The following is a summary of how the Knox County Democratic Party recommends you vote, and why. Although we have attempted to be as factual as possible, we are also, of course, biased. Please see each candidate’s website for more information.
PRESIDENT / VICE PRESIDENT
Kamala Harris / Tim Walz
- Support the middle class; would work towards enabling all Americans to achieve the “American Dream”
- Would protect reproductive freedom
- Support the LGBTQ+ community
- Would continue support of NATO, and support Ukraine against the Russian invasion
- Would seek an end to hostilities in Israel/Palestine
- Will not cozy up to dictators, unlike their opponents
- Would attempt again to pass and sign the Border Bill that Trump killed
- Harris is a former prosecutor, not a convicted felon like her opponent.
U.S. SENATE
Sherrod Brown (incumbent) www.sherrodbrown.com/
- Running for election to his third term in the Senate, where he has a proven record of working across the aisle to move important measures forward
- Has dedicated his life to fighting for an economy where hard work pays off for everyone. No one should be denied a fair shot because of race, who they love, or their gender.
- Has worked with both Republicans and Democrats in D.C. to strengthen the border, provide additional resources to border agents, and to stop fentanyl from entering the country. Supported the bipartisan border security bill backed by the Border Patrol.
- Supports workers’ rights to form and join labor unions
- Protects reproductive freedom
- Would continue to protect Social Security and Medicare
- Stands up to special interests (Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Banks) when necessary
- His opponent is an extremist MAGA Republican supported by Donald Trump, and a car dealer who cheated workers out of their overtime pay.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jerrad Christian www.christianforohio.com/
- Grew up in poverty in Appalachia; trained in the U.S. Navy as a meteorologist; now works as a software engineer
- Knows that climate change is real and feels an urgent need to act
- Supports reproductive freedom
- Wants to ensure that veterans have the support they need when they come home
- Would work to provide broadband internet access for all Americans
- His opponent, the incumbent, generally votes as MAGA Republicans, including voting against the bi-partisan Border Bill because Trump feared that solving the border crisis under Biden would weaken Republicans’ (including Trump’s own) chances to be elected.
OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District 61 (western Knox County, including Fredericktown and Centerburg)
David Hogan www.hoganforabetterohio.org/
- History professor at Heidelberg University
- Heartily supports LGBTQ+ and women’s rights
- Believes lawmakers must address gun violence “by enacting reasonable measures, such as closing gun show and internet sales loopholes and screening for mental health crises.”
- Wants to strengthen public schools, not charter and religious schools
- Supports reforms to property tax valuations that would make them fair for every homeowner
- His opponent is a MAGA-style extremist who opposes abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and any restrictions relating to gun ownership and use.
District 98 (western Knox County, including the city of Mount Vernon, Howard, and Gambier)
Annie Homstad www.anniehomstad4ohio.com
- Owns an accounting business
- Concerned about healthcare costs; would protect reproductive rights
- Supports increasing the minimum wage
- Wants to solve school funding issues
- Her opponent opposes abortion, opposes any restrictions relating to gun ownership and use, and would like to eliminate the Ohio income tax, which provides critical funding for public education.
KNOX COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Chuck Rogers www.chuckrogersforcommissioner.com/
- Born and raised in Knox County
- With his wife, runs an animal sanctuary, Shady Owl Ranch, for all animals – dogs, chickens, turkeys – and especially stray cats, whom they foster, neuter and find homes for, taking care of those the Knox County Humane Society is unable to handle
- Board member with Knox Habitat for Humanity and Front Porch Concert series
- Sees a critical need in Knox County for low-income housing and a public transportation system for all residents to use
- Has attended Commissioner meetings since putting his name up as a candidate so he can be sure to understand the job
- Believes landowners have the right to decide how to use their property
- His opponent’s single issue seems to be opposing solar farms, but it’s hard to tell – He does not have a web page, and does not appear to have attended Commissioner meetings to learn about the job.
OHIO SUPREME COURT
Important to know: Even after 57% of Ohio voters enshrined reproductive rights in Ohio’s constitution via election last November, the legislature has not repealed any related statute. This means that existing abortion-related regulations will likely be decided in the courts. Those elected to the Ohio Supreme Court In November could decide the outcome of cases relating to reproductive rights; civil, human and workers’ rights; racial justice; public safety; voting; access to the judicial system; education; environment; privacy; and other weighty issues.
