Rose Lounsbury

Rose Lounsbury earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 2004 and a master's degree in teaching English language and literature from Miami University in 2008.[1] Her career experience includes working as a consultant. She has been affiliated with the League of Women Voters.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a former public school teacher, current small business owner, and suburban mom of teenage triplets, I’m committed to making sure that the voices of all Ohioans are heard in decision-making in Columbus. I’m passionate about supporting the hard-working families in this state, guaranteeing all children access to a fairly-funded public education, and making sure all Ohioans receive compassionate, affordable health care.

My husband, Josh, and I moved to Dayton 20 years ago because we saw Dayton as a place with good jobs for young people fresh out of college, safe communities for the family we hoped to create, and a vibrant downtown filled with unique cultural events. We are grateful to have found a welcoming community in our home in Ohio.

For most of my adult life, I felt democracy was a given, something I could always count on or even take for granted.

That is, until Donald Trump somehow wound up in the White House.

I was shocked that our country could elect a leader who openly disparaged women and other underrepresented groups. I took action to be more active in the community, joining the League of Women Voters (where I currently serve on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee), participating in marches and rallies, connecting with local leaders, and educating myself about local politics, civic organizations, and democracy. This inspired me to run for the State House in 2024.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will advocate for an end to gerrymandering, push to increase voting rights through proven measures such as same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration, and demand an end to the undemocratic voter purges that disproportionately affect voters who are young, poor, or people of color.

For much of my life, I thought democracy was a “given” that took care of itself. The August 8th special election in Ohio changed this. The election cost $18 million dollars, and was aimed at silencing the voice of the majority of Ohio voters to affect constitutional change. This is a clear example of the threat democracy faces in Ohio, a threat perpetuated by the very legislators who are supposed to represent the voters they claim to serve. I am determined to champion and defend efforts to promote the freedom and autonomy of women. This includes reproductive rights, closing the gender pay gap, providing affordable childcare for working moms, supporting funding for research to improve women’s physical and mental health, and breaking down the systemic barriers women all too often still face in the workplace. In 2023, Ohioans sent a clear message: We care about women’s rights. By passing Issue 1 in November, Ohio voters showed the legislature that they care about women being treated as equal citizens.

Women are the backbone of our society. I am committed to making sure they receive the support and freedoms they deserve, freedoms that Ohioans overwhelmingly support protecting.I will bring my experience and compassion as an educator to the statehouse. I will fight to reverse Ohio’s long-standing unconstitutional school funding model by eliminating the property tax-based funding system.

I will also push back against school voucher systems, because a high-quality, public education should be for everyone and our tax dollars should support schools that serve all students.

I will support Ohio’s teachers for the experts and professionals they are. Too many teachers feel attacked and demoralized. Our teachers are tasked with the enormous responsibility of educating our future leaders and they deserve to be respected and adequately paid while they do so.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My campaign is focused on protecting democracy, women’s rights, working families, public education, the environment, gun safety, labor, healthcare, and diversity, justice, equity and inclusion.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important characteristic of an elected official is their ability to listen and take action based on what they hear. Our officials are tasked with representing. Thus they should not be extreme. Instead, they should do their best to represent the values of the majority of Ohioans. As a State Representative, I will keep in mind the values of equality, justice, equal opportunity, and progress towards a greater future for all. I will never vote for a policy that harms our community members.

What is your favorite book? Why?

As a former English teacher, this is a HARD question for me! So I’m going to pick two: Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See.” While one of these books takes places in the Jim Crow South and the other is set in Europe during WWII, both share a common theme that resonates with us today: The key to building a better world is relying on our common humanity. I think these books offer important lessons to the challenges facing Ohioans today: systemic racism, classism, and the “otherizing” of people who many not look or act like us. We need only look to Columbus to see how our current Republican lawmakers rely on fear-based legislation—such as House Bill 68, which recently banned gender-affirming care for minors—to create the exact kinds of dangerous, discriminatory situations depicted in these two books. These books are lessons to us. We can do better. We must do better. And “doing better” means recognizing that all people are people, and all people matter.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Rep. Jessica Miranda, who represents the Northern suburbs of Hamilton County, is a role model of mine. As a fellow mom, and an advocate for women’s rights for her entire career, she ran against an extremist incumbent candidate and flipped a suburban district. After running a strong campaign, Rep. Miranda has never wavered in fighting for what she knows is right, and has now passed multiple pieces of legislation that drastically improved Ohio’s laws protecting survivors of sexual assault. I believe that with the community rallying together for something better, we can follow Rep. Miranda’s model, and make Ohio a better place to live. I look forward to the opportunity to serve with Rep. Miranda during my first term, and her last.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Matriots, and the Ohio Environmental Council.