Vanessa Enoch

Vanessa Enoch was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and lives in West Chester, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ohio State University in June 1992, a master of business administration from Xavier University in December 1999, and a doctorate in public policy from Union Institute & University in October 2017. Her professional experience includes working as a management and policy consultant. She has also worked as a journalist, a television reporter, a college professor, and a dean of students.

Enoch has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1][2]

American Society for Public Administrators in Cincinnati

American Political Science Association

Vision Works, Inc., board president

Black Greeks Speak-Social Justice Organization, board member

Joseph Dream, Race Reconciliation & Healing Organization, board member

Cultural Impact, LLC, president and CEO

National Black MBA Association, Cincinnati chapter

Cincinnati Chamber C-Change Leadership Class

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Campaign websiteEnoch's campaign website stated the following:Advancing Technology ResponsiblyTechnology is transforming how we live, work, and grow our economy. As a candidate for public office—and as someone who owns and manages a technology and management company—I’ve seen how powerful innovation can be when it is guided by responsibility.The United States must continue to lead in technological advancement. Our innovators are developing tools that strengthen healthcare, national security, and economic opportunity. But progress must be matched with accountability.New technologies—from artificial intelligence to modern digital infrastructure—should be developed carefully and ethically. Innovation must protect privacy, strengthen cybersecurity, and create opportunities for American workers.As technology expands—especially data centers and digital infrastructure—we must also protect our communities by responsibly managing power, water, and energy resources while safeguarding the data Americans rely on every day.America can lead the world in innovation, but we must move forward wisely. Responsible innovation ensures technological progress strengthens our communities, our economy, and our future.Homes and communities as foundations for wellbeingEvery person has inherent dignity and deserves to live in a safe, stable home. Where we live should not determine our life’s trajectory. When we ensure that good places to live exist in every neighborhood—rural, suburban and urban—we honor people’s dignity and strengthen our entire region.The cost of homes has been allowed to outpace local incomes because of zoning laws, tax incentives and lending practices that favor some neighborhoods over others. Decades of redlining, disinvestment and exclusionary policies have concentrated poverty in certain zip codes. These structural choices, not individual failings, drive disparities in home ownership, housing quality and neighborhood resources.We can change course by rewriting land‑use rules, investing in mixed‑income developments, and ensuring that teachers, nurses and firefighters can live near their workplaces. By engaging residents in planning thoughtfully designed neighborhoods—with good schools, transportation, parks and healthy food options—we create vibrant communities that boost physical, mental and economic wellbeing. When everyone has access to good places to live, our region’s prosperity grows and children have the stability they need to learn and thrive.Investing in health for shared prosperityGood health is not a luxury; it’s one of the essential materials that builds personal and community wellbeing. We honor people’s dignity when we ensure that everyone has access to quality care, no matter where they live or how much they earn.Americans pay more for health care than people in other wealthy countries because of policy choices that allow unaffordable prescription drugs, fragmented care and opaque pricing. These structural problems mean that families have to choose between paying for medicine and paying for housing or food. Blaming individuals obscures the real issue: our health‑care system has been designed to prioritize profits over patients.We can redesign health‑care rules to put people first: empower Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices, cap out‑of‑pocket costs, fund community clinics and invest in preventive care. Policies like paid sick leave and family leave support workers’ health and economic security. By making healthcare affordable and accessible, we strengthen families, reduce stress and free up money for education, entrepreneurship and savings—building shared prosperity across our region.Building a secure and prosperous future for everyoneImagine a region where every family can afford good food, health care and a safe place to live—where no child’s ZIP code or family background determines their destiny. Our economy isn’t an uncontrollable force of nature; it is something we design. Because it is designed, we can redesign it so that its rules and incentives promote stability and wellbeing for all.Right now, costs are rising faster than wages. Health‑care and housing policies, corporate pricing practices and outdated labor rules have created barriers that keep workers from sharing in the prosperity they help create. For example, when health‑care companies can raise prices without oversight and wages remain flat, the bricks needed to build personal wellbeing—adequate health care, stable housing, education and secure jobs—crumble.We can redesign these systems. By negotiating prescription‑drug prices, expanding access to preventive care, raising the minimum wage and investing in education and child care, we shore up the materials that build wellbeing. These changes will allow families to spend less on basic expenses and more on savings, education and small businesses—benefiting the entire region. Together, through innovative policy and collective effort, we can build a future of shared prosperity.Reimagining work and opportunityEveryone deserves the opportunity to pursue meaningful work and contribute to our shared prosperity. Our region’s economic vitality depends on a diverse workforce that reflects all of our communities.The decline in job security and wage growth stems from policy decisions—such as weakened labor protections, uneven education funding and underinvestment in infrastructure and childcare—that have tilted the playing field. When people’s ability to build wellbeing depends on precarious jobs and unpredictable schedules, it’s not because they lack drive; it’s because the system is failing to provide the supports they need.We can redesign our economy to work for everyone by raising wages, ensuring predictable hours, investing in apprenticeship and training programs, expanding child care and transportation options, and supporting small businesses and innovation. These policies recognize that building wellbeing is a community project—it takes a construction crew, not just individual effort. When we invest in workers and the conditions that allow them to thrive, we all benefit through stronger local economies, healthier families and a more resilient future.Restoring trust and integrity in our democracy and economyDemocracy and markets work best when they are fair, transparent and inclusive. Our current political and economic systems were built by people, and we can redesign them to ensure that they serve the common good.Many Americans worry that a powerful few use their influence to rig policies to benefit themselves at the expense of regular people. Distrust in government and the economy flourishes when campaign finance loopholes, opaque lobbying rules and weak enforcement allow corruption to fester. This isn’t an indictment of individuals; it’s evidence that our systems need repair.To restore trust, we can strengthen rules that limit money in politics, require transparency in lobbying and enforce ethical standards. We should design economic policies that reward work over speculation, incentivize local investment and prevent monopolistic practices. When people see that the rules are fair and that everyone’s voice counts, they are more likely to engage constructively in solving our shared challenges. Through ingenuity and collective action, we can reclaim our democracy and build an economy that reflects our shared values.— Vanessa Enoch's campaign website (April 24, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

