Tanya Conrath discusses campaign plans after rejection to replace Goodman on November ballot

Tanya Conrath for State Representative campaign photo, Sept. 2022

Tanya Conrath spoke at an Ohio University College Democrats meeting Wednesday evening to discuss her strategies following the rejection by Secretary of State Frank LaRose to put her name on the ballot. Conrath would replace Ohio University student Rhyan Goodman in the race for representative of the 94th District of Ohio. 

Conrath entered the race Aug. 15, confirmed by the Athens County Democratic Central Committee, following Goodman’s stepping down only days after the August primary. 

With the Athens County Board of Elections at a stalemate, the issue was sent up to LaRose to decide. LaRose denied the push to get Conrath on the November ballot in a letter to the Athens County Board of Elections on Tuesday. 

“Rhyan Goodman was not certified to appear on the November 8, 2022 General Election ballot at the time he withdrew from the race and therefore could not be considered the party candidate and nominee to replace,” the letter read. 

As Conrath explained the decision and mentioned the name “Rhyan Goodman” the room erupted into laughter. Now that Rep. Jay Edwards will be left running unopposed, Conrath is considering an Ohio Supreme Court suit to dispute the decision. 

“My decision right now is: do I throw in the towel and say, ‘the system beat me, there's nothing I can do,’ or do I file a mandamus action in the (Ohio) Supreme Court?” Conrath said.  

“Mandamus is a writ, issued in the name of the state to an inferior tribunal, a corporation, board, or person, commanding the performance of an act which the law specially enjoins as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or station,” according to Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules.

As explained by Conrath, “that kind of action compels…a government entity like the Secretary of State's office or an official to act in accordance with the law.”

Conrath noted the large financial burden a case like this will be and if it was the best way to use campaign funds, considering the other major costs of running a campaign. Conrath also mentions she’s hired Don McTigue, election law attorney, to aid her in this process. 

While still undecided whether to go forward with the suit, Conrath is debating pooling her funds for the 2024 race. 

If Conrath does go forward with the suit, wins and ends up on the ballot, Conrath believes she has a good chance at winning the district noting the Dobbs decision, which held that the right to an abortion was not federally protected.  

“I think this is a watershed moment for Democrats,'' Conrath said.  “We've seen that there are more women registering to vote in Ohio than ever before. And so I think that really, really helps me.”

However, if Conrath were to lose the election or not pursue the suit, she plans to continue her path into politics at the state level. 

“I'm not as interested in county (politics). I'm more interested in policy at the state level. And so I think my path would be to run again for this position in 2024. That would be more likely,” Conrath said. 

The midterm election will be held Nov. 8.