Standing Up for Women in Ohio: State Sen. Nina Turner

Numerous women in state legislatures around the country are standing up and refusing to sit down, like State Sen. Wendy Davis in Texas. 

These women get little attention outside their states as they grow hoarse from defending women’s reproductive healthcare and other rights against  continual GOP extremist attacks.  We want you to know who they are and stand with them too.

Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner, courtesy of MSNBC

OHIO STATE SENATOR NINA TURNER : A POWERHOUSE

I had the great pleasure to meet and work alongside Nina in person last October in Cuyahoga County, Ohio where the Obama Campaign  dug in (one of the top 2 Democratic counties in the country).  Nina and I worked the county hard for the Democratic women and minority vote….and delivered!

We first collaborated in the Spring of 2012 as we both introduced novel bills in our states out of pure frustration….she filed the renowned Viagra Bill.  Her bill quickly resulted in nationwide and even international attention – see the Huffington Post HERE and an interview on MSNBC.   Along with 4 additional women legislators in Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgia and Illinois who also sponsored women’s pushback bills, we authored a joint op-ed last summer on Huffington Post, ” Lady Legislators:  Women, This Election is About You”.

A leader for women, equality and justice in her State Senate, Nina has long spoken up loudly for women’s rights, as recently as just last week – pushing back against Ohio’s HB200, the heartbeat bill  more HERE). 

Formerly on the Cleveland City Council, Nina was first appointed to the State Senate in 2008 and now serves as the Minority Whip.  Not one to sit back, she has also been a consistent  outspoken leader on voting rights as Ohio tries over and over to limit access to those who tend to vote Democratic.  In fact, last November she publicly took on GOP Secretary of State Jon Husted and won as he attempted to change early voting rules at the last minute until stopped in the courts.

What’s next for Nina?  You guessed it!  She has recently announced she is running for Secretary of State herself in 2014.

Ohio desperately needs Sen. Turner to continue advocating for women’s and voters rights as the GOP attacks in Ohio just don’t let up.

ProgressWomen highly recommends you follow Nina  (@NinaTurner on Twitter/Facebook or OhioSenate.gov/Turner) and get on board with her right away.  I am so very proud to call Sen. Turner a good friend and hope to be able to travel back to Ohio next November  to help her get elected.  This is one woman’s voice we need to keep vocal and LOUD.