Party Leadership

In January of 2021, Elizabeth (Liz) Walters was unanimously elected as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. She is the first woman elected to this role. Throughout her career Liz has worked with people and organizations that support progressive values, including the Obama-Biden Campaign, Congresswoman Betty Sutton, We Are Ohio, the Ohio Democratic Party, the Ohio Progressive Collaborative, Red, Wine, & Blue, and many community-based nonprofits and community organizing groups.

Walters is also serving her second term representing the citizens of Summit County as an At-Large member, and Council President. She has been active on a wide variety of issues and led the passage and implementation of Paid Parental Leave for county employees, the only Ohio county to pass such legislation. Currently, she chairs the Summit County Environmental Sustainability Task Force, co-chairs Summit County’s Special Committee to address racism as a public health crisis, and serves on numerous County boards and commissions.

She is a lifetime Girl Scout and has been active with the organization as a member, employee, or volunteer since the age of five. Liz serves on the Advisory Council for the United Way of Summit County’s Financial Empowerment Centers, and is an alumna of the American Council of Young Political Leaders. Liz earned a B.A. in History from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and her MPA from Cleveland State University. She and her rescue dog, Beatrice, live on the westside of Akron.

André Washington started his labor career at the University of Michigan Medical Center, AFSCME Local 1583 where he worked for 13 years before being hired as an organizer for AFSCME Council 25 in Detroit, Michigan. He helped organize the Detroit Medical Center's hospitals. In 2000, André was hired by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees as a Field Representative in the Toledo area where he negotiated for 17 locals. In 2012, André received a promotion to OAPSE Field Representative/Special Projects Coordinator in Columbus, Ohio, representing over 3,100 employees of the Columbus City School District, where his primary focus is on labor arbitration and being the Chief Negotiator. André attended Wayne State University for the labor study two-year program and is a graduate of the George Meany National Labor College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Studies. André Washington has been a member of many community and labor organizations during his labor career. In January of 2021, Mr. Washington was elected Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP and was recently elected to serve as the NAACP Ohio State Conference 2nd Vice President. André is an active member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), the League of Women Voters, [email protected], Ohio State Voice Table, the Central Ohio Labor Council, Labor Council for Latino American Advancement, and the Ohio Unity Coalition. André is the father of two sons Chris and Derick. He attends the Travelers Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus. He is passionate about working with minorities and underserved communities, educating, encouraging and empowering people to be the best they can possibly be. His passion and dedication have him involved in many organizations. He currently serves as Midwest Regional Representative and Ohio State President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), overseeing 10 states.

Pat Frost-Brooks serves as Treasurer of the Ohio Democratic Party. She previously served as President of the Ohio Education Association. A teacher with the East Cleveland City School District, she also served OEA for many years as a member of the board of directors and as vice president. She also represented the association to the National Education Association and several statewide labor coalition activities. During her tenure, she was instrumental in reforming school funding in House Bill 1, securing Race to the Top funding, and reauthorizing the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and she has been involved with such organizations as the Ohio Appalachian Educator Institute, Education Voters, the Education Commission of the States, the National Association of Professional Women, and Read Across America; and many others.

Bill serves as Secretary of the Ohio Democratic Party and as a member of the party’s Central and Executive Committees. He is currently a candidate for the 25th State Senate district. Bill DeMora is one of the best known and highly respected political operatives in the United States.

Mr. DeMora has led numerous political campaigns across Ohio, as well as nationally, supporting candidates for municipal and state-wide office, as well as for the Ohio General Assembly.

In 2020, Bill finished working on his seventh DNC National Convention as he served once again as Ohio’s Convention and Delegate Director.

Previously, Bill served as Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party and as Executive Director of the Ohio League of Conservation Voters. He has also presided over several political, charitable, fraternal and alumni organizations at both the statewide and local level. Bill is an honors graduate of The Ohio State University, and an avid fan of Buckeye sports.

Sherrod has dedicated his life in public service to fighting for Ohioans and for the Dignity of Work – the belief that hard work should pay off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of work you do.

Sherrod is working to raise wages and benefits, lower healthcare and other costs, and ensure everyone can retire with dignity and security. Throughout his career, he has battled against broken tax and trade policies that put corporate profits ahead of workers and families, and sent Ohio jobs and supply chains overseas. He has taken on Wall Street greed, and fought against the business model that rewards CEOs and shareholders at the expense of long-term investments in workers and innovation.

