Greetings all. Excited to bring to you another one of our conversations with those on the front lines of our most important 2026 battlegrounds - this one is with Kathleen Clyde, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. You can find a video recording of our discussion above, and full, detailed bio of Chair Clyde below.
Ohio has emerged as one of our most important battleground states in 2026, with competitive races for both the US Senate and Governor and further opportunities down ballot. In the summary of a new statewide poll from Bowling Green State University released earlier today Professor Robert Alexander writes:
While Donald Trump has won the state handily three times, we see a lot of trouble brewing for him and his policies in the state. He has had a negative approval rating for a year now, and many of his policies are not popular. That about 15% of his voters now regret their vote to some degree suggests his grip on the state is not absolute.
Every sign is pointing to close races for governor and U.S. Senate in Ohio. President Trump is generally unpopular, Democrats are far more enthusiastic, and the economy is a major concern for voters. Taken together, this midterm likely provides the best opportunity for Democrats to win statewide offices in 20 years.
Almost every statewide poll taken in recent weeks, including this one, has both races within margin of error. Some have shown the Dems ahead, others the Rs. It shows how far things have shifted across the country when Democrats have a legit shot of winning both these races in a state Trump won by 12 points in 2024. One reason why is that not only is Trump under water in this poll, but Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is very unpopular, and now possibly the most unpopular governor in the country. Folks have grown tired of the corruption and extremism of a Republican Party in Ohio that has been in power, and been far too malevolent, for far too long.
Our Winning Ohio campaign splits contributions evenly among our Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, the gubernatorial ticket of Amy Acton and David Pepper, and the Ohio Democratic Party. Please consider donating today to help turn this critical state blue in 2026, and help us flip the Senate. This remarkable community has already poured $123,000 into Winning Ohio, and we are well on our way to hit our $250,000 June 30th goal!
We began our deep dive into battleground Ohio with a recent interview with our old friend, David Pepper, now Amy Acton’s running mate. You will learn much more today from Chair Clyde, who provides us with a terrific overview of their opportunities this year. Look for interviews in the coming days with Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton too.
Yes, Ohio is in play, my friends. Let’s dive in and do what we can to make this one of our big success stories this year.
Keep working hard all. We have a country to save, and an election to win, together! - Simon
Bio - Kathleen Clyde, Chair, Ohio Democratic Party
Kathleen Clyde is a proven leader and lifelong fighter for Ohio Democrats. Before becoming Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Kathleen served as Senior Director of the RISE Together Innovation Institute, a Columbus-based nonprofit focused on advancing racial and economic justice.
Kathleen served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018, representing a competitive district in Portage County for four terms. She then served as Portage County Commissioner from 2018 to 2020 and ran for Ohio Secretary of State in 2018, raising over $3.15 million and outperforming the top of the Democratic ticket. In 2022, she stepped up to run for a deep-red Statehouse seat and came within 2.4 points of unseating the incumbent in a district Governor DeWine won by 24 points.
From her early days as a staffer on the 2004 Kerry campaign to co-chairing President Biden’s 2020 Ohio campaign—where she was recognized as one of the DNC’s “Rising Stars”—Kathleen has built deep relationships across the state and nationally. She has raised over $4 million across her own campaigns, breaking fundraising records and earning the trust of labor unions, grassroots activists, and major donors.
As an operative, candidate, and elected official, Kathleen has spent her entire career on Ohio’s political frontlines without compromising on the progressive values that center working families and diverse communities. She’s ready to lead with integrity, strategy, and full-time dedication to building a strong, inclusive, and winning Ohio Democratic Party.
Learn more about Chair Clyde here.
