The disappointment of the 2024 election brought some new faces to the group and a renewed commitment to elect more Democrats and share our Democratic ideals.
Buddy Cards, which are sent to new residents & handed out at community activities, were re-designed. They now clearly state the principles Democrats stand FOR:
A respect for our differences as we seek common ground.
An understanding that when workers are strong America is strong.
An open approach in looking for ways to nurture young leaders.
Support of small business and entrepreneurship.
A belief in the right to vote and fair election processes.
The RSG Strategy Group was engaged to help provide new political insights and strategies for rural Lorain County.
Members created, organized and held our first fundraiser - a highly successful Trivia Night which was held at the Spitzer Center at LCCC. The community response was tremendous. More than $4,000 in profit was raised to support LCRD activities.
A monthly newsletter was added as another means of communication.
The Constitution & Bylaws were revised. Additionally, officer duties were more clearly defined.
Elections for the offices of Vice-President and Secretary were held. This was the first election held under the newly revised Constitution & Bylaws. Going forward, Vice-President and Secretary are elected in November of even years and President and Treasurer are elected in November of odd years. This scheme was adopted in order to maintain organizational knowledge and provide continuity.
Members voted to change and shorten the group’s name from Rural Lorain County Democratic Precinct Association to Lorain County Rural Democrats. The nickname “Rural Dems” is still in use.
Lorain County Rural Democrats 2025 - A Year of Change
In the Community
Throughout the year, the Rural Dems were out in the community beginning in April at a Pancake Breakfast in Columbia and ending in December with a donation to the Chronicle Telegram Not Forgotten Box.
Families Against Fascism
The events were:
Columbia Township Fire Department Annual Breakfast April 13
The Big Parade Oberlin May 3
Sharon, Sue & Daisie were interviewed on the Brian Baker Radio Show on May 5
Families Against Fascism in Oberlin May 10
Lagrange Founding Celebration May 24-25
Grafton Memorial Day Parade May 26
Columbia 75th Homecoming Celebration May 26-28
Lorain County Pride Day May 28 in Oberlin
Trivia Night at LCCC July 26
AFL-CIO Steak Fry August 9
Lorain County Fair August 17-24
Ultimate Conquest Gaming Event September 4
LCRD was a Generous Helpings Table Sponsor for Second Harvest Fund Raiser September 28
Volunteer Packing Food Second Harvest December 5
Delivered more than 75 collected items to the Chronicle Telegram Not Forgotten Box December 15
Not Forgotten Box
December 10, 2025 Drop Off
Meeting Candidates
There were many opportunities to meet candidates in 2025 - whether it was at a Rural Dem meeting or a sponsored event.
Local candidates
Farah L. Emeka made history Nov. 4 when she was elected as Oberlin Municipal Court Judge and the first Black woman judge in Lorain County history.
Leressa Crockett was a candidate for Fiscal Officer in Carlisle and ran against the Fiscal officer appointed in March, Joshua Hutchinson.
State candidates
In 2026, Greg Bansek will be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for Ohio Representative of District 52.
In 2026, Mike Baker will be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for Ohio Representative of District 52.
Daniel Burket, 2026 candidate for Ohio’s 5th US Congressional District and Ed Fitzgerald, 2026 candidate for Ohio’s 7th US Congressional District spoke at the July LCRD meeting.
The Lorain County Rural Democrats, the Oberlin Democrats and the North Ridgeville Democrats WELCOMED Bryan Hambley to the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center in November. Bryan Hambley is a Candidate in the Primary for Ohio Secretary of State in 2026.
Rural Dems Taking Action
In March the Rural Dems began weekly protests organized by Daisie Reish. The protests grew larger as members of other groups joined. By June, this had evolved into the Stand Up Lorain County Protest series of weekly actions. Nichole Geibel of the North Ridgeville Dems is the current organizer, The purpose of the weekly protests has remained constant - a visible demonstration that we are: rejecting authoritarianism, standing up against fascism, and demanding a government that serves all of us — not the wealthy, not the powerful, not the crowned.
Addressing the Issues
At the April meeting, Steven Volk, PhD from Oberlin provided both informative and useful information about the current state of US immigration, the impacts locally and actions that can be legally taken.
Joe Logan, Former President of the Ohio Farmer’s Union, was the guest speaker at the May meeting held in conjunction with Lorain County Rising. He discussed the damage being done to farmers with the Trump Administration’s agriculture policies.
At the July meeting, Jared Smith , LCRD member and Carlisle Township Trustee discussed the effects on the townships should the proposed No Property Taxes amendment make it on to the Ohio ballot and be passed.
Throughout the spring and early summer, the Rural Dems assisted in collecting signatures to put the repeal of SB1, the anti-DEI higher education bill, on the Ohio ballot in November. While we obtained and surpassed the required number of signatures in Lorain County, the effort was not successful in the rest of the state. The issue to repeal SB 1 was not on the ballot and the law remains in force.
In September, Kathleen Clyde, newly elected Ohio Democratic Party Chair, presented her vision for the Ohio Democratic Party as well as what she has accomplished thus far. She also engaged in a lively question and answer session with the audience. Many Rural Dems were in attendance at this event sponsored by the Oberlin Democrats and Lorain County Rising.
The Rural Dems, Oberlin Democrats and Lorain County Rising sponsored a November evening with Chris Gibbs, the newly installed Chair of the Ohio Democratic Rural Caucus. Chris began the evening by sharing his journey from being the Republican Party Chair in Shelby County to becoming a Democrat. He also discussed the impact of the Trump Administration agricultural policies on Ohio farmers and presented his progress in growing the RURAL CAUCUS and his proposed listening tour throughout Ohio’s rural areas.