Incumbent Democratic Rep. Karen Brownlee faces a challenge from Republican Blue Ash Mayor Jill Cole this November.
Here's what to know about the race.
Where is Ohio House District 28?
The district is entirely within Hamilton County and includes Blue Ash, Sharonville, Forest Park, Evendale, Deer Park, Loveland and Montgomery, according to Dave's Redistricting
. The district leans 52.9% Democratic, according to the site.Who is Karen Brownlee?
Brownlee won 56% of the vote against Republican Jenn Giroux in 2024, according to election results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. Before she was elected to the legislature in 2024, she worked as a clinical social worker in Cincinnati.
She serves on the House Development, Health, Community Revitalization, and Children and Human Services Committees, according
to her statehouse biography. She is also a member of the Ohio House Women’s Caucus and Ohio Jewish Caucus.
She has recently sponsored bills to prohibit some health professionals from treating minors with conversion therapy and to establish a task force on gun violence.
Brownlee has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in social work from Northern Kentucky University.
She has three children and lives in Symmes Township with her husband.
Who is Jill Cole?
Cole ran unopposed for an unexpired term seat on the Blue Ash City Council in 2021, according to results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. She was sworn in as mayor in 2023, according to her city biography.
She has worked as a commercial loan officer with Bank One and as vice president of corporate affairs for Johnson Group Management, Inc. She founded Cole Realty Associates, Inc. with her husband in 2006. The couple also own and operate the Galbraith Business Center together.
She previously served in the U.S. Army and on the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education.
Cole has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Ohio State University, according to her campaign website.
She and her husband have five children and six grandchildren.
How to vote
The election is Nov. 3. To check your voter registration and polling location visit voteohio.gov.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Meet the candidates running in Ohio House District 28
