COLUMBUS — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose testified virtually this week before the Kansas State Legislature in support of HB 2106, a bill aimed at prohibiting foreign funding in Kansas elections—following the precedent set by Ohio.
“American elections are for American citizens,” Secretary LaRose stated during his testimony on Tuesday. “If Kansas wants to safeguard its democratic process from non-citizen activists, it must be prepared to vigorously investigate and counteract their schemes. In Ohio, we empowered our attorney general—working in coordination with my office—to investigate and prosecute these violations. I commend Kansas leaders for taking action to close these dangerous loopholes, and I stand ready to assist in any way I can.”
In 2024, Secretary LaRose led efforts alongside the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation banning foreign contributions to statewide issue campaigns. He successfully defended the measure against legal challenges, sending a clear message that foreign interference in Ohio’s elections will not be tolerated. Since then, LaRose has taken a leading role in assisting other states in adopting similar protections.