AKRON, Ohio — Voters in the 11th Congressional District took the first step Tuesday toward choosing a new representative for Northeast Ohio as County Councilwoman Shontel Brown held off progressive Nina Turner to win the Democratic primary for an open U.S. House seat.
The contest Tuesday had emerged as a proxy for the future of the Democratic Party. Brown had the support of Hillary Clinton, the political arm of the Congressional Black Caucus and several leading unions.
She will vie to replace Rep. Marcia Fudge, who left to be President Joe Biden’s housing chief. The top Democrat and Republican will face off in the Nov. 2 general election in a district that includes Cleveland, much of Akron and other Summit County communities.
Turner built a national profile working on Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and is backed by members of the "Squad" in Congress.
Brown, chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, secured endorsements from Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty and Fudge's mother.
And both Cleveland natives have strong local ties anchoring their campaigns.
Those roots have translated to a slew of endorsements from local leaders, including Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson for Turner and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan for Brown. Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville believes Brown is best equipped to help residents rebound from the pandemic and combat the inequities it exacerbated.
"It’s so important that we elect good Democrats like Shontel Brown who can sit at the table and bring people together around these important issues so that we can produce results," Sommerville said. "We don’t need anyone at the table that’s going to help further that divide."
Sanders visited the district on Friday to give Turner a push.
Sanders said Turner stands out in the field, supporting policies from a $15 minimum wage to Medicare for all Americans.
“If you want members to stand up and fight for working families, Nina is that candidate,” the senator from Vermont said in a brief interview after his speech.
More:Ohio's 11th Congressional District race turns negative in final days as outside money ramps up
The Democratic primary will likely determine the winner of the general election in the district that leans far to the left. In the 2020 general election, Fudge beat her Republican opponent with more than 80% of the vote. No candidate from either party in any of Ohio's 16 congressional districts won by as much.
Contributing: Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch; The Associated Pre
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