Trans candidates for Ohio Statehouse say they prioritize policy over culture-war battles

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Transgender candidates running for the Ohio Statehouse, who were nearly disqualified from the ballot, say they are not letting their identities define them as they campaign on bipartisanship and an end to extremism.

Arienne Childrey is on the trail in and around Celina as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 84th district, and Ari Faber is on the ground near Marietta as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate's 30th district. Although the two are running separate campaigns more than 200 miles apart, both told NBC4 they are combating false perceptions of the trans community by running on bipartisan solutions for issues like housing reform and access to healthcare.

"I'm happy to be the quote 'trans candidate,' but there's a lot more to who I am," Childrey said. "I'm ready to put in the time for the people of Ohio and to show them, that for once, the most corrupt legislature in the county can be cleaned up, can be fixed and we can have people who actually care."

Childrey is campaigning after she was nearly disqualified from the ballot for not including her deadname -- the name a trans person was assigned at birth but that does not align with their gender identity -- on petition paperwork. Meanwhile, Faber will appear on the ballot under his deadname, Iva Faber, since he has not legally changed it.

"We're trying to emphasize my last name," said Faber. "Either way, I don't care at all that much. I'm really focused on the policy points I want to talk about, and the things I want to do for our communities."

Childrey says she's tired of 'culture war nonsense'

The 41-year-old is running against Republican Rep. Angie King, who Childrey argues is "representing a very, very narrow faction" of Ohio's 84th district who want to see the Statehouse tackle culture-war issues. The candidate pointed to King's sponsorship of House Bill 245 to ban "adult cabaret performances," which opponents say would amount to a prohibition of drag queens in public.

"What she's doing is really appealing to the lowest common denominator," said Childrey. "She's trying to hit onto these culture war battles that aren't doing anything to improve anybody's day-to-day life."

King, who did not respond to NBC4's request for comment, said during a Statehouse hearing that she is pursuing legislation like H.B. 245 because she saw a video from a LGBTQ+ Pride event where a drag queen's performance was "obscene."

"I was appalled to watch a video of a 'family-friendly' event held in our city park where adults where dancing for children, who were then rewarded with cash, handed to them by young children," said King in her testimony. "One of the performers, dressed in a skimpy 'thonged' leotard, twerked and gyrated on the concrete."

Childrey said King's comments are why she decided to pursue a run for the Statehouse, and argued she would be a better steward who would "put the people of this district above party politics." The candidate said King is "the most extreme of the party," and outlined a number of issues she would prioritize if she wins election, like uplifting union jobs and investing in public education.

"As a trans candidate, that may be my identity, but my identity is also somebody who is really, really sick of seeing our public schools drained," said Childrey. "That's what I want to bring to the state legislature, I want to show people that we can work, and I want to inspire people to say that 'I can step up.'"

King has also introduced House Bill 471, which would make it easier to question a candidacy like Childrey's. If enacted, the measure would allow any eligible voter, regardless of party affiliation, to formally protest a political party's candidate, while current law only allows an individual to challenge a candidate who is part of their same party.

"An issue was brought to light when a protest was presented to the board of elections against a petition of candidacy for noncompliance and failure to provide a former name as required by law," said King, referring to Childrey during the bill's first hearing in May. "Some may try to portray this as an obscure law, but it's a candidacy requirement that's been in effect since 1939."

Childrey said she supports a dueling bill introduced by Democrats that would amend the former name requirement, adding an exemption from disclosure if the change of name was granted by any court in the state of Ohio. The candidate said it's up to her generation to find solutions for these problems, and to show those in the LGBTQ+ community "that even in the most red district in Ohio, people can stand up and fight back."

"If you want to get beyond the divisive culture war nonsense and get to people who are actually there to do the job of government, if you're in the 84th district, I believe you have a candidate that will do that, and I believe that candidate is me," said Childrey.

Faber says his opponent is 'an oil and gas man'

Faber, running against Republican Sen. Brian Chavez, touts a similar message. The 29-year-old argues Chavez prioritizes his own gain, noting the senator's multiple oil and gas companies. One is Deeprock Disposal Solutions, which came under fire this year after records showed the company had leached brine, an often toxic liquid byproduct of fracking, underground in Noble County.

On several occasions since 2010, brine burst to the surface through other companies' oil and gas wells, with one instance requiring a $1.3 million cleanup that was paid for by the state. Chavez was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to sit on the state's oil and gas commission in 2021, and served there until Republicans named Chavez to the Senate in 2023.

"We have companies and people coming in from out of the region to strip us of our natural resources, and then they leave and take all that money with them," said Faber. "[Chavez] is an oil and gas man who has only ever sponsored legislation about oil and gas, benefiting himself."

In a statement to NBC4, Chavez said he is a "proud resident of southeast Ohio" who understands "both the opportunities and challenges that families in this region face." As a small business owner, Chavez said he "knows what it takes to make payroll and balance a budget," and that he has seen "what the scourge of opioid addiction and economic hardship has done to our part of the state."

"As a legislator, my sole focus is to fight every day to ensure the people of southeast Ohio have good-paying jobs, a quality education, improved infrastructure and increased opportunities," said Chavez. "By achieving these things, we can help make it possible for future generations to thrive and prosper -- not somewhere else, but right here in Ohio."

Faber argues he could better platform these issues as a "pro-labor, pro-family and pro-freedom candidate" who, like Childrey, wants to uplift union jobs if elected to the Statehouse. Faber also noted his passion for protecting gender-affirming care, especially after an Ohio law went into effect this year banning the treatment for those under 18.

"I want to get to the root of these issues, and the best way of doing so is through policy," said Faber.

Faber said he is grateful to be an out trans candidate, especially when the legislature is pursuing several anti-LGBTQ+ proposals. One proposed bill would prohibit schools from allowing trans students to use a bathroom that doesn't correspond with the gender assigned to them at birth. Another would require teachers to notify parents before teaching "sexuality content" and of any change in a student's mental, emotional or physical health.

"I've had parents and teenagers that are trans reach out to me, saying how grateful they are that I'm running," said Faber. "If I can give a little bit of hope to even just one trans kiddo out there, than it will all have been worth it."

Other trans candidates running for the Statehouse

Bobbie Arnold, campaigning as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 40th district, declined NBC4's request for an interview. Like Childrey, Arnold faced a protest over the certification of her candidacy but had her possible disqualification dismissed in January by the county's board of elections. Arnold is running against Republican Rep. Rodney Creech, who is also a sponsor for King's bill that would have made it easier to question a candidate's certification.

"I am committed to ensuring Ohio elections are the most secure, fair, transparent, and accurate
in the nation," said Creech in his testimony for the bill's hearing in May. "This legislation will help voters make more informed decisions at the polls and hold candidates accountable."

Vanessa Joy, a fourth trans candidate, was successfully disqualified from running in House District 50 for not including her deadname on petition paperwork. While Joy appealed her disqualification, the board of elections voted to keep her off the ballot. Joy submitted testimony against King's and Creech's bill, arguing the proposal is "entirely ridiculous in its timing."

"This past primary cycle made some history, as three transgender women ran for their party primaries for seats in the Ohio House," said Joy. "I fail to see why H.B. 471 is suddenly needed now, and why taxpayer money is being wasted on giving more time and energy to this. Reps. King and Creech should be focusing on their own campaigns and serving Ohioans, rather than finding ways to add additional barriers to candidates."