For over 20 years, Dr. Vanessa Enoch has been a successful business owner, serving as the President & CEO of Cultural Impact, LLC. Through her management and technology consulting firm, she provides invaluable business support services. With a wealth of experience living overseas and working across different continents and cultures, Dr. Enoch brings a unique perspective to her work.

But Dr. Enoch's accomplishments extend beyond the business world. As a three-time Democratic Nominee for the US House of Representatives in Ohio's 8th congressional district, she has proven her dedication to public service and advocacy. In addition to her political endeavors, Dr. Enoch is an award-winning journalist, contributing insightful news articles to both local and national publications. Her expertise in Criminal Justice reporting has earned recognition from the prestigious Society for Professional Journalism.

Dr. Enoch's impressive educational background further underscores her expertise and commitment to making a difference. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Information Technology from Xavier University, as well as a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Union Institute & University. Her groundbreaking dissertation focused on the barriers faced by black women judges across Ohio, shedding light on critical issues of representation and equality.

Enoch strives to inspire individuals and fellow business owners to embrace their passion, purpose, & power

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?

Reproductive freedom is a right we must uphold: In Ohio's 8th District, the right to make informed and personal decisions about reproductive health is under threat. Ohio voted to protect this freedom, but there is no national protections in place. I am dedicated to safeguarding and expanding access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. This includes protecting the right to choose, ensuring availability of birth control, and advocating for women's health services. Our community thrives when each individual has control over their reproductive choices, free from government interference. It's not just a health issue; it's about our rights, our freedoms, and our futures. I stand committed to upholding these essential freedoms for all.Revitalizing Ohio's 8th District with robust job creation and economic growth should be a priority for our district and our state. Dr. Enoch is committed to bringing new industries and opportunities to our communities, ensuring that every citizen has access to well-paying jobs and a thriving local economyDr. Enoch will fight for accessible and affordable healthcare for everyone in our district. It's time to ensure that all residents of Ohio's 8th District have the health coverage they need and deserve, regardless of their income or background.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am a public policy and business consultant with a deep passion for social justice and human rights. I have actively worked on various causes for marginalized and oppressed communities. My personal passions include ensuring fairness within the criminal justice system and in the jury selection process. I am particularly concerned about the high incarceration rates of poor, mentally ill, and minority individuals in America's prisons.

