Democrat Nan Whaley makes Ohio history as first woman nominated to run for governor

Democrat Nan Whaley broke a political glass ceiling Tuesday when she became the first woman in Ohio history to win a major party nomination to run for governor.

"This is a historic moment for the Democratic Party and for all of Ohio," said Whaley. "And I want every little girl listening to know that this is possible."

Whaley is running with Cheryl Stephens of Cleveland, which also makes them the first all-female ticket nominated by a major party for governor and lieutenant governor.

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"Whaley is a trail-blazer in Ohio politics. The historic importance of her candidacy cannot be overstated," said Barbara Palmer, director of the Baldwin Wallace Center for Women & Politics of Ohio. "Her campaign will be an inspiration for other women and girls to run for public office across the state. Whaley’s presence in this race will help push Ohio to elect more women up and down the ballot beyond 2022."

When asked about the historic win, Gov. Mike DeWine - her general election opponent - said he offers his congratulations.

In Ohio's 219-year history, voters have never nominated or elected a woman for the top executive post. Across the nation, nine women currently hold governorships and some states, such as Arizona and Michigan have elected women governors multiple times, according to the Center for American Women & Politics at Rutgers University.

Not Ohio. 

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In 1999, Republican Nancy P. Hollister served as governor when George Voinovich moved to the U.S. Senate and Bob Taft had yet to be sworn in.

Her tenure lasted 11 days.

And the three women running in the Ohio primaries Tuesday for U.S. Senate lost as well. That means men will continue to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.

Why hasn't Ohio backed women for top elected posts until now?

Emily Quick Schriver, director of The Matriots, a political action committee that backs women for public office in Ohio, said that's really a question for the political parties, which need to recognize and promote women for elected offices.

"I think there is a little bit of 'you put your time in and you're the next candidate up for this.' But the people who historically put their time in are the ones who they've let put their time in – and those are men," Schriver said.

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Barbara Palmer, director of the Baldwin Wallace Center for Women & Politics of Ohio, agreed. 

"Neither party goes out of their way to recruit women. They like to give lip service to it but they don't make it a priority," she said.

Women in Ohio politics: None elected governor or U.S. senator in state's history

Ohio has had women run and win lieutenant governor slots – Republicans Hollister, Maureen O'Connor, Jennette Bradley, and Mary Taylor – but never the top post.

"We're not running women for the executive ticket at all, other than the supporting role," Schriver said. 

According to Palmer's research:

• Only nine women have served in Ohio’s six statewide offices in the history of the state. Four of the nine served in two statewide offices.
• The first woman to serve in statewide office was Democrat Gertrude Donahey, who successfully ran for state treasurer in 1970.
• Only three women – Whaley, Taylor and Vivienne Suarez – ever ran for governor on a primary ballot. Suarez came in seventh out of seven on the Democratic ballot in 1958.

Currently, 31% of the state lawmaker posts, four of seven seats on the Ohio Supreme Court and 45% of the appellate judgeships are held by women, according to the center. 

Palmer noted that of the last nine men to serve as Ohio governor, eight of them had previous experience in Congress and or statewide office.

"When we step back and look at women in those specific offices, the number is teeny tiny," she said.

Whaley now has an uphill battle against DeWine in the general election. "The bottom line is incumbents almost always win. DeWine runs a textbook campaign. You got to give the edge to DeWine. He has money and he knows how to campaign," Palmer said.

Ohio Bureau reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this report.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.