Cracked BuckeyeCracked Buckeye

Person

Kathleen Clyde

Democratic · Former Portage County Commissioner, 2018–2020 · born 1979 in Garrettsville, Ohio

Work
Associate at the Kent, Ohio law firm Williams, Welser, Kratcoski & Can, practicing family, real estate, and small-business law.

Source: ohiostatehouse.org

Public service
Deputy legal counsel to Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish, working on court-access and voting-rights issues, until January 2010.

Source: ohiostatehouse.org

Public service
Elected chair of the Ohio Democratic Party in 2025.

Sources: ohiocapitaljournal.com · ohiodems.org

Education
B.A. in English literature, Wesleyan University, 2001; J.D., The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2008.

Sources: ohiostatehouse.org · en.wikipedia.org

Civic
President of the Public Interest Law Foundation in law school; directed Franklin County's early voting center during the 2008 election.

Source: ohiostatehouse.org

Ballotpedia · Wikipedia

8 of 11 sections researched

15 sources · 2018 · updated 2026-09-25

Not yet researched: What they have said, checked, Financial interests, Endorsements.

What has been checked
  • Profile 9 entries
  • On the ballot 0 entries
  • Where they stand 2 entries
  • What they have said, checked Not yet researched
  • Record in office 3 entries
  • Money 3 entries
  • Financial interests Not yet researched
  • Polling and approval 1 entry
  • Elections 1 entry
  • Endorsements Not yet researched
  • Sources 9 entries
Coverage, by section8 of 11 sections researched.Profile: 9 entriesOn the ballot: 0 entriesWhere they stand: 2 entriesWhat they have said, checked: Not yet researchedRecord in office: 3 entriesMoney: 3 entriesFinancial interests: Not yet researchedPolling and approval: 1 entryElections: 1 entryEndorsements: Not yet researchedSources: 9 entries8 of 11 sections researched · 15 sources
Coverage, by section8 of 11 sections researched.Source: Cracked Buckeye coverage record for Kathleen Clyde, 8 of 11 sections researched · as of 2026-09-25 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
SectionState
profileresearched
ballotresearched
positionsresearched
claimsnot researched
recordresearched
moneyresearched
interestsnot researched
pollingresearched
electionsresearched
endorsementsnot researched
sourcesresearched

Correct this page · hello@crackedbuckeye.com

Kathleen Clyde
Image courtesy of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board., via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Secretary of State of Ohio.Kathleen Clyde: Secretary of State of Ohio, Democratic
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Secretary of State of Ohio.Source: U.S. House districts of the Ohio Redistricting Commission plan of October 31, 2025 · as of 2026-09-24 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
ChamberDistrictNote
StatewideAll of OhioSecretary of State of Ohio

On the ballot

None found in the records checked

The voting scheduleNo race is pending for Kathleen Clyde in the calendars on file.None found in the records checked
The voting scheduleNo race is pending for Kathleen Clyde in the calendars on file.Source: ohiosos.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Where they stand

Voter list maintenance

Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:

Opposed Ohio's practice of purging inactive voters from the rolls after six consecutive years of non-voting without confirmation the voter had moved; said she would end the practice if elected.

2018 · 2018 campaign, per Ballotpedia

Source: ballotpedia.org

Voting equipment

Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:

Advocated shifting Ohio to a uniform, statewide paper-ballot voting system rather than letting each county choose its own voting machines.

2018 · 2018 campaign, per Ballotpedia

Source: ballotpedia.org

What they have said, checked

Not yet researched

Record in office

Record in office, dated entries3 record entries from 2014 to 2020; 2 of them bills; 2 offices held on the record.2020Clyde (D)Ohio House of Representatives, 75th district, 2011 to 2018Portage County Commissioner, 2018-12 to 2020-122014 (bill): Sponsored the Ohio Future Voter Act (HB 637) to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.2018 (bill): As the ranking Democrat on the Ohio House committee overseeing elections, sponsored the DISCLOSE Act aimed at closing undisclosed-donor loop2020-11 (action): As Portage County Commissioner, lost her bid for a first full term in November 2020 to Republican Tony Badalamenti, 40,712 to 36,258 votes.
Record in office, dated entries3 record entries from 2014 to 2020; 2 of them bills; 2 offices held on the record.Source: Cracked Buckeye person record for Clyde (D), 3 dated entries · as of 2020-11 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
PersonDateKindEntry
Clyde (D)2011officeOhio House of Representatives, 75th district
Clyde (D)2018-12officePortage County Commissioner
Clyde (D)2014bill2014 (bill): Sponsored the Ohio Future Voter Act (HB 637) to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.
Clyde (D)2018bill2018 (bill): As the ranking Democrat on the Ohio House committee overseeing elections, sponsored the DISCLOSE Act aimed at closing undisclosed-donor loop
Clyde (D)2020-11action2020-11 (action): As Portage County Commissioner, lost her bid for a first full term in November 2020 to Republican Tony Badalamenti, 40,712 to 36,258 votes.

