holding politicians and political groups accountable for corrupt and unethical behavior.