• 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.

A young girl with a Stitch-themed blue cap writing on a colorful sign that says, "Kindness is free, spread that stuff everywhere," while sitting on the grass.

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

A group of eight people standing together indoors after a celebration, with some holding gift bags. Behind them is a large screen displaying the word 'WINNER' in bold pink and white letters, and an American flag is visible.
Flyer for a Rural Lorain County Democratic Trivia Night on July 26 at 6:00 PM at LCCC Spitzer Conference Center. The event includes team games, ticket price of $40, tacos, drinks, and prizes. Cash bar and raffle for winning teams.
Audience attending a conference or seminar in a large room with a stage and screen.
A young person standing between two older women, holding a small green object, with everyone smiling, in a room with white lockers.
Flyer for the Super Smash Bros. Tournament titled 'The Ultimate Conquest', featuring characters from Super Smash Bros. and information about the event, including date, location, fees, prizes, sponsors, and registration details.

  • 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

A group of people, mostly kids and teenagers, are sitting at computer desks in a control room or gaming center. Some are playing on computers, others are standing or walking around. Large screens display security footage or video feeds at the front of the room. There's a sign on the table that reads 'No food, no drinks by computers.' The room has blue walls, black ceilings with exposed pipes, and a grid of fluorescent lights.
Two women packing produce in a warehouse with other volunteers in the background.
Logo of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio with green background, wheat graphics, and bold white text
Three people packing cupcakes into containers in a bakery or food packaging facility.
Logo for generous helpings with second harvest food bank of north central Ohio, sponsoring a rural Dems table on September 28, 2025.
Three women standing indoors next to a decorated Christmas tree with presents and toys underneath.

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.

A woman with dark skin and red curly hair smiling, wearing a light blue blazer over a red top, with a gold pendant necklace, against a plain white background.

Leressa Crockett was a candidate for Fiscal Officer in Carlisle and ran against the Fiscal officer appointed in March, Joshua Hutchinson.

Close-up of a woman with curly hair and red lipstick, smiling slightly, with curtains in the background.

State candidates

A man in a navy suit with a patterned tie, short hair, and a slight smile, standing in front of a blurred cityscape background.

In 2026, Greg Bansek will be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for Ohio Representative of District 52.

Portrait of a young man with dark hair, smiling, wearing a dark shirt and jacket, standing against a brick wall.
Portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, wearing a dark jacket and light blue shirt, outdoors with a cloudy sky background.
A professional man with glasses, a short beard, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and patterned blue tie, posing against a black background.

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.

Campaign sign supporting Hambley for Secretary of State featuring a smiling young man outdoors.

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.

Two men standing on a grassy area holding protest signs, with other protesters and buildings in the background. One man is holding a sign that reads, 'Keep Ohio Library Dedicated Funding,' while the other man is holding a sign supporting veterans.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a black jacket holding a colorful protest sign that reads, 'Without Free Speech There Is No Freedom,' at an outdoor demonstration.
Protesters holding signs about violence and social justice.
A woman standing outdoors holding a handwritten protest sign that reads 'No Faux King Way in the USA.' She is wearing glasses, a black coat, and pink mittens, with a cloudy sky and trees in the background.
Two women holding protest signs at a public demonstration. The woman on the left wears a black hoodie, sunglasses, and a cap that says 'ENOUGH,' and her sign reads 'Think While It's Still LEGAL!' with drawings of light bulbs. The woman on the right wears glasses, a hooded jacket, and a beanie, and her sign reads 'DEFUND YOURSELF.'
Person holding a sign that says, 'WAKE UP! and STAND UP!', at an outdoor protest or rally.
Group of women protesting, holding signs that say "Rejecting Kings Since 1776," and wearing rain jackets. American flag is overhead. A building and trees are in the background.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a cap holding a sign at a protest. The sign says, 'No one PAID ME $ GOP laws MADE ME FIGHT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!' and includes a small drawing of a school building with a flag. Other protesters are holding signs and a flag in the background, near a traffic light and a sidewalk.
Person sitting outdoors holding a sign that says 'You know Trump is on the list.' The person is wearing a large sun hat, sunglasses, and sneakers, with a partial view of legs.
Man wearing a gray beanie and black jacket holding American flag and protest sign on a sidewalk during autumn day.
Woman holding a sign that says 'Support Our Vets' standing in front of an American flag, wearing sunglasses, a patriotic hat, and gloves with a background of a parking lot and overcast sky.
Group of people at a protest holding signs, with a wagon filled with stuffed Sesame Street characters and large colorful letters 'P,' 'B,' and 'S,' on a grassy area in front of hedges and a building.
Protesters holding signs and banners advocating for democracy and against fascism, with messages like "Fascism is not to be debated, it is to be smashed," "We want freedom, democracy, truth, no king," and "Hands off!!!" in an urban setting.

Addressing the Issues

A middle-aged man with glasses and a beard wearing a suit jacket and striped shirt, speaking or presenting indoors.

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.

Green sign welcoming Joe Logan as a candidate for Lorain County commissioner, celebrating his background as a fifth-generation Ohio farmer and former Ohio Farmers Union president, with logos for Lorain County Rising and RLCDA.
A man standing and speaking at a microphone during a gathering, with several people seated and listening.

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.

Close-up of a smiling older man with gray hair, glasses, and a white beard, wearing a light gray suit and white shirt.

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.

A large group of people participating in a protest or rally outdoors, holding various signs and banners with social and political messages, in front of tall buildings and leafless trees.

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.

Flyer for a conversation event with Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde at First Church in Oberlin on September 16, 2025, at 6:30 pm, with logos of Oberlin Democrats and Lorain County Rising.

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.

A promotional flyer featuring a photo of Chris Gibbs, a man with grey hair and a beard, wearing a blue shirt outdoors. The flyer announces a public hearing with details about the date, time, and location.

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.