DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES
Senate Democrats believe all Ohioans deserve good-paying jobs; quality, affordable health care; and fair treatment under the law. That’s why we promote investing in Ohio’s future by supporting quality schools and safe communities. We are committed to promoting fairness for all of Ohio’s workers and families, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, gender or sexual orientation.

Addressing the Covid-19 Pandemic
Many Ohioans have been set back as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are committed to helping small businesses recover, giving schools resources they need to help students who have fallen behind and making sure all Ohioans have the opportunity to be vaccinated. We also support policies that will expand mental health services and address the heightened mental health crisis resulting from Covid-19.

Increasing Quality Education
For years, Ohio’s unconstitutional school funding system has hurt our children and schools. We believe every child deserves to receive a good education in a safe environment. This starts by passing the Fair School Funding Act so school districts have the resources they need to provide quality education to all students.

Investing in Infrastructure
We prioritize making bold investments in our infrastructure. This includes fixing our state’s roads and bridges and making sure all Ohioans have access to the fourth utility: broadband. By expanding broadband access, we will help fight inequities in education, health care, commerce and our workforce.

Fighting Racism
From health care and education to the criminal justice system and access to housing, racism is a powerful, detrimental force that affects all aspects of Ohioans’ lives. We will continue to fight to recognize racism as a public health crisis, work to combat all forms of systemic racism and help guarantee opportunities to every Ohioan, regardless of their race.

Defending Voting Rights
As Democrats, we think the best way to eliminate barriers and increase voter participation is by investing in new technology to ensure that elections are secure, fair and accessible. We also support ending gerrymandering and will remain vigilant to ensure that the two redistricting reforms overwhelmingly approved by voters are followed properly as Ohio redraws its state legislative and congressional maps in 2021.

Keeping Ohioans Safe
The majority of Ohioans support commonsense gun reform. That’s why we’re committed to passing legislation to mandate universal background checks for all firearm transfers, keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people, raising the minimum age for purchasing a firearm, restoring local control, and banning bump stocks.

Protecting the Environment
All Ohioans deserve a healthy environment. Our communities must have safe drinking water, free of harmful algal blooms, lead or any other dangerous contaminants. This starts by supporting initiatives like the H2Ohio project, which will protect Lake Erie and address problems like farmland runoff. We’re also committed to investing in alternative and renewable energy sources to both create jobs and economic development in our state and protect our environment.

Reforming the Criminal Justice System
Senate Democrats seek to guarantee all receive justice from every part of our criminal jsitice system – from frontline police officers up to the Ohio Supreme Court. Every part of our system must work in a just, equitable manner. We seek to evaluate our adult and juvenile criminal justice systems to assess the impact of race, gender, age and financial means, then make improvements to ensure fair treatment for all Ohioans, no matter their background. We are also working to reform our bail and bond system to make sure people are not punished simply for being poor.

Minority Leader – Kenny Yuko – Senate District 25. The minority leader is elected by all members of the Senate to lead the party in the minority. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the caucus agenda.