I am also an advocate for systemic changes to address issues faced by Black Americans due to systemic racism and inequalities. I support equitable public school funding and sensible gun laws to prevent mass shootings. Additionally, I am a proponent of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy.

I am committed to providing affordable healthcare, supporting a public Medicare option, and saving Social Security. This includes addressing issues like mass incarceration, which I believe affects the social security system, and advocating for immigration system reforms to encourage new tax revenue.

With a professional background in both business and education, my diverse experiences have informed my approach to policy-making, and my leadership roles in various capacities reflect my commitment to public service and community engagement.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Nelson Mandela. Mandela was unjustly incarcerated for 27 years, and upon release he held no bitterness and no malice. His gentle and kind heart, good character and charisma allowed him to become the head of state in South Africa.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I remember was a very personal event. It was when I was a first grader and President Jimmy Carter visited our school. I got to shake the Presidents hand. It was a moment I never forgot, even at the tender age of 6 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was with McDonald's. I started working there when I was 16 years old. I worked there for nearly a year, before I was recruited by a customer who was a Manager at Thom McAn Shoestore. The Manager thought I had excellent customer service skills and asked me to come and work for them. They paid me much more money and offered me more desirable hours, so it was an opportunity I couldn't resist.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I would be Superman. I really like his concern for making the world right and how he balanced that with his career as a journalist and his romantic love for Lois Lane. I am happy to be the woman version of Superman, but Superwoman is not as appealing as a superhero as Superman.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My greatest struggle in life has been single parenting my daughters after the loss of my husband. Parenting should be a two-person job. Financially, it is a significant strain on one person. It is even more difficult to put two children through college as a single mother. My children were very active, which made it even more difficult. I remember the years that I was juggling their volleyball, basketball, soccer games and track meets. It was especially difficult because I often had to work several jobs to make ends meet and maintain the standard of living that they had grown accustomed to. I was running my consulting business and I was fortunate to be able to find online teaching jobs that enabled me to teach an hour per day a few days per week and I could grade papers when it was convenient for me. Before my husband died, I went back to school for my doctorate degree. My program required at least 20 hours of study per week, so at one point I was writing papers on the sidelines at sporting events and beachside on family vacations. I continued my studies after he died, and juggled my parenting duties, a doctoral program, my small business, and work life. My children are both adults now. One is pursuing her undergraduate degree, the other after starting her career in big tech is now a law student.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I believe the greatest challenges we will face as a nation over the next decade will be climate change, the possibility of civil and world war, and economic collapse as a result of not educating US citizens, the high cost of health care, the student debt crisis, and the transference of generational poverty and the simultaneous absence of wealth transfer.

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

No, I have no interest in cloning myself after anyone. I pride myself on being unique and offering all that I am to the role of representative.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The stories that touch my heart the most are the cancer stories and the stories that parents tell me about the loss of their children. The most disheartening stories are the tragedies that could have been preventable. In 2018, a mother in Middletown told me the story of her son had died of an opioid addiction, and the story of a father that lost his daughter to opioid addiction two days before Easter and then a son two days before Christmas the same year.

Campaign website

Enoch’s campaign website stated the following:

On the Issues

Get to know the woman behind the movement, her life, what she stands for, and what her plans are for our country!

War & Global Conflicts

I believe that in matters of global affairs, our priority should be to safeguard the citizens of the United States and our interests. Every year, we as citizens provide billions upon billions of tax dollars to the United States government. I will ensure that American workers hard earned money is being put to better use by funding programs that will benefit the American people rather than the military-industrial complex.

Russia’s War on Ukraine

I believe we must support our allies in Ukraine, as the defense of democratic ideals is of utmost importance. Russia, under Vladamir Putin is a global bully, and Putin will not stop with his attempted occupation of Ukraine. Putin cannot be allowed to continue his assault on Ukraine. Our global interest in Europe necessitates a strong presence in terms of support to our allies. I believe we must continue to do this in the form of providing the weapons and tools needed for Ukraine to continue to fight on its behalf without involving US soldiers.

