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Jessie Balmert Profile
Jessie Balmert

@jbalmert

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Ohio government + politics reporter @enquirer , @dispatchalerts , @beaconjournal + @USAToday | @scrippsjschool + @ohiou educated | 📧: jbalmert @gannett .com

Columbus, OH
Joined January 2011
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 years
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter died in the Parkland, Florida, shooting had a private audience with @JohnKasich for 45 minutes. Guttenberg supports the efforts to take a person’s weapons if a court decides there is evidence that he or she poses a threat.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 years
Ohio Senate passes bill to allow dogs on patios, 32-0.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
5 years
This Ohio congressman has an "A" rating from the NRA. His daughter was in the bar across from Sunday's shooting. @RepMikeTurner now says he backs a ban on sales of military-style guns, supports magazine limits and "red flag" legislation.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
BREAKING: Ohio Supreme Court rejects state House and Senate maps, effectively ending hopes of complete May 3rd primary with legislative and statewide races
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
I'm just a girl standing in front of seven Ohio Redistricting Commission spokespeople, asking them to tell me when this group is meeting.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
8 months
Ex-Chief Justice O'Connor: "This is a bipartisan gerrymander by politicians who decided to protect themselves and their friends, ignoring the people of Ohio. It could not be more clear that we need citizens — not politicians — drawing legislative maps that put the people first."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Bad night for past @SenSherrodBrown challengers. Good night for Brown endorsees.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
5 years
The charges against Husel are related to patients who received 500 mcg of fentanyl or more. Two received 2,000 mcg.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @nanwhaley says she would back a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion access as governor. "I believe firmly that this is a pro-choice state."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
Kellie Copeland with @ProChoiceOH : "Ohio is not a red state. We're purple as hell."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio Supreme Court invalidates second attempt at state House and Senate maps. New plan shall be adopted no later than February 17, 2022
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
BREAKING: Ohio Issue 1 passes, enshrining abortion access and other reproductive rights in the state constitution, AP projects.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 year
. @howardwilkinson commentary: "I've been covering politics in Ohio for half a century and I have never seen a legislative majority in the Statehouse so willing to impose its will on the personal lives of Ohioans as this Republican supermajority..."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @nanwhaley on OH version of don't say gay: "These radicals in the Statehouse do not speak for the state of OH. The state of Ohio wants to be an inclusive state that is growing and provides opportunity for everybody no matter who you love, where you come from or what you believe.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio Supreme Court on contempt of court: All respondents shall appear in person in this court for a hearing on March 1, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will continue until the matter is heard. Respondents may be accompanied by their counsel. No continuances will be granted.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Just keep thinking about how Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor has made the independence of the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government the hallmark of her career. Have to figure that informs what comes next.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Both groups suing over Ohio's House and Senate maps have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to hold the Ohio Redistricting Commission in contempt of court.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
9 months
From @gongwer report: @GovMikeDeWine says he and lawmakers shouldn't be drawing maps. "Look, I don't think the governor should be on there," he said. "I don't think the legislators should be on there either." He said something similar to @toledonews :
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
President Joe Biden on Issue 1 victory in Ohio.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Also, the fact that Justice Pat DeWine has a role in deciding whether his father is held in contempt of court is a little mindblowing.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
11 months
A protestor filed a police report with Ohio State Highway Patrol Wednesday, alleging he was shoved for no reason by Rep. Scott Wiggam.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Friendly reminder thru Saturday: | ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ | |STATEHOUSE | | DISTRICTS | | AREN’T | |CONGRESSIONAL | | DISTRICTS | | _____________| (\__/) || (•ㅅ•) || /   づ
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
B/c redistricting is confusing, a recap: Every map Ohio is using in 2022 (statehouse, congressional) has been ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court's majority for violating voter-approved anti-gerrymandering language. 8/2 is statehouse primary 11/8 is general elex
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
"We also hold that the plan unduly splits Hamilton, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 year
Complaint filed asking the Ohio Supreme Court to direct Ohio SoS @FrankLaRose to remove the 60% change from the August ballot. Filed by Ohio attorney Don McTigue and @EliasLawGroup .
