Two Democratic Presidential Candidates Didn't Make Ohio's Primary Ballot

Two of the Democrats running for president were not successful in getting their names certified to be listed on the March 17 Ohio primary ballot, though one of them has been certified as a write-in candidate.

A total of 11 Democratic presidential candidates have been certifiedto have their names appear on the ballot: Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren will be listed as Democratic candidates.

There was a problem with Andrew Yang’s petition filing, so his name won’t be listed but he has been certified as a write-in candidate. 

“My campaign submitted nearly three times the amount of signatures needed, virtually ensuring I would be on the ballot in Ohio. Nevertheless, because of a bureaucratic paperwork issue caused by an awkwardly-worded law, nearly 3,000 Ohioans’ First Amendment rights have been denied,” Yang said in a written statement. “As a non-politician, it’s unfathomable that this could happen, but we’re not going to let democracy be thwarted and we are thrilled that we’ve made every other ballot with ease.”

Unlike Yang, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper doesn’t blame Ohio’s ballot access process.

“You have to follow some basic procedures but it’s not, well, let’s be honest. Almost every other presidential candidate succeeded in getting on the ballot. It means you get here early enough to organize and you get here early enough to do your homework and get it right," Pepper said.

Yang’s votes will be treated just like the other certified candidates, Pepper said.

“We’ve made clear we would recognize those write-in votes as the Secretary of State is recording and tabulating them," Pepper said.

John Delaney also had problems with his petitions and will not be on the ballot. Marianne Williamson did not file paperwork in Ohio.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump’s petitions have been certified, but Bill Weld’s were not, so the president won’t face a GOP primary challenger in Ohio. 

The voter registration deadline is Feb. 18 and early voting starts the next day.

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