Netanyahu’s War on Palestine

I believe an immediate cease-fire is called for in the Gaza Strip! Netanyahu’s response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli’s has been badly handled and poorly executed, and has led to the genocide of the whole of the Palestinian people. Innocent elderly, women, and children have suffered insurmountable death, famine, and torture at the hands of the unrelenting right-wing extremist, Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has failed his citizens, and he appears to have forgotten to prioritize the return of innocent civilian hostages while rather choosing to carry out a strategy to annihilate every Palestinian citizen. This war cannot continue as is, and in the wake of Netanyahu’s killing of innocent American humanitarian workers, America must discontinue all military weapons support and demand a cease-fire, and facilitate the peaceful end to this conflict, and the return of all Israeli and internationally held hostages. Learn more about this war from an Israeli scholar, who happens to be an Enoch.

Abortion Access/ Reproductive Freedom & Violence Against Women & Girls

Over the past few years, violence against women has been glamorized, the exploitation of women has been normalized, and the real issues that impact women have been left off of the national agenda, moreover with the overturning of Roe, the Supreme Court has stripped away 50 years of legislation that protected women’s bodily autonomy. 33% of all victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement were ages 12 through 17 and 34% were under age 12. Most disturbing is that one of every seven victims of sexual assault (or 14% of all victims) reported to law enforcement agencies were under age 6.

The absence of representation of women in DC means that our voices have been excluded and our exclusion has become ever more obvious than ever, as men in local and national state legislatures fail miserably in an attempt to determine policies surrounding our healthcare, economic, and social wellbeing.

Women deserve economic justice (the right to be paid a livable wage, protection from employment discrimination, and pay equity). The continual absence of women in the national legislature means that we will continue to be pushed to the fringes and ignored in Washington.

We must codify the provisions of Roe v. Wade and restore a woman’s right to bodily autonomy. To take away a woman’s right to choose how she should handle her medical decisions should be between her and her doctor, not legislators in Columbus and Washington, D.C. Legislators like Davidson want to restrict women’s right to travel out of state to secure needed health care. This cannot become the law of the land in this country. We don’t need morality police in America. Women in this country have the right to full citizenship and not to be treated like property or chattel slaves. Warren Davidson voted against the Violence Against Women’s Act, and he voted against supplying infants with baby formula. We cannot tolerate legislators who want to relegate women and children to second-class citizens.

Voting for Dr. Vanessa Enoch means that you will put a woman in office who understands the challenges of women from all walks of life. As a first-generation college grad, I come from humble beginnings. I worked my way through college and had substantial student loans. I know the frustrations of women across this country, and I will carry the message of the women from the 8th District in Ohio to Washington, D.C. I will fight for gender equality and our right to be recognized as full citizens under the Constitution of the United States. A vote for me means a win for women and our children!

Dr. Enoch will fight for women’s access to reproductive healthcare, pass laws that guard against violence against women, and ensure that women have the right to travel to any state in the Union for whatever reason they choose. This election year, it’s all on the line! I need your help to protect us from legislators who have no clue about women’s experiences.

Recently, an Alabama Supreme Court voted to restrict IVF treatment. This is yet another attack on women’s right to reproductive freedom. Vanessa Enoch will fight to codify our reproductive freedoms in the US Constitution and prevent the national abortion ban that Republicans have been threatening, but to do this, she needs your help!

Donate to help send Dr. Enoch to Congress!

Racial Equity

As an African American woman, attaining racial equity is personal to me. Trying to succeed in America is difficult for many people, structural inequities can make this especially true for Black Americans. The racial climate in the wake of the COVID-19 and the tremendous health disparities, which exist in Black communities has demonstrated the extent of the problem many Blacks have understood through lived experience.

Over the last decade, the Supreme Court and courts across the country have dismantled and gutted crucial aspects of the Voting Rights Act, opening the doors to the reverberation of discriminatory voter suppression laws. Decades of a lack of access to employment, healthcare, housing, and quality education were exasperated by the global pandemic, and the eyes of the world have been planted on the US, as the issue of militarized policing and disparate treatment of Black citizens have re-emerged as one of the biggest challenges in our lifetimes. Similarly, when the US Supreme Court ended race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, this opened the doors for attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in U.S. companies and within organizations. The ruling could lead to increased scrutiny of DEI initiatives under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin. But, these issues only scratch the surface of the problem of institutionalized racism.

