Tjaden Voluntarily Dismisses Federal Case
Candidate Looks to Focus on Future Reform
Justin Tjaden, former Independent candidate for Ohio House District 99, recently announced he would be voluntarily dismissing his federal case challenging Ohio’s ballot access laws.
Justin Tjaden, former Independent candidate for Ohio House District 99, recently announced he would be voluntarily dismissing his federal case challenging Ohio’s ballot access laws.
The decision comes as part of his commitment to avoid burdening local taxpayers with an expensive legal battle, he said in a public statement.
“Litigation is no stranger to me — I know how long and costly these battles can get when you are paying outside counsel, as is the case with the boards of elections,” he said in the statement. “The reality is, while my case has merit, dragging it out would only place an unfair financial strain on the people of Geauga and Ashtabula counties, and that’s something I simply won’t allow.”
Tjaden said he’s been fighting for more equitable treatment of Independent candidates, but after September ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court, which denied his petition to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot as an Independent candidate, it became clear the fight would be long and costly.
“It’s just not the right way forward,” he said.
In their decision the court cited, in part, his failure to properly submit critical rebuttal evidence, as well as his alleged failure to challenge enough of the invalidated signatures, Tjaden said in a Sept. 5 release.
But in his Sept. 24 statement Tjaden said his decision to dismiss the case was about more than just the legal outcome — it was about responsibility to his community.
“I didn’t get into this to waste taxpayer money on my turn in the hamster wheel,” he said. “If I’m going to spend energy fighting for something, it will be on the floor of the Ohio House, or advocating for meaningful reforms that benefit everyone.”
Tjaden said he is reaffirming his commitment to Issue 1, a constitutional amendment that would create an Independent redistricting commission.
“Reform isn’t just a buzzword or a political party — it’s a necessity,” he said in the release. “Issue 1 is a step in the right direction, bringing shades of fairness back to our political process. The reason extreme Republicans are so adamant against Issue 1 is because current election laws deny voters voices from the middle. They view a redistricting commission as an attack from the left, when in reality, it’s because Ohioans have eyes.
“We’ve all witnessed the dangers of unchecked power, and with a redistricting commission set to dismantle the supermajority, now is the perfect time for moderates to come together and address the inequities in the system,” he added. “The General Assembly’s lame-duck session after the election would be a prime opportunity to tackle the flaws in how Independent candidates are treated in Ohio and I’m calling on leaders to take this seriously.”
Tjaden reflected on the last several months and what he learned during the litigation process.
“I’ve learned … about the law, about myself and about what it means to serve the people,” he said in his release. “I have no regrets. Challenging the system was the right thing to do and I’ll always stand up for what I believe in.”
As for his political future, Tjaden said he is keeping his options open.
“I’m not done, not by a long shot,” he said. “Right now, my priority is my family and getting our house in order. But when the time is right, I’ll be back, and you can count on me to continue fighting for a more just and equal political system.”
