Rural Caucus Listens to Ohioans Across the State
In fall of 2025 Chair Chris Gibbs & team traveled around the state listening to rural Ohioans. We learned about what they expect from their elected officials, why they feel forgotten, and how we can change that moving forward.
Attend our next Quarterly Meeting!
The Ohio Democratic Rural Caucus hosts four quarterly meetings with the entire membership of the Caucus. Please join us at our next meeting on Thursday, January 29th, 2026!
Quarterly Meeting Schedule:
- Quarter 1: Thursday, January 29th at 7:00pm
- Quarter 2: Thursday, May 21st at 7:00pm
- Quarter 3: TBD
- Quarter 4: Thursday, October 22nd at 7:00pm
Our Leadership!
Christopher Gibbs -Chair
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Chris Gibbs currently serves as the Chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party and the President of Rural Voices USA. Chris has committed himself to establishing a platform of the Democratic Party's values and challenging local Democrats to be able to verbalize why they are proud Democrats. Chris owns and operates 560 acres of corn, soybeans, and hay in Shelby and Logan Counties. His operation also includes a 90-head pasture-based cow/calf operation. He is retired from USDA’s Farm Service Agency
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Jordan currently acts as the Political Director for Allison Russo's Campaign for Secretary of State. She began her career organizing in Ohio's Appalachian counties in 2022, and oversaw organizing in all of Ohio's rural counties for the August 2023 Vote NO on Issue 1 campaign, and the November 2023 Vote YES on Issue 1 campaign to enshrine reproductive rights in the state. She is passionate about adapting traditional organizing methods to rural areas to ensure Democratic success.
Troy Scott - Secretary
Jordan Horstman - Vice Chair
Troy Scott - Secretary
Troy Scott currently serves a City Councilman on the Ironton City Council. Troy is also a lifelong educator and advocate for public
schools. A former classroom teacher, he now works supporting K–12 STEM education
and organizing with education advocates across Southern Ohio through Public School
Strong and Honesty for Education Ohio. Scott has focused on informing and
empowering rural Ohioans about the state and federal legislation impacting public
education.
Regional Vice Chairs:
- Northwest: Brian Von Wert, Chairman of the Fulton County Democratic Party
- West Central: Paul Brautigam
- Southwest: Johnny Bohrer, Chairman of the Brown County Democratic Party
- South Central: Tom Yeager, Dems 101 Officer & Member of the Scioto Co. Democratic Party
- Southeast: Damien Bawn, Vice Chairman of the Hocking County Democratic Party
- East Central: Kaleb Knowlton, Central & Executive Committee Member of the Jefferson County Democratic Party
- Northeast: Janet Carson, Chairwoman of the Geauga County Democratic Party
- North Central: Maria Hettel: Activist & Former Peace Corp Volunteer
- Central: Tenah McMahan, Chairwoman of the Union County Democratic Party