Real change is needed in Washington DC. Once the cameras pan away from the issues of the day, blacks continue to be subjected to a lack of access to colleges and universities, underrepresentation in corporate America and in higher paying jobs, over-policing, racial profiling, unfair treatment in our nation’s courts, leading to mass incarceration; denied access to lending institutions for business and consumer lending vehicles, leading to a lack of businesses, limited homeownership and the inability to build wealth through traditional channels.

As a member of Congress, I will bring substantive representation and much-needed change to the issues that Black Americans face at the hands of systemic racism and inequities. We must ensure that every American has equal access to the American Dream!

Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering must end. Ohio’s 15 districts were drawn by Republicans, to ensure that they maintain a supermajority. Districts were created solely for the purpose of maximizing vote count and retaining power. State and federal judges have ruled these districts unconstitutional, and voters established a constitutional amendment to ensure that districts would be drawn fairly, yet Republican legislators have defiantly refused to uphold the law, and draw fair districts. Districts should reflect the community’s values, and allow all voices to be heard in our representative democracy. Intelligence agencies confirm that Russia and China have sown propaganda across social media channels, through the use of bot farms. Foreign interference must end.

Dr. Enoch will work across party lines in Congress to ensure fairness in the voting process, and to ensure that citizens of the 8th district have a voice in Washington, D.C.

Our Right To Vote Is Under Attack!

Our Right To Vote Is Under Attack!

Your vote is your voice in our representative democracy. The voices of ALL constituents should count and be heard, not just the interests of corporations and the wealthy. My opponent, Warren Davidson believes that his big money donors should have a bigger voice than district voters. His voting record reflects this belief, as he continually votes against the needs and interests of constituents in our district.

It is time to overturn Citizens United. Unlimited outside expenditures from anonymous donors allow monied interests to have an oversized influence on our legislation. One person should equal one vote, not one dollar one vote.

We must restore the full Voting Rights Act. In the seven years since Shelby v. Holder, voter access and rights have regressed. It’s harder to register, stay registered, and find a polling place. In recent years, including 2020, we’ve seen countless instances of voter repression and long lines at the polls. Unnecessary obstacles to voting rights negatively affect the voice of the people.

Elections must be secure and transparent. Make every vote count. Count every vote. The week of August 3, 2020, Representative Warren Davidson sent out a mailer threatening to stop absentee voting. We have had a secure and longstanding vote-by-mail system for many years in Ohio. In the midst of a global pandemic, Davidson wanted to stop eligible voters from casting votes. He believed he would not win the election without tampering with our right to vote, so he threatened to take away the ability of voters to cast their ballots by mail!

In 2018, Russians hacked our elections with extensive disinformation campaigns. Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers that Russia was again interfering in the 2020 campaign. Ohio law permits absentee voting by mail. Please exercise your right to vote,

Davidson has a horrible record in Congress. His votes have been harmful to everyone in America. In 2020, he voted against extending unemployment benefits to the 17.8 million Americans who remained unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon after that vote, there were 1.4 million new unemployment claims nationwide. We can’t afford another two years of Warren Davidson’s reign of terror on Ohio’s 8th Congressional District.

To add insult to injury, Davidson used OUR tax money to send out what was essentially a piece of campaign literature about the border. Davidson ignores the fact that the closest residents of the 8th district are 1523 miles from the Mexican border. Davidson has taken our votes for granted, and now he’s using our tax dollars to infringe upon our right to elect new leadership!

Trade Agreements and Tariffs

I support agreements that promote the healthy and fair exchange of goods, protect jobs in Ohio and across the country, and safeguard intellectual property. These agreements must provide for a living wage and safe, humane working conditions in the countries involved. A fairer world is a more prosperous world, and we must lead by example. If we improve the economy of our trade partners, more people can afford to buy our goods and we all benefit.

Tariffs are not paid by foreign countries. They are taxes on the importers of foreign goods, and businesses in turn pass this added cost onto the consumer. The intent is to discourage consumers from bu