Republican control. Summit County Council President Elizabeth Walters has been the chairwoman since January 2021. Walters previously served as the Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party in 2014. She is the first woman to be elected to the position of Democratic Party Chair in the state. During the years of 2016 to 2020, a rift developed in the Democratic Party from the national level down to the local level. Progressive Democrats began challenging incumbent Democrats across the country from school boards to bids for Congress. Over time, this led to a slow, but steady adoption of Progressive policies by moderate Democrats, which assisted in capturing the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. As of 2023, the Ohio Democratic Party is in the minority in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly. Democrats hold five of Ohio's 15 U.S. House seats and one of Ohio's two U.S. Senate seats. A priority for Ohio Democrats in the 2010s and 2020s has been increasing the minimum wage. Electoral success The Ohio Democratic Party reached the peak of its electoral success in the mid-1980s to 1990s, when Democrats held the following offices: U.S. Congress Both U.S. Senators from Ohio: John H. Glenn Jr. (1974-1999) and Howard M. Metzenbaum (1974, 1976-1995) A majority of Ohio's delegation to the United States House of Representatives (1983-1995), reaching a peak of 11-8 (1993-1995) State executive Governorship: Richard F. Celeste (1983-1991) and Ted Strickland (2007-2011) Lieutenant governors: Myrl H. Shoemaker (1983-1985) and Paul R. Leonard (1987-1991) Ohio Attorney General (1987-1995): Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. (1987-1991) and Lee Fisher (1991-1995) Ohio State Auditor (1971-1995): Joseph T. Ferguson (1971-1975) and Thomas E. Ferguson (1975-1995) Ohio Secretary of State (1979-1991): Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. (1979-1983) and Sherrod Brown (1983-1991) Ohio State Treasurer (1971-1995): Gertrude W. Donahey (1971-1983) and Mary Ellen Withrow (1983-1995) State legislative Majority in the Ohio State Senate (1983-1985): Senate President Harry Meshel Majority in the Ohio House of Representatives (1973-1995): Speaker Vernal G. Riffe Jr. (1975-1995) and (2009-2010) Speaker Armond Budish State judicial Majority on the Ohio Supreme Court (1977-1987), with a 6-1 majority from 1983-1985, and a Democratic chief justice (Frank Celebrezze) from 1978-1986 Even with its successes, Ohio Democrats did not fare well on a national level. John Glenn, a popular U.S. senator, astronaut, and national hero, ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984, ending up with only a huge campaign