This piece has been updated multiple times as we learn of more out LGBTQ+ candidates and their election results.
More than three dozen out LGBTQ+ candidates competed in Tuesday’s election, with the majority of them winning their bids to represent their local communities.
We here present to you our four takeaways from the 2025 General Election. Our thanks to the Ohio Democratic Pride Caucus for the assist in putting this piece together.
1. A full ballot of winners
From Ada to Akron to, a host of LGBTQ+ candidates from all across the state emerged victorious in their races. Although one winner will face a recount as they won by only a handful of votes, far more LGBTQ+ Ohioans won their races than lost. Winners included:
- Kristen Angelo, Walbridge City Council
- Russ Balthis, Cuyahoga Falls City Council
- Sean Beck, Ada Village Council
- Sam Bowling, Norwood City Council
- Scott Crider, Marion City Council
- Anita Davis, Youngstown City Council President
- PJ Errera, Kent School Board
- Anne Marie Etienne, Avon City Council
- Anthony Gomez, Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education
- Chrisondra Goodwine, Dayton Public School Board
- Michael Greco, Bay Village Council
- Deena Hamilton, Mansfield City Board of Education
- Brian Hanner, Dover City Schools Board of Education
- Melissa Hartfield, Granville City Council
- Kyle Herman, Stow City Council: Herman made waves in 2024 when he invited three drag performers to be a part of the Stow Fourth of July parade.
- Amy Heutmaker, Russell Township Trustee
- Megan Kilgore, Columbus City Auditor
- Nick Komives, Toledo City Council
- Dion Manley, Gahanna-Jefferson School Board: Voters re-elected Dion Manley to Gahanna-Jefferson School Board, who was Ohio’s first out transgender school board member.
- Gie May, Wadsworth City Council – The village’s first nonbinary candidate, Angela “Gie” May, won by 13 votes.
- Phil Montgomery, Akron School Board
- Connor Moreton, St. Bernard City Council
- Jordan Musgrave, Bowling Green City Council
- David Nation, Waynesville Village Council
- Laura Oldham, Upper Arlington City Council
- Jim Petras, Mayor of Cleveland Heights
- Brenna Reynolds, Rossford City Council
- Brian Rothenberg, Norwich Township Trustee
- Danielle Wessel, Batavia Township Trustee
- Jodi Whitted, Madeira City Council: Whitted is a former Ohio State Representative, who introduced legislation to try to bring marriage equality to Ohio’s Revised Code.
- Fran Wilson, Akron City Council
- Ross Widenor, Munroe Falls Council
2. Fought the good fight
There were so many hard fought races in the 2025 election, and although the following candidates did not win their battles, they stepped up to the plate to prove, as always, that representation really does matter.
- Anthony Azaria, Marion City Council
- Audrey Baker, Bowling Green City Council
- Ari Childrey, St. Marys City Council: Childrey, the state’s first out trans city council member, lost her bid for re-election in St. Marys City Council, but according to her X account, she plans to run for the state House of Representatives in 2026.
- Rylan Finzer, Perry Township Trustee
- John Gatiss, Westerville City Council
- David Gerster, Cleveland City Council
- Ari Faber, Athens City Council
- Mounir Lynch, Columbus School Board
- Rebecca Maurer, Cleveland City Council
- Erin O’Neill, Marietta City Council
- Sophia Rodriguez, Celina City Council President
- Kirby Samuell, Truro Township Trustee
- Larry Silas, Middletown City Council
- Barry Sneed, Mentor City Council
- Jesse Vogel, Columbus City Council
3. Karma really does come around
If you need a feel good story for 2025, look no further than the story of David Nation. In 2024, his bid to fill an open seat on the Waynesville Village Council was brazenly thwarted by the sitting council due to Nation’s “diversity and inclusion” work and his involvement with an LGBTQ+ employee resource group. Rather than take legal action, Nation ran for a spot on the council to make a statement. On Tuesday, he was not only the top vote-getter, but he garnered more votes than the council members who denied his appointment a year ago. More on his story here.
4. From hero to zero
For the past few years, the LGBTQ+ community was well-represented on Cleveland City Council with sitting council members Kerry McCormack and Rebecca Maurer. McCormack stepped down in September and appointed Lauren Welch, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, who did not run in the General Election. When Maurer lost her race on Tuesday — McCormack endorsed her opponent — there now appears to be zero out LGBTQ+ representation on the council of the second biggest city in Ohio.
IGNITE ACTION
- Did we miss someone? Let us know by dropping us an email at editor@thebuckeyeflame.com.
- The Victory Institute is always looking to identify out LGBTQ+ leaders to run for public office. Check out their next available training.
- To register to vote or to check your voter eligibility status in the state of Ohio, click here.
- To find contact information for your Ohio state representative, click here.
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