Ohio Democrats have to admit something: there appears to be no coherent party strategy.

We have wandered further and further into the wilderness, relying primarily on anti-conservative sentiment to drive voter turnout. It has become rare to feel genuine excitement for candidates at the state and local levels.

I believe the root cause is a desire among longtime party insiders to control the definition of what it means to be a “Democrat.” By clinging to a narrow definition, the party has become stifled by corporatists and centrists who would rather hold onto existing power than invest in building a strong bench of candidates. We are not the big tent we need to be to energize voters and reclaim power.

I promise to use my position, time, and resources to engage voters and help independent, grassroots, and outside candidates get a real chance. Ohio deserves a robust party that truly represents its people. We tell the party who the candidates are—not the other way around.