Kathleen Clyde is a Democratic politician from Ohio, born and raised in Garrettsville in Portage County. She previously represented Ohio House District 68 from 2011 to 2018, served as Portage County Commissioner from 2018 to 2020, ran for Ohio Secretary of State in 2018, and was elected Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party on June 10, 2025. Notable achievements include raising over $4 million across campaigns, co-chairing President Biden’s 2020 Ohio campaign, sponsoring the Ohio Equal Pay Act, leading fights for workers' rights and women's reproductive healthcare, and becoming a national expert on election and voting rights.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University; J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law , graduating as a Public Service Fellow with the Dean's Highest Honors and serving as an editor of the law review.
• Early Career: Worked for an organization fighting homelessness in Central Ohio; served as Ohio College Coordinator on the 2004 John Kerry presidential campaign.
• Political Experience:
  • Elected to Ohio House of Representatives in 2010 for a competitive Portage County district, serving four terms .
  • Democratic nominee for Ohio Secretary of State , receiving over 2 million votes .
  • Portage County Commissioner .
  • Ran for a deep-red Statehouse seat in 2022, losing by 2.4 points in a district won by Gov. DeWine by 24 points.
  • Elected Ohio Democratic Party Chair .