Sherrod has always taken on powerful special interests and corruption in Washington. One news organization said his plan to lower prescription drug prices combines, “just about every policy idea drug lobbyists hate.” And he refused to accept Congressional healthcare until Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. Now he gets his health insurance through the same exchange system available to all Americans under that law.

Sherrod doesn’t own individual stocks because he believes Members of Congress should serve the American people, not their stock portfolios. And he has introduced legislation to ban government officials from profiting off of their positions.

Inspired by his faith, Sherrod has been a consistent champion of social and economic justice. The concept of the Dignity of Work is inspired by the work and writings of Pope Leo XIII and Dr. King, who said that “all labour has dignity.” Sherrod has supported marriage equality for 25 years, and he voted against the Iraq War and against NAFTA. He joined community partners to launch My Brother’s Keeper chapters and mentorship programs for young boys and young men of color in cities and towns across Ohio. And as Chair of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, he is fighting discrimination in housing and lending, and is working to make it easier for everyone to afford a home.

As a former Ohio Secretary of State, Sherrod has long championed voting rights. The Washington Post called his voter registration efforts, “probably the most intensive and wide-ranging in the nation.”

Dark-money special interest groups have spent record amounts of money trying to defeat Sherrod, but he beat back their attacks, and most recently, won re-election decisively in 2018.

Sherrod is a lifelong Cleveland baseball fan who was born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio. Today he lives in Cleveland with his wife Connie Schultz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author. Sherrod and Connie drive Jeeps made by union workers in Toledo, and are blessed with a growing family, including three daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, and their beloved rescue dogs, Franklin and Walter.

Allison Russo is the Ohio House Minority Leader. Rep. Allison Russo has spent two decades advising leaders and policymakers on issues related to the healthcare financing and care delivery needs of seniors, vulnerable populations, veterans, and military families. Rep. Russo is a lifelong advocate for women and families, championing issues like strong public education, affordable and accessible healthcare, and economic strategies that sustain 21st century working families. She is excited to be serving in her first elected office because Ohioans deserve leaders who bring their expertise and diverse perspectives to the crucial issues facing our state.

As a veteran’s wife and parent to three young children, Rep. Russo is deeply committed to public service and to the 24th district. She created the Girls Who Lead after-school program and serves on the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way of Central Ohio. Rep. Russo is a member of the Upper Arlington Rotary Club, a graduate of Leadership Upper Arlington, and regularly volunteers with Meals on Wheels. Rep. Russo and her husband Brian live in Upper Arlington and are actively involved in their children’s local public schools and youth sports leagues.

Rep. Russo is Policy Research Director for a healthcare policy consulting firm, where she also leads business development efforts and strategy for this Federally-qualified small business. She earned her Doctor of Public Health in health policy from The George Washington University and a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Kenny Yuko serves as Ohio Senate Minority Leader. Representing Ohio’s 25th Senate District that includes parts of both Cuyahoga and Lake Counties, State Senator Kenny Yuko has devoted his career to strengthening Northeast Ohio and improving the lives of those who call it home.

Senator Yuko grew up in Euclid and graduated from Brush High School in the South Euclid/Lyndhurst School District in 1968. He then attended both Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University before entering the workforce.

Yuko began his career as a clothing buyer for Polsky’s Department Store, but he soon found his true passion with union organizing. He served with the Laborers’ Local #860 for 30 years, including 25 years as union organizer. He retired from that service in 2004. During his long career, he received multiple awards for his efforts, including the “2000 Organizing Award” from his International Union.

With this experience under his belt, Yuko ran for State Representative in 2004 with the goals of protecting working families, promoting health care access, and improving Ohio’s economic climate. He won convincingly and was subsequently re-elected for three more terms. During his tenure in the House, he served as both Chairman and Ranking Member of the Commerce and Labor Committee, and was also a member on the Committees on Health and Aging and Veterans Affairs.

Because of his outstanding dedication to the causes he cares about, Yuko has received numerous awards and recognitions, including: AFL-CIO Lifetime Achievement Award, Kym Sellers Foundation Triumphant Award, National MS Society Advocacy Hall of Fame, Ohio Counseling Association Public Policy & Legislation Award, Home Medical Equipment Services Industry State Legislator of the Year Award, Linking Employment Abilities & Potential (LEAP) Legislative Advocacy Award, National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) Legislator of Year Award, Ohio Ambulance & Medical Transportation Association Legislator of the Year Award, The Rosemary Home Angel of the Year, Mayor Georgine Welo Community Service Award, and various other awards and citations for his years of service to the community.

​Yuko resides in Richmond Heights with his wife Pam.