Activist outside Columbus Rick Neal He is not alien to applying for the office. In 2018, he organized a solid (though unsuccessful) Statehouse offer against Steve Stivers, chairman of the National Republican Congress Committee. Now he runs again, this time, that the democratic nomination represents the 15th State Senate.
“Our family has deep roots in this district,” said Neal about District 15, which includes the heart of Śródmieście Columbus and the surrounding suburbs, Neal lives in the district with her husband, co -founder Ohio Ohio Tom Grot and their two daughters. He is also a house in the South Side district, in which Father Grota began Donatos Pizza in 1963.
“This is an amazing community, a rich, diverse set of districts with many needs, but also many resources,” said Neal.
Then, as now, the Neal campaign is powered by the frustration of the Trump administration. But while the Democrats had a clear way to rely on Trump in 2017 – take the USA house, which they successfully did – this time Neal sees things differently:
“The house is burning. There is no clear path. I am in protests, I talk to activists, connect to people from the 2017-2018 movement and everyone says: “What do democrats do to fight?”
Neal will face representatives of Latin Humphrey (D-Cumbus) in the District of Senate 15 basic democratic. If he wins, he will probably win a democratic fortress in universal elections, which would make him the only homosexual man serving in Columbus Statehouse in the House or Senate.
Buckeye flame I talked to Neal about the rates of this political moment, why we need more protests (no less) and the tragic need for the LGBTQ+ community for direct representation in the state government.
What motivated your return to the campaign trail in 2025?
I didn’t think about escaping until Trump took office again in January. This time there was a different involvement of Elon Musk. Last year, he put hundreds of millions in the campaign, and then took over this Doge service, basically taking the chain to our government. It really explained to me how perilous Trump and Musk’s program is.
Then I began to organize weekly protests at the Tesla salon in Easton – on Saturday at 4:30 and we are still going. We started in February with only 10 or 12 people, and by the end of March, we had a week crowd of hundreds. There is a real frustration and a clear need for up-to-date leadership in our state home – not only to fight the Republicans, but also fill the gap in the national team. … We look at January 2027 with a potentially zero representation of LGBTQ+ in the next general assembly. It’s just unacceptable.
For years, raucous about the lack of LGBTQ+ in Statehouse. I worked tough in 2024 for the candidate for Statehouse Eli Bohnerrt, who unfortunately did not go through his basic one. I looked at my state district of the Senate, represented by Hearcel Craig, who has a huge legacy in Columbus, which sat in the city council, in the Chamber, and now for eight years in the Senate. He is circumscribed and cannot run again. When I looked closer, I realized that I had a real opportunity to change something. I couldn’t convey it.
As you know, Rep. Latyna Humphrey also participates in this nomination. What is your case for voters to choose you from Humphrey?
The main difference between me and my main opponent is that I am making changes. I am fighting the streets to the State House, and Rep. Humphrey represents business as usual. I am in protests, I talk to activists, joining people from the 2017-2018 movement and everyone says: What do democrats do to fight? Lately on ED In an ordinary dealer, he said that democrats must stop talking and start breaking hell, and that’s what I want to do. This makes me stand out in this race.
Since the election of Trump, politics in both Ohio and the country has changed fundamentally. There is a very real chance that Vivek Ramaswama can be our next governor. If he follows the model of Trump and Musk – taking into account the courts, bypassing the legislator and pushing the authoritarian program – we need people in a country who simply will not go to get along. We need leaders who will say “hell”, throw lithe on what is happening and fighting.
Shortly after the announcement of her run, Humphrey presented a list of support for LGBTQ+ of her Senate campaign. What is the difference in being a gay candidate and a straightforward candidate praising her support LGBTQ+?
The importance of having a gay candidate concerns direct representation. As Senator Antonio said: When they vote against us, they must look in her eyes. They must look like a lesbian, who fought for equality and dignity in the eye, voting for taking our rights.
I think I have an album that speaks for myself – both me and my husband – LGBTQ+ leadership in Columbus, since I moved here in 2007, especially in the fight for equality of marriages. Some say that allies in the chamber are enough, but I can’t come up with any other group that would accept this kind of proxy representation.
Tell us about your political goals for the office and your strategy to achieve them politically, especially considering the extreme Republican castle on our state government?
Many people look at the republican seaside and condemn: “What can we do? We can’t do anything.” But I come from the background in which resignation was not an option. I was a volunteer of the peace corps and studied public health, which I led to conducting humanitarian programs for refugees in some of the most tough politically hostile environments that you can imagine. We acted in places where we were not welcome. But we used every resource we have to support people.
This is what I plan to do as a state legislator. Even in a superfumer, democrats can – and must – operate this platform to fight for our voters in every respect.
At the moment I see three key roles of legislators:
First of all, we must fight authoritarianism. We must defend freedom, human rights and constitution. This includes obstructing abuse of power, slowing down harmful politicians and revealing what is happening. If we cannot carry out official interrogations, we should have public on the Statehouse lawn or on social spaces. Show people we don’t sit.
Secondly, we must operate our platforms to creatively support our voters. This means doing everything we can – from supporting mutual facilitate to facilitate people move in food, apartment and healthcare systems. If someone like Vivek Ramaswama becomes a governor and lost his benefits arbitrarily, what will happen then? We must be prepared to facilitate people survive.
Third, we must look into the future. Ultimately, this attack on democracy will end. And when this happens, we can not simply rebuild – we have to build something better. The government really, for people.
But we are not dealing only with political shock. We also introduce a period of quick technological changes, along with the creation of artificial intelligence, which yes, brings great potential, but also a stern risk for democratic management, labor economy and basic man’s well -being. And I don’t hear our leaders say about it. They assume that things will return to “normal”, but I don’t think it is wise. We must now start conducting these conversations, because the change is already here and we must be ready.
If he is elected, you will become the only men’s senator in the state. The representation is more crucial than ever – what does it mean to you?
Columbus has a robust and growing LGBTQ+population, which remains unrepined in a state house. This is unacceptable. In fact, the data suggest that the District 15 Senate has one of the largest LGBTQ+ population in the country. And yet GerryMandering distorted our voice.
To be the first or the only one, it is emotional, right? I am a white, older, wealthy homosexual-understand. But now, with so many voices of trans silenced in the current atmosphere, I asked myself: what is our role as allies? I talked to trance leaders and others in the LGBTQ+community, asking – should we enter? The answer was often: yes: we need people to be our voices now. It’s sobering responsibility. We didn’t think we were going, but it reflects how bad things have grown.
The representation is not just about the presence – it is a standing in a gap for those who cannot. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, you can misunderstand it. And of course it would be easier if someone else took the lead. But it’s a pity. In any case, go forward, with the intention of doing everything you can. We don’t have a luxury of waiting. Ding
Light
- Learn more about the Rick Neal campaign for the Ohio state Senate by visiting his website Here.
- Check the status of registration of Ohio voters Here.