  1. action November 2020

    As Portage County Commissioner, lost her bid for a first full term in November 2020 to Republican Tony Badalamenti, 40,712 to 36,258 votes.

    Tony Badalamenti's winning 2020 campaign, per Ideastream Public Media: Never appreciated the job she was given · the source

    Source: ideastream.org

  2. bill 2018

    As the ranking Democrat on the Ohio House committee overseeing elections, sponsored the DISCLOSE Act aimed at closing undisclosed-donor loopholes and strengthening bans on foreign money in Ohio campaign finance.

    Source: ohiohouse.gov

  3. bill 2014

    Sponsored the Ohio Future Voter Act (HB 637) to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.

    Source: ohiohouse.gov

Recorded votes

Kathleen Clyde cast 1,891 Yea or Nay votes on the roll calls we hold, across 4 terms from 2011 to 2018, all in the Ohio General Assembly, from the Ohio Legislature. Each term opens to every roll call, with the question, the result, how Kathleen Clyde voted and how the majority of their party voted.

TermChamberYeaNayDid not voteWith party
132nd General Assembly, 2017–2018Ohio House, district 7526643not recorded87% of 30
131st General Assembly, 2015–2016Ohio House, district 7526942not recorded100% of 32
130th General Assembly, 2013–2014Ohio House, district 75428184not recorded99% of 158
129th General Assembly, 2011–2012Ohio House, district 68453206not recorded98% of 223

"With party" counts only roll calls on which most Republicans and most Democrats voted opposite ways. The Ohio Legislature records who voted Yea and who voted Nay and no one else, so an absence cannot be told from an abstention and neither is counted; only floor votes are listed.

Source: Legislation and votes

Money

Where the money went, as filedKathleen Clyde raised $3.2M, spent $3.3M as of December 31, 2018; $72K more went out or stayed on hand than this filing reports raised; no cash on hand is filed.Raised to Spent: $3.2MOther funds (derived) to Spent: $72KKathleen Clyde: Raised, $3.2M as filed, as of 2018-12-31Raised$3.2MKathleen Clyde: Other funds (derived), $72K as filed, as of 2018-12-31Other funds (derived)$72KKathleen Clyde: Spent, $3.3M as filed, as of 2018-12-31Spent$3.3MIn, as filedWhere it went, as filed
Where the money went, as filedKathleen Clyde raised $3.2M, spent $3.3M as of December 31, 2018; $72K more went out or stayed on hand than this filing reports raised; no cash on hand is filed.Source: Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings, through 2018-12-31 · as of 2018-12-31 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
FromToDollarsShare of totalNote
RaisedSpent3,195,18897.8%
Other funds (derived)Spent71,6592.2%
Money, as filedKathleen Clyde raised $3.2M, spent $3.3M as of December 31, 2018; 1 filing on file.2018 Secretary of StateRaisedKathleen Clyde, 2018 Secretary of State: raised $3.2M as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as of 2018-12-31$3.2MSpentKathleen Clyde, 2018 Secretary of State: spent $3.3M as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as of 2018-12-31$3.3MCash on handKathleen Clyde, 2018 Secretary of State: cash on hand not yet researchedNot yet researched
Money, as filedKathleen Clyde raised $3.2M, spent $3.3M as of December 31, 2018; 1 filing on file.Source: Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings · as of 2018-12-31 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemUSDNote
2018 Secretary of StateRaised3,195,188
2018 Secretary of StateSpent3,266,847
2018 Secretary of StateCash on handNot yet researched
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for Kathleen Clyde breaks itemized contributions down by state.None found in the records checked
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for Kathleen Clyde breaks itemized contributions down by state.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Totals as filed

