Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Democrat Primary is heating up as we approach election day on May 3rd. Incumbent Congresswoman Shontel Brown is fighting off former State Senator Nina Turner for a second time. Shontel Brown won the special election in November of 2021 beating Republican Laverne Gore Jones. 

Shontel Brown who is described as a more moderate democrat is trying to secure her seat in Congress and has raised over $3 million to keep her seat in congress. Congresswoman Brown is endorsed by Hillary Clinton, Senator Sherrod Brown, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and even Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. Brown has said on Twitter “Congresswoman Brown is fulfilling her promise to work with President Biden to deliver for NE Ohio. Her vote for the Infrastructure Law will improve roads & bridges, replace lead pipes, create jobs, & expand high-speed Internet access.”

Former State Senator Nina Turner describes herself as a progressive Democrat receiving the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman AOC. Mrs Turner has raised over $7 million to defeat the incumbent Congresswoman Shontel Brown. Mrs Turner has recently released an attack ad claiming that Congresswoman Brown has done nothing to tackle the rise in inflation and help out everyday Americans as prices go up. The ad also highlights Brown’s vote against Biden’s plan for giving Americans a “living wage”, her vote to give herself a $7,000 raise while serving on the Cuyahoga County Council, and that her corruption has led to an Ethics Commission investigation. 

With the primary now only 7 days away this race could be a win for the “Squad” in adding a member to their roster. This district will have no effect on the makeup of Congress this midterm election as it is already a 30+ Democrat district. So come May 3rd we shall know whether or not we will see a progressive or a moderate in Congress for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.