LaRose, a Republican, wrote in his Jan. 27 ruling that McDonald was permitted under Ohio election law to run as a Republican for a Montgomery County commission seat, saying her prior Democratic leadership roles and voting record were irrelevant.
“We know this to be simply a distraction, something that was put out to silence the voice of the people,” McDonald said at a press conference on Monday following the state’s decision. “We can have change here in Montgomery County and bring that change.”
McDonald, the former mayor of Trotwood, is running unopposed in the Republican primary for the Montgomery County commission seat currently held by Democrat Debbie Lieberman. As no other Republicans have filed, McDonald will face Lieberman in the general election if she stays on the ballot.
Lieberman said she was not surprised by the Ohio Secretary of State’s decision about her opponent. She said she looks forward to continuing her work as commissioner.
Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Mohamed Al-Hamdani and a voter named Brenda Blauser earlier this month filed a protest against McDonald’s candidacy, stating that McDonald did not file a declaration of intent to run as a Republican, among other items.
McDonald was a Democrat for years, but she announced her plan to run as a Republican against Lieberman during a Nov. 27 Montgomery County Republican Party press conference. McDonald sent a letter of resignation from her party post to the Democratic chairperson this month, retroactive to Nov. 27.
LaRose ruled that the portion of Ohio law requiring a declaration of intent does not apply to McDonald, as she “has not held elective office that is nominated at a primary election.”
Central committee positions do not require the nomination process, according to Ohio Secretary of State Director of Communications Melanie Amato.
Al-Hamdani said he was disappointed in both the state’s decision and the “lack of analysis” by the state election office. The Montgomery County Democrat Party chair said he and others will be further analyzing the decision before determining any next steps.
McDonald’s candidacy for the March 19 Republican primary was certified Jan. 2 by the Montgomery County Board of Elections. She was unseated from the Trotwood mayor position by Yvette Page in the November election, where she had been seeking her third term as mayor.
McDonald on Monday said the result of the protest was “democracy in action.”
“People deserve the opportunity to choose who they want to represent them,” she said.
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