Biography
Dr. Anita Somani is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives, currently serving her second term representing District 8, which includes Worthington and parts of Dublin and Columbus. She was first elected in November 2022 to represent the 11th district and re-elected in November 2024 for the 8th district.
Born in India, Dr. Somani immigrated to the United States at six months old. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Miami University and a Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Ohio. For over three decades, she has been a respected obstetrician/gynecologist in Columbus, currently practicing at OhioHealth.
Dr. Somani is a first-generation immigrant whose father was the first Asian to serve in a Governor’s cabinet. She resides in Dublin, Ohio, with her husband, where they raised their two children.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University
- Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Ohio
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Political Experience:
- Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2022, representing the 11th district
- Re-elected in 2024 to represent the 8th district
- Serves on the Health Policy, Health Providers, Families & Aging, and Insurance Committees
- Ranking member on the Health Providers Committee
- Advocate for reproductive rights, including sponsoring the Reproductive Care Act
- Introduced the Protect Assistive Reproductive Technology Act to safeguard access to in-vitro fertilization
- Supports the Marriage Equality Act to codify same-sex and interracial marriage into Ohio’s constitution
- Opposes legislation that restricts LGBTQ+ rights in schools, such as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill
Dr. Somani's legislative priorities include protecting reproductive rights, increasing access to high-quality healthcare, addressing gun violence, and championing public education.
