Democratic News

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus today issued a statement in response to Attorney General Dave Yost’s directive that all surgical abortions in Ohio halt believing that this would be in accordance with the State Health Director’s order for people to cancel all elective surgeries.  

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today detailed her caucus’ priorities as state lawmakers prepare to return to the Statehouse next week to determine the timeline and procedures by which voters will be able to cast their ballots in the Ohio primary, which was scheduled for March 17, but postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following a call with Governor Mike DeWine and the entire House Democratic Caucus. During that call, Democratic members of the House expressed their thoughts on legislative remedies to the current public health and economic crises as well as shared concerns they are hearing from local leaders and constituents in their districts.

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced that House Bill (HB) 12, his bipartisan legislation with state Rep. Don Manning (R-New Middletown) to create the Children’s Behavioral Health Prevention Network Stakeholder Group, officially takes effect after being signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine 90 days ago.

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today criticizing the state’s chief election officer, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, for sharing inaccurate information during a time of chaos when Ohioans are turning to him for truth and guidance.   

COLUMBUS—House Assistant Minority Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) today released a statement following the Governor’s delay to reopen childcare facilities, leaving working parents few options as they return to the workplace:

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today about the confusion and spread of misinformation related to the State Health Director ordering the polls to be closed and in-person voting to not take place today:

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement tonight about the confusion caused by the governor’s Monday afternoon recommendation that Election Day be moved to June 2 which was then denied in court and caused chaos and confusion in the late evening hours. Ohio’s Health Director has since ordered polling locations to be closed over coronavirus concerns.

COLUMBUS—House Democrats today announced the state Controlling Board approved more than $132 million in funding to bolster unemployment benefits, provide assistance for small businesses and manufacturers, and support state and local COVID-19 response efforts amid the worst global pandemic in more than a century.

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) released a statement today aboutthe decision made by Gov. Mike DeWine to postpone the primary election originally scheduled for tomorrow, March 17 to June 2:

COLUMBUS— Members of The Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus (OBMHC) today recognized the one year anniversary of its formation. The mission of the OBMHC is to raise awareness within Ohio to establish Black maternal health as a statewide priority. This is accomplished through advocacy efforts, partnerships, education, innovative and evidence-informed, culturally-informed policies for health outcomes that benefit the long-term wellbeing of Black mothers, babies, and families.

COLUMBUS—House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today released a statement following the dangerous and partisan attack on Dr. Amy Acton by House Republicans:  

COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose challenging his order telling county boards of elections that they must throw out many of the provisional ballots cast in the primary election. Secretary LaRose in a Monday night social media post said he opposed House Bill 197, the COVID-19 relief bill passed in March that also contained primary election cleanup provisions, and he accused the three Democrats of not reading the bill.

COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) released the below statements in response to Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s late night directive on Friday ordering counties to throw out many of the provisional ballots cast in the primary election.

COLUMBUS— As many Ohioans will be called back to work in May, many will be faced with impossible decisions related to work, health and family as this ongoing pandemic continues: how to return to work when you have children at home and no one to care for them with daycares and schools closed; how to keep those high-risk individuals who will remain quarantined safe when workers return home; and what protections exist for workers in and out of the workplace or who do fall ill with COVID-19.

State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose today demanding that provisional ballots cast on Tuesday, April 28 be counted. Mail delays and confusion around the primary changes left some Ohio voters without a vote-by-mail ballot and no choice but to vote a provisional ballot in person on Tuesday. The three members make up the House Democratic Caucus’ COVID-19 Elections Working Group.

House Democrats today announced $310 million in federal funds to support Ohio’s frontline workers, bolster the state’s publicly funded childcare programs, and help the state prepare for the November election, which will likely be held during the worst global pandemic in more than a century.

COLUMBUS—On a call with statehouse media today, House Democratic leadership outlined their recommendations for a “responsible restart” for Ohio. This is based on the testimony they heard during the OHIO 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force proceedings, coupled with the feedback they received from constituents and local experts.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) and members of the House Democratic Caucus today sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton asking his office and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to issue guidance for schools to allow districts to start planning for the upcoming school year.