CLEVELAND, Ohio- Ohio Sen. Nina Turner (D-25) (pictured), a Cleveland Democrat and former Cleveland Ward 1 councilwoman regularly featured on national news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC's 'The Ed Show,' is in the fight of her political life, hoping to unseat Republican Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted in what has become a neck and neck race, some polls show, as was the election for governor that pits incumbent Republican Gov. John Kasich against Democratic nominee Ed FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County executive. Neither Turner nor Husted had opposition in Tuesday's primary election.(Editor's note: A recent Public Policy Polling Poll (PPP Poll), one taken last month in fact, has Turner leading Husted by one point in the race for secretary of state, 45 percent to 44 percent. Also, though FizGerald andf Kasich were nearly tied, a recent Quionnipiac Poll gives Kasich a 15 point lead over FitzGerald). CLICK THIS LINK HERE TO WATCH STATE SENATOR NINA TURNER FIGHTING FOR VOTING RIGHTS ON THE ED SHOW ON MSNBC NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION
"I am honored to be running for secretary of state," said Turner, at a recent fundraiser at Edwin's Restaurant in Shaker Square in Cleveland sponsored by the Cuyahoga Women's Democratic Caucus and attended by Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper.
She said also that running for a statewide office as an African-American woman is not an easy task but that it is a worthwhile endeavor for the betterment of the larger Ohio community, particularly for what she says is an effort to protect the right to vote for all Ohioans.
"I am not running for an office, I'm running for a cause, and that is the unfettered access to the ballot box," said Turner to applause from the audience at the Shaker Square gathering, including from Jane Buder Shapiro and Cindy Dempsey, who both spearheaded the fundraising event.
Demsey is chair of the Cuyahoga Democratic Women's Caucus, an organization of strong and politically connected Democratic women across Cuyahoga County, the largest of 88 counties statewide, and one that is roughly 29 percent Black. The popular Cleveland west side state Rep Nikki Antonio (D-13) is also a member of the progressive women's group.
Buder Shapiro and Dempsey, both White women, both said that they agree that voting rights is a crucial issue in this year's election for secretary of state, as well as relative to the closely watched gubernatorial election.
"We have to protect voters rights," said Dempsey.
The role of the Ohio Secretary of state is to set and enforce policy and to provide oversight of elections throughout the state. It is a powerful position as the 2016 presidential election looms and Ohio remains a pivotal state with no Republican remembered winning the White House without first winning Ohio and the last Democrat to do so being the late John F. Kennedy in 1960.
If Turner wins in November she would become the first Black Democrat elected to a statewide office in Ohio.
It won't be easy though, data, and money, suggests.
The incumbent Husted, 46, is well financed with a reported campaign war chest of $2.4 million, and Turner knows full well that while money may not be the wherewithal to getting elected, having it or not having it often matters in political contests.
Minorities and women are a key part of her campaign.
She has a Black woman named Angelique Roche as a campaign manager, among the diverse campaign team that hopes to catapult the state senator to victory on the statewide level, and in a crucial office that impacts voters rights throughout the state.
Turner, also 46, and the Minority Whip in the Ohio Senate, criticized Husted and his Republican regime on voting rights saying that "they will do everything they can to choke out democracy."
She said that Husted and his supporters are trying to manipulate the vote under the concept of "if you can't beat em, cheat em."
By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-n-chief, 
Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, 
Pictured are Cleveland Urban News.Com Sportswriter Karl Kimbrough (in yellow t-shirt), Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer (in grey suit) and Cleveland Browns Head Coach Rick Pettine (in Black suit)
