Transgender candidate facing disqualification now cleared to run despite omitting deadname

For complete story
https://www.mystateline.com/news/national/ap-transgender-candidate-facing-disqualification-now-cleared-to-run-despite-omitting-deadname/

By: SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON, Associated Press Posted: Jan 18, 2024 / 01:37 PM CST Updated: Jan 18, 2024 / 01:40 PM CST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A transgender candidate vying for a seat in the Republican-majority Ohio House was cleared to run Thursday after her certification had been called into question for omitting her former name on qualifying petitions as required by a little-used state elections law.

The Mercer County Board of Elections chose not take up a vote on disqualifying Arienne Childrey, a Democrat from Auglaize County who is one of four transgender individuals campaigning for the Legislature, for not disclosing her previous name on petition paperwork.

Childrey, who legally changed her name in 2020, has said she would have provided her deadname — the name a transgender person was assigned at birth but does not align with their gender identity — if she had known about the law.

All four transgender candidates for the Legislature this year have run into issues with the name-change law, which has been in place in some form for decades but is rarely used — typically in the context of candidates wishing to use a nickname.

But Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that the law should be amended and county boards should stop disqualifying transgender candidates on these grounds.
======================================================================================================================================
It only makes sense to use the correct name once it has been legally changed. I looked at a similar issue when I contemplated possibly running for state legislature, but due to family reasons, haven't legally changed my name.