Less than a year after Ohio voters approved an amendment to their state constitution to protect abortion rights, the DLCC sees a path to making gains in the Ohio Senate
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced its 2024 Spotlight candidates in Ohio, which provide an opportunity to build Democratic power by flipping two state Senate seats. The two Spotlight candidates unveiled today are Sue Durichko, running for SD-24, and Willis Blackshear, Jr., running for SD-6.
- Sue Durichko currently serves as a city councilwoman at large and has worked as a geriatric nurse for over 15 years. As a state senator, she will focus on helping working families, quality education, and access to affordable health care.
- Willis Blackshear, Jr. currently represents the 38th District in the Ohio House of Representatives. He’s running to create jobs, invest in public education, and protect abortion rights.
Building Democratic power in Ohio is essential to chip away at Republicans’ stronghold in the state legislature. There’s a clear window of opportunity following the unwavering mandate that voters sent last November, when Ohio voters approved an amendment to their state constitution to protect abortions and other reproductive health care decisions. Republicans in the state legislature immediately began strategizing attempts to block that abortion amendment from taking effect, showing the consequences of the MAGA extremism in the Ohio state legislature. Additionally, Republicans in the legislature also wielded their toxic supermajority to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of dangerous anti-trans legislation earlier this year.
Republicans’ extremism in Ohio won’t go unanswered in November, and our Spotlight candidates in Ohio represent some of the best opportunities to check the MAGA agenda in the Ohio legislature and continue Democrats’ momentum in the state.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is proud to announce our Spotlight candidates in Ohio, Sue Durichko and Willis Blackshear, Jr. These promising candidates are among the strongest opportunities to chip away at Republican power by flipping two competitive seats this cycle. The MAGA extremism of the Republican supermajority in the Ohio legislature has been on full display, including attempts to circumvent the will of voters by trying to outmaneuver the pro-abortion rights amendment passed last November and overriding the governor to pass a discriminatory anti-trans bill. Ohioans deserve real leaders – not MAGA extremists – and the DLCC is ready to work with our Spotlight candidates to hold Republicans accountable.
“The DLCC’s Spotlight program uplifts some of the most important candidates across the country, and we’re thrilled to unveil this slate of Ohio candidates. As the only committee setting the agenda for the national landscape of state legislatures, our long-term strategy to build Democratic power includes highlighting champions of fundamental freedoms in every corner of the country. This is the most important ballot level, and 2024 is the year of the states.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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