The Democratic candidates all believe in the rule of law, and will uphold the reproductive rights in the amendment to the Ohio constitution approved last November. These candidates are:
Justice Michael Donnelly (incumbent) donnellyforjustice.com/meet-justice-michael-p-donnelly/
- His opinions as justice on the Ohio Supreme Court provide a clear view of his judicial philosophy: He rolled back more than $200 million in surcharges Ohio consumers had been forced to pay First Energy. He was an influential member of the Court majority that repeatedly rejected General Assembly and Congressional districts that had been gerrymandered in violation of Ohio’s Constitution. He argued emphatically that the General Assembly did not have the power to schedule a special August election in 2023, and he turned back repeated attempts to keep the Reproductive Freedom amendment off the 2023 ballot.
- Wants to strengthen the Court’s status as an independent, co-equal branch of state government empowered by the Constitution to serve as a check on the General Assembly and state executive officials, including the Governor
- His opponent has criticized a justice in Wisconsin for taking an anti-gerrymandering stance, and was also endorsed in a prior election by a prominent anti-abortion group.
Justice Melody Stewart (incumbent) www.stewartforohiosupremecourt.com/
- In 2018, became the first Black woman to be elected to the Ohio Supreme Court
- Served on the Ohio Court of Appeals for 12 years prior to her election to the Supreme Court, is highly rated by bar associations, and has been endorsed by civic leaders, and by labor, educational, public safety, and community groups
- Dedicated to the law and to justice for all
- Wants to make Ohio’s judicial system more effective and efficient for the people it serves
- Governor Dewine appointed her opponent, Joe Deters, to the court in 2023, despite the fact that Deters had never previously served as a judge at any level.
Judge Lisa Forbes www.forbesforjustice.com/
- Has extensive experience in courts of appeals and trial courts across Ohio, at both the state and federal levels
- Wants to ensure that Ohio’s high court is “fair, balanced and independent, so that it serves as a firewall protecting our democracy and the rule of law.”
- Enthusiastically endorsed by Cleveland.com, where she is quoted as saying, “We should have independent jurists who aren’t beholden to anyone … I proclaim to be fair. I proclaim to be careful. I proclaim to be intellectually honest.”
- Her opponent’s views on this are not known because he, along with the other two Republicans running for the Ohio Supreme Court, declined to take part in the Cleveland.com editorial board interview or even to submit a candidate data sheet.
OHIO BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 7
Rhonda Johnson
- Four decades of experience as a teacher and leader in the Columbus Education Association; served for five years as Education Director for the City of Columbus and ex-officio member of the Columbus Board of Education
- Believes educators should be involved in decisions about their profession and the education ecosystem
- Proven track record of being able to collaborate with peers, parents, administrators, and civic leaders
- Will work to ensure that educators are supported throughout their careers
- Will support recommendations that enhance educator quality, not impair it
- Very little information is available about her opponent, who clearly does not have anywhere near the level of experience of Rhonda Johnson.
ISSUE 1: CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS REDISTRICTING REFORM – Vote YES!
- This citizens-led initiative to amend the Ohio constitution aims to end gerrymandering in Ohio once and for all.
- This initiative is the brainchild of retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican who is fed up with politicians deciding who their voters are, rather than voters deciding who their politicians should be.
- Ohio is often described as one of the worst gerrymandered states in the nation. In fact, after the 2020 census when districts were redrawn, the Redistricting Commission submitted SIX proposed district configurations, each of which were deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. Yet, we have continued with elections based on the last submitted (and rejected) district lines.
- If passed, this amendment would institute a Citizens Commission, taking the power of drawing district lines completely away from the politicians who have been finagling the composition of U.S. Congressional and Ohio House districts to promote their own interests – not the interests of the people.
- The Citizens Commission would be composed of 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 5 true Independents – all of whom would have never run for office and not be lobbyists. Retired Ohio Supreme Court justices, again both Democrat and Republican, would interview and select the members of the Citizens Commission.
- The opposition would have you believe that this initiative will actually increase gerrymandering, but that is a completely laughable falsehood.
In addition to the above, you will be able to cast votes in races where the Democratic Party does not have a candidate (for example, Knox County Sheriff), and on some very local issues. We are not suggesting how one should vote on any candidates other than the Democratic Party candidates listed and described above. For the Ohio Board of Education, a non-partisan election, Rhonda Johnson has been formally endorsed by the Knox County Democratic Party. Finally – aside from confirming the Democratic Party’s general support for the funding of fire departments, schools, and the like – the Knox County Democratic Party is not endorsing any particular vote on any local issues.
To see a copy of the ballot that you will be asked to complete, go to this Knox County Board of Elections page, look up your registration, and then click the blue Sample Ballots button alongside or under your name and address information. Ballots have slight differences, depending upon the precinct in which you are registered.