Betty Sutton

Betty Sutton won 55% to 45% against Republican Tom Ganley in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Betty Sutton (D) is running for re-election for her 3rd term in Ohio’s 13th District.  She faces a general election race.

Representative Sutton has been strong women’s leader in Ohio for nearly two decades.  As a Representative, Sutton received widespread attention during the 111th Congress by offering an amendment to the cap-and-trade-bill that became the popular “Cash for Clunkers” program.  Sutton is currently working on an amendment to the Social Security Act to provide timely access to post-mastectomy information under Medicare.

The Ohio Republican Party released an extremely sexist campaign newsletter to households in the 13th district, urging voters to ''take Betty Sutton out of the (U.S.) House and put her back in the kitchen.”  Organizations are rallying around Sutton, opposing the blatant sexism the Republican Party is trying to take advantage of in this race.

Background:
●    In 1993, Sutton was the youngest woman elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. She served for 8 years.
●    Elected as Representative to OH-13 in 2006 and served for 4 years
●    Elected President of the 2006 Democrat Congressional class
●    Sutton earned a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood in 2008
●    Sutton currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, the Subcommittee on Health, and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Sutton’s Position on Key Issues:

• Women’s Rights:Supports constitutional equality and equal pay.  As a state representative, Sutton worked to pass stronger domestic violence bills, pay equity legislation, and non-discrimination policies for health care insurance providers.
• Reproductive Rights: Supports a woman’s right to choose without restrictions. She also supports funding for pregnancy prevention programs and access to contraceptives.
• LGBT Rights:  Sutton is currently cosponsoring legislation to grant same-sex domestic partners of federal workers equal benefits and to extend federal protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Sutton was a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007 to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

General Election Opponents: Tom Ganley (R) is a multi-millionaire car-dealer who has had more than 400 civil suits filed against him for his business practices.  Ganley is a Tea Party favorite, who, in his own words, is “opposed to abortion every step of the way” — a position that’s earned him endorsements from Ohio Right to Life and conservative commentator Bay Buchanan. 

Prospects: GOP frontrunner Tom Ganley recently wrote his campaign a $2 million check.  Ganley is willing to spend his personal fortune to try to buy the seat away from Sutton.  He has high name recognition in the area, and has been playing to right-wing extremists to turn out the vote.  It is important to keep women leaders like Sutton in the House by not letting her be outspent.

Endorsements: Feminist Majority PAC, EMILY’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Ohio AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, American Medical Association

Website: http://www.bettysuttonforcongress.com/