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Ohio’s first female House speaker, Republican Jo Ann Davidson, champion of GOP women, has died at 97

Spring is usually when bugs start to mate, so now is the time to keep them away.
Noah Farley
Spring is usually when bugs start to mate, so now is the time to keep them away.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio’s first woman House speaker and a trusted adviser to many of the state’s Republicans, has died after a political career spanning nearly 60 years. She was 97. Davidson’s death was announced by Gov. Mike DeWine. Davidson’s political rise took her from being a volunteer in the Columbus suburbs, to the local city council, to the Ohio House, to serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. She headed President George W. Bush’s regional re-election campaign when Bush scored an important Ohio win over John Kerry in 2004. She also advocated strongly  for electing effective Republican women.

Article Topic Follows: AP National

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