Ohio lawmaker says wife will run as write-in

FREMONT, Ohio (AP) — A longtime Republican in the Ohio House says his wife will run as a write-in candidate for his seat after a paperwork error forced him off the primary ballot.

State Rep. Rex Damschroder of Fremont in northwestern Ohio said today in a statement his wife, Rhonda, will act as a placeholder for him and seek the Republican nomination on May 6.

Damschroder says that should his wife win, she would leave the contest and party officials in the district could place his name on the November ballot as the GOP candidate.

Damschroder was forced to withdraw from seeking re-election because he failed to sign his petitions the required number of times. He acknowledges it was his mistake.

He was expected to win, with no other candidates running against him.