Michele Reynolds is an American business owner and member of the Ohio Senate.
In the 2022 midterm election, she made history as the first African-American woman elected as a Republican in Franklin County.
Experience In 2019, she was elected Township Trustee for Madison Township in Franklin County.
She was criticized in 2022 for referencing an antisemitic phrase in a 2014 book. Several leaders of The Ohio Jewish Communities commented that her remarks were taken out of context and acknowledged their support for her leadership.
Reynolds won election to the Ohio Senate in 2022 defeating incumbent Democrat Tina Maharath.
In 2026 Reynolds came under criticism for her connections to the Nothing Into Something Real Estate (NISRE)'s EXIT program, a faith-based temporary housing organization that served formerly incarcerated individuals. One such individual, Brian Golsby, was under NISRE's purview when he raped and murdered Reagan Tokes, an Ohio State student.
Electoral history YearDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct+ Ohio Senate 3rd District2022Tina Maharath56,02347.58% Michele Reynolds 61,723 52.42%
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