Last night was a great night to be a Democrat!

The reproductive rights amendment passed in Ohio by a huge 57%-43% margin! Our right to abortion, contraception, fertility care, and miscarriage care will be enshrined in our state constitution, where far-right gerrymandered legislators can’t touch it. We did it!

We also had some huge local victories! Joy Bennett won a seat on the Mason City Council, and Matt Steele on the Mason School Board. Wayne Siebert will also be returning to the Little Miami School Board! (At the moment, Danni Tymitz is only 35 votes out of the second school board seat in Mason, and the race is going to provisionals and possibly a recount.)

The hard work of Warren County’s Democratic Party was essential to the passage of Issue 1. Right-wingers knew the cities were going to vote YES by huge margins, and were counting on counties like ours to offset their losses. Instead, the “no” side only won Warren County by a slim ~4,500 vote margin. WE denied them the margin they needed.

As always, we have a lot of people to thank for our local and statewide victories:

• All of the candidates — win or lose — who stood up and ran for office. We’re so proud of each and every one of you. (If you’re thinking of running for office, or know anyone else who would be a great candidate, please join us for a virtual informative meeting on November 18 to talk about running.)
• Our regional team leads and data team. Your leadership, organization, and sacrifice made our victories possible.
• Everyone who volunteered — knocking doors, phonebanking, texting, writing postcards, putting up signs, standing outside polling places, staffing HQ. Victories are team efforts, and we’ve got the best damn team in the state.
• Every single person who voted — early, by mail, or on Election Day — to support reproductive rights and our common-sense local candidates. Across the nation, voters stood up against the extremism of the far-right and for common sense. You’re part of a nationwide movement.

We couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a great team. But there’s still a lot of work ahead of us as we fight to save our democracy and protect our precious American freedoms.

So what’s next?

• Clean up VOTE YES signs: As you see VOTE YES signs along the road around the county, please stop, pick them up, and recycle them, as we won’t be needing them anymore. Please don’t return them to HQ. Now that the campaign is over, let’s do our part to keep Warren County clean!
• This Saturday, November 11, 3:30-6:30pm: Post-election “wine down” at party headquarters. Let’s talk, relax, and wine a little with an election wrap-up social to show our appreciation for everyone who has volunteered and worked hard to get out the vote for the November 2023 election. Beverages and light appetizers will be provided. Dessert donations are welcomed.
• Wednesday, November 15, 7:00pm: WCDP November meeting at the Warren County Admin Building. Please join us to celebrate our victories, talk about what worked and what didn’t work this cycle, and start coming up with ideas for the 2024 campaign which is right around the corner.
• Saturday, November 18, 1:30-2:30pm: Run for Office virtual information session. If you’ve ever thought about running for office, please join us — or if you know someone who would make a great candidate, please encourage them to join too! This information session will tell you all about what’s involved in running for local office, and what offices will be on the ballot in 2024 and beyond. Click here to register.
• Running two countywide GOTV campaigns in one year is expensive. If you’re able, please contribute to our efforts so that we’ll be well-funded going into 2024. Click here to make a $57 donation to the Warren County Democratic Party in celebration of the 57% vote statewide for YES.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone who ran for office, led, volunteered, and voted. Let’s celebrate today — and then get back to work to defend our democracy and our rights in 2024.