Jo Ann Davidson's story

Jo Ann Davidson made history as the first woman Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. A trailblazer from the start, Davidson launched her political career as the first woman elected to the Reynoldsburg City Council.

Born on September 28, 1927 in Findlay, Davidson was raised in Atlanta. After the death of her father, Davidson’s family moved back to Findlay, where she graduated from high school in 1945 and took a clerical job with the Findlay Chamber of Commerce. Sitting in on the Chamber’s board meetings sparked Davidson’s interest in local government.

When her husband was transferred to Columbus, Ohio, the couple settled in Reynoldsburg. Davidson became active in local Republican politics and the schools while raising her family. She ran for Reynoldsburg City Council in 1965. Despite losing, Davidson ran again in 1967 and won. She was reelected four times and chaired the Finance Committee.

In 1971 Davidson began her long career at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce as a Research Associate. She rose to become Director of Legislative Services and, later, Vice President of Special Programs.

Though she lost her race for Franklin County Recorder in 1972, Davidson became Chair of the Franklin County Republican Party in 1973 and continued to serve on Reynoldsburg City Council until 1977. In 1978 she was appointed Clerk of Truro Township.

A sudden Republican vacancy on the ballot for Ohio House of Representatives in 1980 proved fortuitous for Davidson. She dropped off the ballot for Franklin County Commissioner and ran instead for the 27th District House seat. Despite not competing in the primary, Davidson won the general election and entered the Ohio House in 1981.

In 1985 Davidson was elected Minority Whip by her House Republican colleagues. In 1993 she became the first woman to lead a party in the Ohio House when she was elected Minority Leader. After Republicans won a majority in 1995, Davidson became Speaker of the Ohio House – the first woman to hold this position in any state house of representatives in America. She served as a delegate to several Republican National Conventions, including serving on the prestigious Platform Committee in 1976. Davidson served as Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2009.

Davidson holds honorary degrees from Bowling Green State University, Capital University, and The Ohio State University, among others. She has been honored as Ohio’s Advocate of the Year by Women in Business, Outstanding Legislator by United Conservatives of Ohio, and Legislator of the Year by the National Republican Legislators Association. Davidson was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 1991. 

Speaking at a conference on women’s legislative leadership, Davidson advised, “pick your fights carefully, stay in the middle ground and don't wear your feelings on your sleeve.”  When term limits prevented Davidson from running for reelection in 2000, she dedicated herself to electing more women to public office. In 2000 Davidson founded the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, which recruits and trains Republican women to run for elective office.