Democratic News

House Democratic lawmakers from across Ohio today sent a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose seeking information from his office about the impact of moving the 2020 presidential primary from March 10 to March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. See the letter below.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued the following statement in response to Governor DeWine’s call to abandon fair tax reform in order to break ongoing Republican gridlock and quickly pass a budget – regardless of its fiscal impact on the state’s bottom line.

As Republican legislative leaders remain deadlocked on a long-term budget deal, House Democratic lawmakers today voted in favor of Senate Bill (SB) 171, which would extend funding for the next 17 days to avoid a government shutdown. They also voted to pass SB 172, a 30-day funding extension for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The Ohio Constitution requires both budgets to be passed by July 1.

“The majority party has been unwilling to work together, and now our only option to fulfill our constitutional duty and avoid a Republican shutdown is to pass this short-term budget,” said House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron). “Democrats are committed to fulfilling our promise to taxpayers and hope our majority-party colleagues can put the petty politics aside to do the same.”

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement decrying Republican Statehouse leaders whose failure to come to an agreement on the state budget now threatens a state government shutdown. The Ohio Constitution requires the budget to be passed by July 1.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the Supreme Court’s decision in the North Carolina and Maryland partisan gerrymandering cases. The decision will impact the ongoing court challenge to Ohio's congressional map. 

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today announced the House passage of her bipartisan House Bill (HB) 9, legislation to establish general education course requirements and streamline the transfer credit system at public universities in Ohio.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced the election of Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) as Minority Whip and Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) as Assistant Minority Whip for the 133^rd General Assembly. Brown joins the Democratic leadership team after former Whip Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) stepped down last week.

“I want to thank Rep. Smith for his service to this leadership team and dedication to strengthening our caucus. I know he will continue to use that same vigor to fight on behalf of his constituents here at the Statehouse,” said Leader Sykes. “I look forward to welcoming Rep. Brown into our leadership team and continuing working with Rep. Hicks-Hudson as we move Ohio forward and restore our 

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and state Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) today issued a joint statement as members of the state budget conference committee were announced. Cera, the lead Democrat on the House Finance Committee, will represent the caucus on the panel.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today applauded this week’s passage of a series of bipartisan priority bills, including criminal justice reforms, funding to protect Ohio waterways and a proposal to keep moms and babies healthy. Sykes joined Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) to announce the bills at a Statehouse press conference last month. Their joint-announcement followed the Democrats’ unveiling of Ohio Promise, their blueprint for Ohio’s future focused on working together to restore Ohio’s promise of better lives and brighter futures for working people and families. 

State Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus) today announced the passage of House Bill (HB) 5, his bipartisan bill with Rep. Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) to create the Ohio Public Defender State Loan Repayment Program to incentivize lawyers to work as public defenders in underserved areas of the state.