Ohio Treasurer Sprague Pushes Baseless Election Lies to Boost Secretary of State Bid

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, a term-limited Republican known for political musical chairs, is seeking to become Ohio’s next secretary of state. But his campaign is built on a foundation of misinformation that threatens the integrity of elections in a state long dominated by GOP power.

In a recent ad ahead of the May 5 primary, Sprague strolls past a ballot drop box placed conspicuously next to a garbage can and declares, “ballot boxes just aren’t secure.” He then unleashes a Sesame Street parody puppet named “Lefty the Cheat” to claim these drop boxes “make elections messy.” Sprague promises to “ditch the drop boxes,” “verify American citizenship for new voter registration,” and “kick cheaters to the curb,” all while warning voters not to “let Democrats trash your vote.”

This ad is packed with falsehoods Sprague should know are baseless. Ballot drop boxes have been a secure, bipartisan tool in Ohio and other states for decades. They are heavy steel containers bolted to the ground, monitored 24/7, and managed under strict bipartisan oversight. During the pandemic, their use increased as a safe alternative to in-person voting — yet Republicans like Sprague have weaponized them as supposed hotbeds of fraud, echoing former President Trump’s unfounded attacks.

Sprague also peddles the GOP myth of rampant noncitizen voting, a claim thoroughly debunked by election officials and experts. Ohio voters already affirm citizenship under penalty of perjury, and there is no evidence of widespread fraud by noncitizens.

Most troubling is Sprague’s partisan framing of election administration. His ad’s closing warning to “not let Democrats trash your vote” signals the kind of biased oversight he would bring to the secretary of state’s office, which is supposed to be an impartial guardian of free and fair elections.

Ohio’s Republican trifecta — controlling the legislature, governor’s office, and every statewide position — has a long record of enacting voting restrictions and purging voter registrations that disproportionately impact voters who lean Democratic. Sprague’s campaign rhetoric aligns with this pattern of undermining voting rights under the guise of election security.

Sprague’s refusal to fully acknowledge Trump’s 2020 loss further exposes his loyalty to falsehood over fact. Like many GOP figures, he skirts admitting the obvious: Joe Biden won the 2020 election decisively, a result upheld by dozens of court rulings and exhaustive audits.

As Ohioans head to the polls, they should be wary of candidates who trade in lies and fearmongering to gain power. The security and fairness of elections depend on officials who respect facts, not political loyalty to a defeated former president.

If Sprague succeeds, Ohio’s elections could face even greater threats from partisan interference disguised as “security.” The stakes could not be higher.

We will keep tracking these developments and holding power to account.

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