Ashley Bryant Bailey Announces Candidacy for State Representative in Ohio House District 26

Posted on August 4, 2025

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 4, 2025
Contact: Colin Cooper

Ashley Bryant Bailey Announces Candidacy for State Representative in Ohio House District 26

CINCINNATI, OH — Cincinnati native and nationally respected strategist Ashley Bryant Bailey has officially announced her candidacy for State Representative in Ohio House District 26, a seat held by Rep. Sedrick Denson, who is term-limited.

Standing on a family legacy rooted in public service, Ashley’s campaign is grounded in community-building, fueled by purpose, and shaped by her belief that real progress comes from the people—not the politics. Bryant Bailey released the following statement:

“Cincinnati has my heart and Ohio is my home. This community taught me my first lessons in justice, hard work, and what it means to truly care for people.

My love and dedication to fight for my community has taken me many places, but every road has led me back here – to these people, to the values that define me: fairness, grit, community, and care.

This campaign is about the people that call Cincinnati home. The ones working hard to provide for their families, take care of their neighbors, and make this city better.

Too many politicians in Columbus have forgotten our greatest calling is service; service to our communities, our state, and our neighbors – not to the politics of division and greed.

I am running to ensure the hard-fought gains our city has seen over the last years benefit everyone. That hard work and dedication pay off for working people. To ensure that my little girls have the same opportunities and values that Cincinnati gave me.

While I come to serve, I am ready to fight. Because you fight for what you love. One thing we know as Cincinnatian’s is that we don’t leave our livelihoods up to chance, it’s all hustle, no luck. And I’m ready to put in the work for the community I love so deeply.”

Ashley Bryant Bailey’s campaign will center the voices and needs of District 26—from legacy Black neighborhoods to newly developing corridors. With a sharp eye on equity, public education, public safety, housing access, and economic justice, Bryant Bailey plans to bring bold, community-first leadership to the Statehouse.

Ashley Bryant Bailey currently serves as Senior Advisor in the Office of the President at Higher Heights for America, a national organization working to build the political power of Black women. Her leadership has helped drive strategic change and movement infrastructure across the country—from ballot boxes to boardrooms.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Bryant Bailey is a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School and studied at the University of Cincinnati. After more than a decade leading national work in progressive politics, racial equity, and movement building, she returned home in 2021 to start her family as a wife and mother, and invest in the city that gave her everything.

Bryant Bailey began her career at Procter & Gamble, developing a deep understanding of community and communication. Over the next 15 years, she held major leadership roles like serving as Federal Digital Director at MoveOn, one of the country’s largest progressive advocacy organizations, and as Vice President at Amalgamated Bank, the nation’s only union-owned, mission-driven bank dedicated to supporting American workers and the labor movement. Other roles include Vice President at 270 Strategies, and Managing Partner at NewWorld (formerly A—B). Bryant Bailey co-founded Win Black, a national coalition fighting disinformation in Black communities, and served as Ohio Digital Director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election.

“Ashley is the real deal. She brings vision, strategy, and deep love for this district,” said State Rep. Sedrick Denson, who is endorsing Bryant Bailey as his successor. “She’s exactly who we need in the Statehouse—someone who can navigate complexity, build coalitions, and fiercely advocate for our communities. I trust her to continue what we started, and take it even further.”

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney added: “Ashley Bryant Bailey is one of the most dynamic and values-driven leaders I’ve worked with. Her return to Cincinnati was a gift to our city, and her candidacy for State Representative gives us the chance to send someone to Columbus who is both a visionary and a deeply grounded public servant. I wholeheartedly endorse her and can’t wait to see all that she’ll accomplish.”

Initial Endorsements Include:

A diverse coalition of community and elected leaders:

Congressman Greg Landsman
Mayor Aftab Pureval
State Senator Cathy Ingram
State Representative Sedrick Denson
State Representative Cecil Thomas
State Representative & President, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Terrance Upchurch
County Commissioner Denise Driehaus
Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Cincinnati Councilmember Meeka Owens
Cincinnati Councilmember Scotty Johnson
Cincinnati Public School Board Member Mary Wineberg
Former Senate Minority Leader Eric H. Kearney
Former State Representative and President & CEO, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Shayla L. Davis
Former Cincinnati Councilman Reggie Harris
Community Leader Iris Roley
Community Leader Ozie Davis

About Ohio House District 26

Ohio House District 26 includes a vibrant cross-section of Cincinnati and Hamilton County—from long-established neighborhoods to fast-growing corridors. With urgent challenges and powerful momentum, the district deserves a leader ready to listen deeply, act boldly, and deliver for the people. Ashley Bryant Bailey is ready to bring that leadership to Columbus—unapologetically, collaboratively, and with the heart of someone who’s never stopped believing in her hometown.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, visit: ashleyforohio.com
Follow the campaign on social media: Instagram / X / Facebook / BlueSky → @ashleyforohio