On this website, you will find the latest updates and our most recent research.

Please visit our main website for fun facts, history, and detailed profiles about women running for public office in Ohio.

The BW Center for Women & Politics of Ohio is a nonpartisan public resource dedicated to telling the stories of the remarkable and diverse women who have run for office in Ohio, collecting data on women candidates, and providing undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in original research.

Click Here for Our Latest Research on Ohio's Counties

BW Students Participate in 2024 NEW Leadership

Two BW students, Hailey Devney (History) and Hannah Wetmore (Political Science), were selected to participate in NEW Leadership, a week-long residential program, May 19 - 23, 2024, at Ohio State's John Glenn College of Public Affairs, where they met with Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner and members of the Governor's Cabinet, including the Director of the Ohio Department of Development, Lydia Mihalik, and the Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Mary Mertz.

Hailey Devney had the opportunity to talk with Justice Brunner about the importance of public service: "When you leave this earth, all you have is what you have done for others."

Professor Barbara Palmer spoke about the inspiring history of women running for office in Ohio, and explained, "the only thing holding you back is you."

Professor Barbara Palmer Speaks at the FBI

In recognition of Women's History Month, on March 28, 2024, Professor Barbara Palmer gave a talk at the FBI's Cleveland Office on women running for public office. Co-presenting with US Attorney Becky Lutzko (left), Palmer highlighted the significant presence of women in Ohio's judiciary. Lutzko is the first woman to serve as US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Jasmin Santana, Cleveland's First Latina City Coucil Woman, Says, "Don't Be Afraid to Be First."

"I hate politics ... but we needed someone at the table." Jasmin Santana was honored at the 2024 BW Women's Leadership Luncheon on March 20, 2024. Santana represents Ward 14, which is 48% Latino. She got her first taste of politics when she attended a training at BW on how to organize. A neighbor told her, "If you want to make a difference, you have to run." After being elected to the City Council, the first piece of legislation that she passed was to provide free feminine hygiene products in all city buildings.

BW Students Co-Author Conference Paper

Liana Gonzalez ('25), Madelyn Pyles ('23), and Christina Vitakis ('23) co-authored a paper with Professor Barbara Palmer that was presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting in January, 2024, in New Orleans. With original data from over 6500 elections, the paper, entitled, "From City Councils to Congress: Where Are Women Elected to Public Office in Ohio," shows that women candidates are still a rarity across the state.

Professor Barbara Palmer Goes to Iceland

Barbara Palmer, Executive Director of the Center for Women and Politics of Ohio, attended the Reykjavik Global Forum in November of 2023, as part of a delegation of American women sponsored by Running Start. She met with women prime ministers, members of parliament, and leaders of non-profits from around the world. "It was an honor to learn from these inspirational leaders. I can't wait to share my experiences with my students."

Read All About It! The CWPO in the News

Liana Gonzalez and Christina Vitakis, 2022-23 CWPO Undergraudate Research Fellows, published op-eds with Professor Barbara Palmer in The Cleveland Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com.

"Ohio's Diversity Not Reflected At the Statehouse"

"Why Are There So Few Women in Ohio Politics?"

OHIO STATS (as of Sept 2023)

0

The number of women in the US Senate from Ohio out of 2.

4

The number of women in the US House from Ohio out of 15.

0

The number of women in State-Wide Executive Office in Ohio out of 6.

38

The number of women in the Ohio Statehouse out of 132 members.

8

The number of women of color in the Ohio Statehouse out of 132 members.

0

The number of Latinas elected in the entire history of the Ohio Statehouse.

19%

The proportion of women who are County Comissioners.

70%

The proportion of women who are County Recorders.

4%

The proportion of women who are County Sherrifs.

43%

The proportion of women serving on the Ohio State Supreme Court.

45%

The proportion of women serving on the Ohio Courts of Appeals.

34%

The proportion of women serving in the Courts of Common Pleas.

Since 2019, all 14 judges on the Summit County Court of Common Pleas have been women. The photo features the 10 women who serve on the general division.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Professor Barbara Palmer, PhD, is the Creator and Executive Director of the BW CWPO and can be reached at bpalmer@bw.edu.