WASHINGTON — The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced its slate of Spotlight candidates in Ohio, where the first presidential debate will be held in a few short hours. This year, Democrats have a chance to flip seats in the Senate and break the GOP supermajority in the House, needing just two seats to put a dent in the GOP’s stronghold on the General Assembly.
“Despite Republican gerrymandering, Democrats have a unique opportunity to make strategic gains in Ohio this year,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Jessica Post. “The GOP has failed the people of Ohio, and voters have had enough. Our incredible Spotlight candidates are exemplary leaders and community advocates who will fight for their districts and help us flip seats in the Senate and break the Republican supermajority in the House.”
Ohioans deserve better than what the GOP has to offer. Republicans in the legislature have been steeped in scandal for the last several years, with GOP House Speaker Larry Householder most recently being forced to step down after he was arrested and charged with bribery and money-laundering. Householder’s pay-to-play scandal is just the latest of a long string of Republican corruption.
Here are the DLCC’s Spotlight candidates who will help Democrats make gains in Ohio:
- Representative Phil Robinson (HD-06), a long-time civic leader and business executive who was the first Democrat in nearly four decades and the first African American ever to win his district.
- Monique Smith (HD-16), a marketing professional and former city councilwoman who’s concerned for the future of Ohio under its current Republican leadership.
- Representative Mary Lightbody (HD-19), an incumbent who has devoted her life to supporting her community by serving on her local library board of trustees and teaching at Ohio State University.
- Nancy Day-Achauer (HD-23), a pastor, community leader, and problem solver who is working day-in and day-out to address her community’s most pressing issues.
- Representative Erica Crawley (HD-26), a proud Navy veteran and lawyer who’s worked hard to ensure her constituents’ voices are heard in the halls of power.
- Representative Jessica Miranda (HD-28), a small business owner and longtime community advocate who is a champion for families and students.
- Amy Cox (HD-43), a Preble County native who has been a union public school teacher since 2004 and has a passion for combating injustice.
- Chris Stanley (HD-59), a program manager and adjunct professor at multiple Ohio universities who has a diverse background in education and writes textbooks and children’s books.
- Crystal Lett (SD-16), a mental health advocate who will continue her fight for CHIP families, children with mental illnesses, and opioid epidemic victims in the Ohio legislature.
- Betsy Rader (SD-18), an employment lawyer who fights every day for the rights of employees in the workplace.
- Tom Jackson (SD-24), a former worker at a nonprofit promoting democratic values who is committed to protecting reproductive rights.
- Senator Sean O’Brien (SD-32), a former Trumbull County assistant prosecutor and foundation founder who has spent the past decade fighting to advance important issues in the legislature.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is the official Democratic organization dedicated to winning state legislative seats. Earlier this year, the DLCC announced its $50 million “Flip Everything” campaign, an unprecedented effort to win legislative majorities across the country. Since Donald Trump’s election, the DLCC and state partners have flipped more than 450 seats and 10 chambers from red to blue.
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