Thanks to everyone who joined us for our February Coffee hour. It’s always great to see you and discuss democracy in Ohio! Here’s the recording and slides from the meeting.

Upcoming Events 

• Ongoing Tues. & Thurs. at 6pm: Join Common Cause’s Democracy Phonebank 
• Saturday, February 21, 11am – 1pm: Documenters Columbus Orientation & Training 
• Wednesday, March 4, 10am: Franklin County Board of Elections Tour
• Friday, March 6, noon:  Ohio Voter Rights Coalition Member Call
• Wednesday, March 11 at 6pm: Sunshine Week Fair Districts Huddle
• Thursday, March 19, 8:30am:  Coffee with Common Cause  
• Saturday, March 28: No Kings

Take Action

• Make a call: Stop the anti-voter SAVE Act 
• Send an email: Tell Congress: Reject the SAVE Act  
• Check your voter registration  
• Share voter education info with your online network
• Sign up to be part of the Election Protection team at protectthevote.net
• ICE Out of Franklin County Municipal Court

Statehouse Update

• Helpful Bill tracker 

• Senate Bill 63 was passed out of the Ohio Senate in May 2025 and is now being considered in the Ohio House General Government Committee.
  • Mia’s testimony
  • All testimony 

• Senate Joint Resolution 6 calls for an Article V convention to establish term limits. The resolution was assigned to the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform.
  • Catherine’s testimony
  • All testimony 
  • Article V explainer (pdf for sharing)

Voting and Elections

• New push for SAVE (America) Act to renew documented proof of citizenship photo ID. Majority leader John Thune says expect a vote in the senate.
• Key Dates for Primary on May 5
  • April 6: deadline to register
  • April 7: early vote begins
  • In-person schedule
• Bring unexpired Photo ID to vote
• Vote Where You Rent site to encourage voter registration! 

Ohio Ballot Protection 

• Get to know the initiative process in Ohio and help return the power to the people.
• Register for Virtual Town Halls (3/17 or 3/24 at 7pm)
• Follow OBP’s facebook page
• Learn how you can help restore voter confidence

FirstEnergy Executives Trial Update

On February 3, the trial against Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling kicked off with opening statements. Jurors were told the next six weeks would unfold like a “movie.”

• ‘They bought people’ — Opening arguments begin in FirstEnergy corruption trial, News 5 Cleveland, February 3, 2026

• Energy consultant says Randazzo stole millions from him, other clients before DeWine appointment, Signal Ohio, February 10, 2026

• Ex-ethics chief: FirstEnergy CEO blessed payment at heart of bribery trial, Cleveland.com, February 12, 2026

• FirstEnergy lawyer ‘separated’ after questioning ‘bulls—’ contract at center of bribery case, Signal Ohio, February 12, 2026

• Everything you need to know about the FirstEnergy trial if you haven’t been paying attention, News 5 Cleveland, February 16, 2026

• In major twist, FirstEnergy execs seek to toss charges in bribery trial, Cleveland.com, February 17, 2026  (motion for dismissal) 

• FirstEnergy lawyer says CEO ignored her advice, paid $4.3 million at heart of bribery case, Signal Ohio, February 18, 2026

On January 28, The Akron Beacon Journal, The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Columbus Dispatch filed a lawsuit challenging portions of Judge Susan Baker Ross’ Media Participation order. 

In a unanimous ruling on February 17, the Ohio Supreme Court slapped down restrictions on news media by the judge. 

You can watch the trial via a Zoom meeting that Judge Baker Ross has set up. 

Les Wexner 

Les Wexner was subpoenaed by the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and  was deposed in Ohio yesterday (Wexner’s public statement). 

Both Democratic and Republican candidates are in a mad dash to divest themselves of contributions from Les Wexner. Sen. Jon Husted says that he is giving the contributions he received from Les Wexner to charity. Sen. Bernie Moreno has not announced any plans to donate the money. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown $10,200 for his campaign from Abigail Wexner. His campaign has declined to comment on it.

• Everything We Know About Les Wexner In The Epstein Files, Forbes, February 16, 2025

Media and Democracy 

• Washington Post Lays Off More Than 300 Journalists, New York Times, February 4, 2026
• On February 17, Stephen Colbert told viewers that CBS told him that he could not have Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on the broadcast over concerns about the FCC’s “equal time” rule. The interview was posted on YouTube. CBS denies that they blocked the interview.

Trump’s IRS Lawsuit 

Trump, his family, and his businesses are suing the IRS over the leak of Trump’s tax returns years ago. Trump wants $10 billion and said, “I’m supposed to work out a settlement with myself” during a Jan. 31 press gaggle. 

Trump would like the government he leads to pay him billions, NPR, February 18, 2026 

Friend of the Court Brief submitted Feb. 5 by Democracy Forward on behalf of Common Cause, Project On Government Oversight, and four former government officials.

ICE 

Trainings :

• 2/21/2026: Whistle Kit Assembly Party, 11am-1pm at Columbus Metro Library’s South High Branch, 3250 S. High Street, Columbus. 
• 2/22/2026: What You Need to Know About Ice (virtual), 4pm. Join Ohio Progressive Action Leaders (OPAL) for a conversation with Emeritus Prof Steve Volk, who has been active in immigration issues for 20 years. 
• 2/25/2026: STAC ICE Watch & Community Defense Training (virtual), 7-8:30pm. Join this training on effectively protecting your neighborhoods from federal enforcement incursions. Click HERE to register. AND MANY OTHER DATES

Resources:

• Central Ohio Resources
• ICE Watch Resources Linktree
• Hotline for families of people detained: 614-874-1189

Springfield update

• Haitians bring growth, challenges and unwanted attention to Springfield, Columbus Dispatch, February 17, 2026

• The original ‘wine moms’ are in Ohio. They’re mobilizing to support Haitians in Springfield, Ohio Capital Journal, February 16, 2026

• Haiti TPS: Ruling could come this week impacting protections for Haitians, Dayton Daily News, February 16, 2026
• Bomb Threats Referring to Haitian Immigrants Disrupt Springfield, Ohio, New York Times, February 9, 2026

Follow Common Cause Ohio:

BluSky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Catherine Turcer on Twitter/X.