NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a self-described “progressive” candidate\u2019s bid to enter Ohio\u2019s Republican primary<\/a>, leaving in place a decision by state election officials to disqualify him for misrepresenting his party affiliation.<\/p>\n Samuel Ronan, a former Democratic state and national candidate, attempted to run as a Republican in Ohio\u2019s 15th Congressional District against GOP incumbent Rep. Mike Carey. To do so, he signed a declaration of candidacy \u2014 under penalty of election falsification \u2014 swearing he was a member of the Republican Party.<\/p>\n However, court documents filed in U.S. District Court note Ronan was caught publicly admitting that his candidacy was part of a calculated strategy to run Democrats as Republicans in “deep red districts” to “get a foot in the door.”<\/p>\n A Republican voter, Mark Schare, filed a protest with the Franklin County Board of Elections<\/a>, presenting social media posts and interviews as evidence of Ronan’s scheme to “trick” GOP voters.<\/p>\n ‘GOP’ HOUSE CANDIDATE ADMITS SHE’S ACTUALLY A PROGRESSIVE IN VIRAL VIDEO: ‘TELLING PEOPLE THE TRUTH’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sam Ronan flashing a peace sign<\/span> (Sam Ronan)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ronan claimed in his application he did not lie about his affiliation, citing similar party deviations by politicians, including former President Ronald Reagan, President Donald Trump and “hundreds of others,” according to a report<\/a> from Courthouse News Service.<\/p>\n After the election board tied along party lines, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose stepped in to toss Ronan off the ballot.<\/p>\n LaRose said the case was a matter of “the integrity of the electoral process,” slamming Ronan’s alleged mission to infiltrate the party, according to court filings.<\/p>\n Sam Ronan previously described himself as a “progressive.”<\/span> (Sam Ronan via Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n FLASHBACK: DEM SENATE CANDIDATE WAS CRITICAL VOTE IN CONFIRMING JUDGE WHO TIED VOTER ID TO ‘WHITE SUPREMACY’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In response, Ronan filed a federal lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights<\/a> were violated because the state used his core political speech against him to remove him from the ballot.<\/p>\n Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison<\/a> swiftly rejected Ronan’s arguments, ruling the First Amendment does not protect a candidate who submits a fraudulent declaration of candidacy.<\/p>\n “It cannot be the case that a State must allow a candidate on a partisan ballot even if he lied about his party affiliation simply because the First Amendment is implicated,” Morrison wrote in her opinion.<\/p>\n Sam Ronan speaks with a crowd of people.<\/span> (Sam Ronan via Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n GOP TEXAS CANDIDATE IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER RIVAL EXPOSES FAMILY’S DEM DONATIONS: ‘DOESN’T MAKE SENSE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n She noted that while Ohio allows candidates to legally change<\/a> their political affiliation, election officials are not required to ignore a candidate’s public statements that directly contradict their sworn oath.<\/p>\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1200\/675\/Sam-Ronan-campaign-003.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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