John Makley
- Oct 7, 2022
- 3 min read

WHO'S ON THE BALLOT: Nan Whaley for Governor by Morgan Young

It's time to learn about the candidates on the November 08 ballot. This is a BIG election that will affect our daily lives. Meet Mayor Nan Whaley, candidate for Governor.

Nan Whaley

Nan Whaley is running for Governor of Ohio in the November 08 General Election. Her running mate for Lieutenant Governor is Cheryl Stephens.

For the last 8 years, Whaley served as the mayor of Dayton. During that time, she was tested with a mass shooting, the opioid epidemic, tornadoes, a broken economy, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Whaley’s leadership, the city not only showed resilience but came back stronger. Businesses moved back into the city. Dayton cut overdose deaths in half and became a national model. And free pre-K for every 3- and 4-year old bolstered the education system.

Whaley recognizes Ohio is at a crossroads with abuse of power in our state government. The scandals in recent years have devastated Ohio, cost Ohioans money, and undermined our confidence in government. Whaley is committed to holding officials accountable, standing up for Ohioans, and building a state where residents can thrive.

Whaley comes from the working class, growing up with a father who was laid off as a union autoworker and a mother who took a job at a laundromat to make ends meet. She has a focus on economic policy that will benefit Ohio’s working- and middle-class families, with pay going up and bills going down. That starts with a $350 inflation rebate to assist with the rising cost of gas and groceries. Whaley says, “when we talk about the economy, we have to talk about people, not numbers and statistics…How Ohio’s people are doing around their kitchen tables each day is what matters the most.”

Whaley’s policies will have direct effects on Ohioans’ quality of life. For Whaley, the pandemic has highlighted the necessity of paid family leave for all Ohioans and the need to lower prescription drug prices. Whaley has experience creating affordable housing and safe neighborhoods. Along with that comes environmental protections for clean air, clean water, clean energy, and clean jobs. The tragic shooting that caused 9 Dayton residents to lose their lives has driven Whaley to pass commonsense gun laws including universal background checks and red flags. Whaley’s universal preK template is one she hopes to expand statewide as Governor. The other cornerstone of her education plan is making community college and trade school more affordable and accessible. Choosing who you love is also something Whaley will protect, saying she will “veto any attacks on LGBTQ+ Ohioans passed by the legislature.” She even officiated Dayton’s first legal same-sex wedding.

Unlike her opponent, incumbent Governor Mike DeWine, who signed a 6 week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest and told the Columbus Dispatch that he wants to go “as far as we can” to ban abortion, Whaley is in touch with the majority of Ohio voters who believe in bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. In fact, she supports a ballot referendum to put the protections of Roe v Wade into the Ohio Constitution, and she has a proven track record of standing up for the right to choose.

Whaley holds a Master’s in public administration from Wright State University and a Bachelor's in chemistry from the University of Dayton.

WHO'S ON THE BALLOT: Nan Whaley for Governor by Morgan Young

It's time to learn about the candidates on the November 08 ballot. This is a BIG election that will affect our daily lives. Meet Mayor Nan Whaley, candidate for Governor.

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