Democrats still don't know who will challenge Rep. Steve Chabot next year. But they can scratch one name off the list: 2020 Democratic candidate Kate Schroder.
Schroder told The Enquirer she won't run against Chabot next year. Interact for Health on Monday announced Schroder as the health education nonprofit's next chief executive officer.
"My focus is on where I can have the greatest impact," Schroder said. "This opportunity came up. It is an incredible opportunity."
Schroder lost to Chabot 52% to 45% in 2020. But the lines will be redrawn soon to adjust for new 2020 census data, possibly making the district easier for Democrats to win.
Democrats have made Chabot's 1st Congressional District one of the top targets next year.
Schroder was one of the few Democrats talked about publicly as a potential challenger in 2022. Former mayoral candidate Gavi Begtrup has also expressed an interest.
Even though Democrats nationwide see Chabot as vulnerable, local Democrats have been reluctant to step forward until they know what the district boundaries will look like. Ohio lawmakers have missed two deadlines to redraw the congressional district boundaries.
Schroder said this summer she considered a second run at Congress in 2022. But she couldn't say no to leading Interact for Health. Schroder has worked in health care for decades, including 12 years with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. She lived in Zambia for two years where she focused on health outcomes for children.
With Interact for Health, she'll oversee an organization that invests $7 million annually in grants, community research and education and has a charitable endowment of $260 million.
"There’s no question this is an incredible opportunity in this community where I grew up and which I love," Schroder said. "In Congress, I'd just be one of 435."
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