"Trans Candidate Cleared to Run Despite Deadname Disqualification"

Transgender candidate Arienne Childrey, running for the Ohio House, was cleared to run despite omitting her deadname on petition paperwork, as required by a little-used state elections law. The law, unfamiliar to many state elections officials, mandates candidates to disclose any name changes in the past five years. Three other transgender candidates have also faced issues with this law. Republican Governor Mike DeWine called for the law to be amended, stating that denying ballot access for this reason should be fixed. Despite the recent outcomes, the issue of disclosing deadnames may still pose a challenge for winning candidates.