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
Ohio GOP lawmakers float stripping judges of power to interpret abortion rights, Issue 1 Ohio Judicial Conference: "The Supreme Court of Ohio is the final arbiter of constitutional issues. Period." via @enquirer
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @OHDems leader @lizmwalters says party will sue if DeWine administration doesn't fulfill records requests for House Bill 6-related documents.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 year
Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights announced today it's pursuing an abortion rights ballot effort for November 2023. Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, which includes @abortionfundoh , @ProChoiceOH , @PPAOhio , says the earliest they would go is November 2023. Timeline TBD
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 years
BREAKING: @JoshMandelOhio drops out of U.S. Senate race. "I’m writing today to let you know that I am ending my campaign for US Senate in order to be there for my wife and our three children." #ohsen
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
All I’m saying is I’m amassing quite the collection.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 years
How a bill (really) becomes a law: NIL edition
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Interesting: "The commission should retain an independent map drawer—who answers to all commission members, not only to the Republican legislative leaders—to draft a plan through a transparent process."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
"Abortion is healthcare," said Lauren Blauvelt with @OURR2023 . "This campaign came together last year because we lost access because there was a dangerous abortion ban and patients and families were being harmed."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
@OURR2023 Dr. Marcela Azevedo, founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, is overcome our fears motion. Cheers of “it’s because of you” erupt. She says she’s proud to be an Ohioan.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
11 months
Some come to Cincinnati for Taylor Swift, others for federal corruption hearings…
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Guess I'll re-up this through Thursday. | ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ | |STATEHOUSE | | DISTRICTS | | AREN’T | |CONGRESSIONAL | | DISTRICTS | | _____________| (\__/) || (•ㅅ•) || /   づ
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @Russo4Ohio sharing statement from herself and @DrVernonSykes : "It is shameful that we are here again, adopting yet another unconstitutional map in direct contradiction to the Ohio Supreme Court."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Democrats on the Ohio Redistricting Commission say they’ll be in room 313 at 10 a.m. Monday and invite GOP members to join.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Tired: Waiting on an Ohio Supreme Court redistricting decision. Wired: Waiting on a federal three-judge panel redistricting decision.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 years
"This rationale is asinine. I should vote no," @FrankLaRose texted his chief of staff about the GOP statement defending its maps. "It will be cited in the court against the GOP. Probably not worth it," COS replied.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
4 years
There's a house in my neighborhood that has printed out forms to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. Anyone can grab one, like those little libraries. No yard signs to indicate whether Ds or Rs live there. Just a friendly assist for the printer-less.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @OhioChamber on HB 616:
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
10 months
Hamilton County verified 52,346 valid signatures for the proposed abortion rights amendment -- 70.2% of 74,553 signatures submitted, according to the county board of elections.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio Supreme Court denies a request to require the Ohio Redistricting Commission to explain why it didn't follow the court's order to draw new Statehouse maps. Justice Brunner dissents, Justice DeWine had recused himself.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
ACLU of Ohio, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Covington & Burling LLP filed another challenge to Ohio's congressional map, focusing on District 1 (Cincinnati and Warren Co) and District 15 (Franklin County to parts westward).
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens: "The legislature has multiple paths that we will explore to continue to protect innocent life. This is not the end of the conversation."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
"The enacted plan splits Hamilton County into three districts for no apparent reason other than to confer an undue partisan advantage on the Republican Party," Donnelly writes.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 years
Update: The Mercers also made a "significant contribution." Big boost for Mr. Vance in what's expected to be a crowded GOP field in Ohio to replace Sen. Rob Portman.
@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 years
Scoop: PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel makes a big investment in a super PAC backing @JDVance1 , who is mulling an #ohsen bid.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio, once again, has a challenge to its congressional map.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 year
Final week of the Householder trial
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
5 years
NEW: Federal court finds Ohio's map unconstitutional. "We declare Ohio’s 2012 map an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, enjoin its use in the 2020 election, and order the enactment of a constitutionally viable replacement."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
9 months
Shortly after the defeat of Issue 1, a redistricting reform petition is moving forward with an eye on 2024.
