Former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson died Friday, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Davidson, 97, paved the way for women in a male-dominated political world.
There's no word on what caused Davidson's death, but she was advanced in age. Her close friend Betty Montgomery, a political powerhouse in her own right as a former attorney general and auditor of Ohio, confirmed Davidson's death.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine shared a heartfelt tribute on the state's website on Friday. "Fran and I are saddened to learn of the death of our dear friend Jo Ann Davidson," the Republican governor wrote.
"Jo Ann dedicated her life to public service and the people of Ohio, a model public servant who was full of wit, intelligence, class, and skill. She was a trailblazer in the truest sense, beginning her career on Reynoldsburg’s city council in the 1960s and making history in 1995 as Ohio’s first female speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives," DeWine added.
As House speaker, Davidson was the first woman to hold one of the top three power positions in the state—Senate president, House speaker, or governor. Only one other woman, Nancy Hollister, shared such an honor after she served as governor for just 11 days.
Davidson began her political career in 1965. Her first candidacy for Reynoldsburg City Council was unsuccessful, but Davidson vowed to take her campaigning more seriously in subsequent races. She did exactly that and broke her ankle hammering in yard signs in 1990.
She was a successful lobbyist for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and would eventually serve on the city council as township clerk. In 1980, she was elected to the Ohio House along with a Republican majority that later swept the state.
By 1994, Davidson would be elected House speaker and remained in the position for six years. During her term, Davidson was fiscally conservative but advocated for abortion rights.
Still, she was a prominent figure in the Republican Party at the local, state, and national levels. Davidson became Republican National Committee co-chair in 2005 and would persuade the party to host its 2016 convention in Cleveland.
While Davidson's achievements are impressive on their own, she also paved the way for other women to follow suit. In 2000, she founded the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute for that purpose, and it now boasts more than 400 alumnae.
One was 2010 graduate Lydia Mihalik, who now serves in the DeWine administration after serving as mayor of Findlay. "She is the epitome of the professional," Mihalik said of Davidson during an interview in 2022.
"This is not to be taken in a negative way, but she is the example of a very effective professional politician and a public servant." Mihalik respected Davidson so much that her third child carries Jo Ann as her middle name.
Current Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-OH) also praised Davidson's achievements and willingness to help others. "As a true trailblazer, Speaker Davidson's legacy is one of strength, grace, and servant leadership. She fostered a culture of mentorship that changed the lives of many for the better," Stephens said.
Davidson is survived by her daughter, Jenifer Enslen, and three grandchildren, as many of her loved ones have already passed on. However, her memory and legacy will live on in her achievements and in the mentoring she provided to others.