RaceFilerRaisedSpentCash on handAs of
Secretary of State of Ohio OhioSOS $3,195,188$3,266,847December 31, 2018

Source: transparencyusa.org

Donors, as filed2 donors on file, totaling $158K; the top entry is Ohio Democratic Party State Candidate Fund at $132K.Ohio Democratic…Ohio Democratic Party State Candidate Fund: $132K$132KThomas F. SteyerThomas F. Steyer: $25K$25K
Donors, as filed2 donors on file, totaling $158K; the top entry is Ohio Democratic Party State Candidate Fund at $132K.Source: Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings · as of 2018-12-31 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemUSDNote
Ohio Democratic Party State Candidate Fund132,500
Thomas F. Steyer25,414

Top donors, as filed

Outside spending

Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against Kathleen Clyde yet.None found in the records checked
Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against Kathleen Clyde yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Financial interests

Not yet researched

Polling and approval

Polls, Secretary of State of Ohio, as published1 field date from October 2018 to October 2018; the latest has Clyde at 42.0%25%50%75%100%Nov 2018Election dayKathleen Clyde 42% - Suffolk University, 2018-10 - 500 registered voters, October 4-8, 2018, margin of error 4.4 pointsField date
Polls, Secretary of State of Ohio, as published1 field date from October 2018 to October 2018; the latest has Clyde at 42.Source: Cracked Buckeye poll log for Kathleen Clyde, 1 poll, as published by Suffolk University · as of 2018-10 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Field dateCandidateSharePoll
Oct 2018Kathleen Clyde42Suffolk University, 500 registered voters, October 4-8, 2018, margin of error 4.4 points

Elections

Election results, share of the vote1 race on file, 0 won; shares from 47.0% to 47.0%.2018 Secretary of StateKathleen Clyde, Secretary of State of Ohio: lost, 47.0%47.0%
Election results, share of the vote1 race on file, 0 won; shares from 47.0% to 47.0%.Source: Ohio Secretary of State, official canvass, 2018 · as of 2018 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemPCTNote
2018 Secretary of State47.0
RacePartyResultVotesShare
Secretary of State of Ohio (2018) DemocraticLost 2,052,098 47.0%

Offices held

  • Ohio House of Representatives, 75th district · 2011 to 2018 · elected

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

  • Portage County Commissioner · 2018-12 to 2020-12 · appointed

    Source: ideastream.org

Endorsements

Not yet researched

Sources

Data from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: Kathleen Clyde · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ohio_Secretary_of_State_election

Every URL on this page, once each.

  1. Kathleen Clyde · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
  2. Kathleen Clyde · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
  3. Ohio Secretary of State election, 2018 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
  4. Clyde Announces Legislation to Close Secret Money Loopholes in Ohio Campaigns · Ohio House of Representatives (Democratic Caucus) · accessed 2026-09-19
  5. Clyde announces the Ohio Future Voter Act to allow voter pre-registration · Ohio House of Representatives (Democratic Caucus) · accessed 2026-09-19
  6. Portage County Commissioners Flip To 2-1 Republican Majority · Ideastream Public Media · accessed 2026-09-19
  7. Kathleen Clyde - Ohio Candidate (2018 Election Cycle overview) · Transparency USA · accessed 2026-09-19
  8. Kathleen Clyde - Contributions detail · Transparency USA · accessed 2026-09-19
  9. Suffolk University/Cincinnati Enquirer Poll Shows Blue Wave in Ohio Midterm Election · Suffolk University · 2018-07-12 · accessed 2026-09-19
  10. https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/ladies-gallery/kathleen-clyde
  11. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/briefs/ohio-democrats-select-former-state-rep-kathleen-clyde-as-new-state-party-chair/
  12. https://ohiodems.org/kathleen-clyde-elected-new-chair-of-the-ohio-democratic-party/
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20181107074840/https://www.suffolk.edu/documents/SUPRC/10_12_2018_marginals.pdf
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ohio_Secretary_of_State_election

Cite and data

Cite this page as:

Cracked Buckeye, "Kathleen Clyde", https://crackedbuckeye.com/people/kathleen-clyde/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].

How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03

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