On Sunday, January 18, the Ohio Progressive Democratic Caucus (OPDC) held their first event of 2026. The evening, titled Take the Seat, focused on helping progressives from across the state learn how to show up and build a new Democratic Party at the local level.
Nearly 230 people registered for the live Zoom event ahead of time to hear how stepping into roles such as Precinct Captain, County Central Committee, and State Central Committee can reshape the party from the ground up. The goal of the night was to make sure progressives in Ohio have the information they need to run for these positions ahead of the February 4 deadline to file.
Kim McCarthy, Chair of the OPDC, began the meeting by reminding attendees that political power in the United States and in the state of Ohio does not lie with the DNC, ODPC, or any candidate. Instead, she emphasized, the true power lies with the people of this country.
We know that we want a party that shows up for the people, McCarthy added. However, that depends on people showing up and doing the work in their own backyards. We are currently living in a “fascist coup,” and we must take a new approach because doing the same thing will only yield the same results, she concluded.
Will Petrik, Vice Chair of the ODPC, then discussed the Vision of the caucus, which is to “build a Democratic Party in Ohio that fights unapologetically for working people and delivers real material improvements in people’s lives.”
Petrik also spoke of the ODPC’s goals, both long-term and in the near future. He ended by quoting Thom Hartman, who recently wrote on Substack that “if Progressive’s hope to have any shot at transforming today’s Democratic Party, kicking out the corporate sell-out Dems and replacing them with real-deal Progressives, then we need to get to work right now to do exactly what the Tea Party successfully did a decade and a half ago to take power within the GOP and then nationally.”
Rep. Tristan Rader, a progressive democrat here in Ohio, was in attendance and shared a few words with those on the call. He stated that he has always tried to keep the people of Ohio at the center of his focus. Radar added that the number of Ohioans who showed up for Sunday’s online event gave him real hope for the future.
There are a variety of important offices that will be on the ballot in 2026, including:
- County races
- Local judicial races
- State Representative (all 99 districts)
- State Senate (odd numbered)
- U.S. Congressional Districts
- U.S. Senate (special election)
- Governor and entire statewide ticket
The bulk of the event centered on explaining the ins and outs of these important (yet often overlooked) roles within the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP).
Precinct captains and those who sit on Central Committees are truly the ground level of the party. By putting progressives into these positions, we, the people, have the power to build a party that fights for everyday Ohioans. Take the Seat discussed what the roles entail and how to go about running for these positions.
Each County Democratic Party has a Central Committee that is comprised of all elected representatives from each of the precincts within that county. These seats are on the ballot in the primary election every two to four years. The Central Committee is responsible for electing party leadership.
Precinct Captains serve as the lead Democrat in their neighborhood. Their duties include organizing like-minded individuals within their precinct as well as being a direct line of communication between residents and the Democratic Party. Precinct Captains are vital to both the internal and external operations of the party. Their number one goal is to make sure Democrats in their precinct are informed and turn out to vote every time.
Internally, Precinct Captains serve on the Executive Committee and are the only people who can vote on party-related matters. Usually, these meetings take place at least four times a year. Externally, Precinct Captains provide local support for Party initiatives and participate in a wide variety of Democratic campaign activities.
To become a Precinct Captain for your county Democratic Party, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a registered voter who lives in that precinct
- You must consider yourself a Democrat
- You cannot run to become a Precinct Captain if you voted in a Republican Party primary in the past two years
If you would like to become a Precinct Captain, you must complete and submit Form 2-M or 2-J by the filing deadline of February 4, 2026. Check with your county Board of Elections (BOE) to verify which form you need and whether or not you are required to collect signatures to file your petition.
The ODP functions in the same way at the state level as it does in each county. There is a State Central Committee that includes a male and female member from each of the 33 senate districts in Ohio, for a total of 66 members. These seats are on the ballot every four years and are next up in May 2026.
Amana Koeller, ODPC Secretary, reminded those on the call that the ODP is made up of the people who show up. If we want a progressive party that challenges the status quo, we need people who share our values and goals to show up and run for these seats so we can shift the party towards the people.
The ODPC also took time during the event to celebrate victories for progressives in counties throughout the state. The RepYourBlock Franklin, Hancock County Democrats, RepYourBlock Cuyahoga, and the Cincy Precinct Project all took a few moments to highlight the successes of local progressives within their counties.
Franklin County, Hancock County, and Cuyahoga County have built a lot of excitement around progressive policies and progressive candidates, drumming up support for the ODPC through both on-the-ground and virtual efforts.
Notably, the Cincy Precinct Project reports that they have recruited more than 140 progressives to run for local positions within the ODP, 90 of which have already filed paperwork with their Board of Elections (BOE).
Sunday’s event ended with a reminder of the urgency of the situation in which we all currently find ourselves.
“We can’t wait,” said ODPC Vice-Chair Petrick. “We can’t wait our turn.
McCarthy, ODPC Chair, agreed with this sentiment wholeheartedly. She closed out the night by stating boldly, “This is our moment. This is an emergency. We have to have an impact in 2026.”
Note: The Take the Seat presentation deck is available for download.