@IndivCentralOH
Indivisible Central Ohio
9 months
. @CommonCauseOhio and other @OhFairDistricts coalition members are getting ready to go on a redistricting reform initiative that would end gerrymandering by taking politicians completely out of the process.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 years
Congressional map uploaded to House committee expected to review House GOP map. #ohio #redistricting
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
3 months
House and Senate Democrats are sending a letter to U.S. Attorney Ken Parker (copying AG Dave Yost) asking him to investigate what the DeWine-Husted administration knew and when about PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo's ties to FirstEnergy.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Those suing over Ohio's legislative maps want an explanation why the Ohio Redistricting Commission didn't hit the court's deadline for new ones. Says commission is acting "more and more lawlessly."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
5 months
NEW: Samuel Randazzo, 74, of Columbus, self-surrendered at U.S. District Court in Cincinnati this morning. Randazzo is charged in an 11-count indictment that was returned on Nov. 29 and he will be scheduled for an initial appearance later today.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
4 years
Deaths of Black babies before age 1 plummeted to a never-before-seen low in Hamilton County last year as community partners became laser-focused on health disparities for them and their moms. via @tdemio
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio Redistricting Commission officially missed its 9 a.m. deadline to pass new maps. Federal judges picked maps for 2022, so Ohio will need maps for 2024 + beyond. The constitutional amendment didn't envision *waves* all this, so once again in unprecedented territory.
@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Ohio Redistricting Commission will miss its deadline to send new state House and Senate maps to the Ohio Supreme Court. Federal judges picks legislative maps last week for an Aug. 2 primary that the Supreme Court twice ruled unconstitutional. Not sure what happens next.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
4 years
Of West's 18 electors, 16 are from Cuyahoga County. Six listed the same Cleveland address. Four had the same Lakewood address.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
. @DrVernonSykes and @Russo4Ohio file a motion to intervene as defendants in federal case seeking to reinstate rejected legislative maps. Basically: don't convene a 3-judge panel. Let the Ohio Supreme Court handle it.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Tell me you’re driving on I-71 south without telling me you’re driving on I-71 south.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 months
Brigid Kelly was the kind of person you want in public office: sharp, kind and full of integrity. She worked on legislation to make Ohioans' lives better, in ways big and small. The fact that she is gone is immeasurably sad. May the road rise to meet you.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
. @GovMikeDeWine on Issue 1 and 2: “In this country, we accept the results of elections.” He offers some proposals for lawmakers to prevent children from accessing marijuana or people breathing in smoke in public spaces.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
10 months
Abortion-rights proponents will file signatures Wednesday (the deadline) to make the November ballot. News release references "hundreds of boxes containing thousands of petition booklets."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
4 years
. @JoeBiden in Cleveland: "“When Sherrod tells me to come to Ohio the day before, I come to Ohio, that’s what I do."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 months
A majority of Ohioans who voted supported abortion access and marijuana. But top GOP leaders are already promising to undo the measures.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 month
Update on the legal challenge to Ohio's ban on most abortions/six-week ban/heartbeat bill. Everyone agrees it's unconstitutional after voters approved Issue 1.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Oral arguments will happen for Ohio congressional map lawsuits. Time and date TBA.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Also, this Licking County district is back and I'm not mature enough for redistricting.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
1 year
New: Double dipping: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost retires briefly to draw pension “Dave Yost filed paperwork with OPERS to begin receiving his pension. He remains committed to public service and his duty as Attorney General.” via @DispatchAlerts
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
4 years
Document alleges mostly horrible things. Bright spot: political operative who declined the $15K bribe: "It may not land me in the car, house, job, or financial situation I want to be in – but I couldn’t face myself if I did anything but work for this and do it honestly."
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
2 years
Democrats on the Ohio Redistricting Commission: let’s meet to work on maps.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
6 years
Everyone watching Delaware County, basically.
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@jbalmert
Jessie Balmert
5 years
With respect to Disney, this is the real happiest place on Earth.
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