Licking Today

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) has endorsed Issue 1, an Ohio ballot initiative that would require petition-based statewide constitutional amendments to pass with 60 percent of the vote, not simple majorities.

"Don’t let Ohio become California," tweeted Balderson. "Please join me to protect our common-sense Ohio values by voting YES on Issue 1."

Balderson joins U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) and Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) in backing the initiative.

Opposing the initiative are “a roster of left-leaning advocacy groups,” reported the Buckeye Reporter.

These groups include Black Lives Matter Cleveland, Black Lives Matter Dayton, Pro-Choice Ohio, Black Out and Proud, the Cleveland Bi+ Network, Columbus New Liberals, Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland, Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens, New Voices for Reproductive Justice and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

Last week, musician and West Hollywood, Calif. resident John Legend spoke at a "get out the vote" rally to oppose Issue 1. Legend previously endorsed the "Defund the Police" movement  in 2020, and contributed to The Bail Project, a group that posted bail for George Floyd rioters and was sued in 2022 for “releasing a serial criminal who less than a week later tried to murder a waiter” in Las Vegas. 

Also opposing Issue 1 is the Communist Part of Ohio, which recently “gathered to 'stand with drag queens and families'" during a protest outside a "Drag Story Hour" event at the Near West Side Theatre in Cleveland. 

Including Ohio, currently 15 U.S. states allow for statewide initiatives to change their constitutions, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota. 

Illinois, Arizona and Florida have 60 percent vote thresholds; Colorado's is 55 percent.

Balderson, 61, was first elected to represent Ohio's 12th congressional district in 2018 defeating Democrat Danny O'Connor, receiving 51.4% to O'Connor's 47.2%. 

A graduate of Zanesville High School, Balderson attended Muskingum College and the Ohio State University. He previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011.