Ohio Democratic Party Chair Walters Announces Interim Executive Director
January 15, 2021
Walters Gets To Work Immediately On Efforts To Strengthen The Party, Names Malik Hubbard As Interim Executive Director
Hubbard Has Extensive Experience In Ohio Politics, Will Be First Black ED In State Party History
COLUMBUS — Today newly elected Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters announced Ohio native Malik Hubbard will serve as interim Executive Director for the state party as Walters gets to work immediately strengthening the party and fighting for a better Ohio. Hubbard, who has extensive experience in Ohio politics, will help oversee the transition process and support Walters as she takes over as Chair. Hubbard will be the first Black Executive Director of ODP after Walters made history earlier this week as the first woman elected to serve as ODP Chair.
Walters has committed to a transparent hiring process, which will include input from party stakeholders, that Hubbard will help implement and oversee. Hubbard will serve as interim Executive Director, until the position is filled permanently.
“We’re thrilled to have Malik onboard as we hit the ground running on day one, fighting for a better, more inclusive Ohio and putting our state back on the right track. Malik’s experience will help us operate at a high level as we begin to lay the foundation for a stronger Ohio Democratic Party in the months and years ahead,” said Walters.
“I’m honored to join ODP as interim Executive Director, supporting Chair Walters and her vision of a stronger Ohio Democratic Party. Knowing that our work couldn’t come at a more important time, I’m excited to get to work right away, fighting for Democratic values and moving our party forward,” said Hubbard.
Hubbard is a veteran Ohio political operative from Cleveland with interdepartmental expertise in the engagement and turnout of African Americans and other voters of color. In the 2016 presidential election, Malik served as the National Deputy African-American Vote Director for Hillary for America, where he led the in-state national African-American voter engagement program. Previously, Malik has had a number of campaign leadership roles in Ohio, including a large-scale field effort as the Co-Founder of Moving Ohio Forward, Ohio for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration and the Political Director of the Ohio Democratic Party in 2008. Hubbard also served as the State Field Director of the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2006 that led to the election of Ted Strickland as Governor and Sherrod Brown as U.S. Senator.
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