Nina Turner Announces Cleveland Congressional Bid

CLEVELAND — Nina Turner is again running for a congressional seat to represent her native Cleveland.

“When we look over the course of last year, families are still struggling — with higher gas and food prices, stagnant wages and shrinking benefits, while corporations make record profits," Turner said in a statement. "We can get an agenda through Congress that puts working families first but it is being blocked by a handful of holdouts. Obstruction of the Democratic agenda is hurting greater Cleveland and as the next Congresswoman, I am going to fight back.”

While Turner signaled her intention to represent her hometown, she also acknowledged it's not entirely clear who she could be challenging in the primary.

Ohio's congressional districts are in flux following a series of challenges to Republican-drawn maps. Voting rights groups accused the maps of further gerrymandering the state in favor of the GOP. The Ohio Supreme Court then ordered officials to redraw the maps in a more politically equitable way.

Turner committed to mounting her campaign in whatever the newly redistricted seat is for Cleveland. She also released a video explaining why she's running for congress.

“America is at a crossroads, wrestling between two futures. Do we sacrifice the poor, the working poor, and the barely middle class to protect the ultra wealthy? Or do we treat our people as America’s greatest asset and ensure everyone has a real chance to live a good life?” Turner asked.

Turner ran in the primary for Ohio's 11th Congressional District in August 2021. She lost to Rep. Shontel Brown, as both candidates sought to replace Marcia Fudge, who left her seat to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In the 2021 primary, Turner cast herself as a more progressive Democrat, in line with Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Brown tied herself to President Joe Biden and former Sen. Hillary Clinton. The strategy paid off for Brown who eked out a surprise victory in the primary and then cruised to a win in the general election.

While Ohio's districts are not yet firmed, a rematch of Turner and Brown seems the most likely outcome for a primary challenge.