CLEVELAND — As Congresswoman Marcia Fudge plans to leave her position in Ohio's 11th Congressional District, former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner is one of the candidates looking to fill the seat.

President-elect Joe Biden tapped Fudge as his housing and urban development secretary in December.

What You Need To Know

  • Congresswoman Marcia Fudge plans to leave her position in Ohio's 11th Congressional District

  • Nina Turner is one of several candidates declared to fill her seat

  • Turner is a former state Senator and Cleveland City Councilwoman

Since then, a list of candidates began to take shape, including Rep. Emilia Sykes, and former presidential candidate and Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich. But so far, the frontrunner is Turner — and she has a lot planned if she gets the opportunity. One of the most important subjects is education. 

 “You know, in the K-12 education, public colleges and university should be free," Rep. Nina Turner said. "That’s just it, and just as we don’t ask a child if in fact they do go to a public school, if they’re wealthy, not assuming that they all don’t but we know, many of them do not — but we don’t put that qualifier when we think about K-12. And I don’t necessarily think we should put that qualifier when we think about college. All means all."

Justin Buchler, an associate professor of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University, said it's her experience that's driving her to the top of the list.  

“The primary determinant in a congressional election — and this is true in either a regular congressional election or a special election — the primary determinant is going to be experience. And Nina Turner is getting attention, primarily because she has experience.”

While he said her national figure is a benefit, it’s her experience with the District 11 voters that gives her the edge. 

“The only people who really know about her role in the Sanders campaign are activists," said Buchler. “Sometimes, you will have a candidate who ran for office in a district or constituency that overlaps significantly with the office for which that candidate is currently running. And that is the case with Nina Turner.” 

And as Turner hits the campaign trail, she finds motivation from her mother, who passed away at just 42 years old. 

"She never lived to see me even graduate from college. She never lived to see any of that. But I do believe she’s in heaven and just beaming with pride and hope. And so as I fight for people who don’t have a lot, I think about my mother,” said an emotional Turner. “These are really hard times for a lot of people. And I just — I believe that people who have political power should not be afraid to leverage that power on behalf of people.” 

Turner already has some high profile endorsements, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Deputy Chair for the Democratic National Committee Keith Ellison, and activist Shaun King.

Justice Democrats, a progressive group, is also supporting Turner. The Executive Director Alexandra Rojas released a statement, saying Turner has backed the group's progressive movement from the beginning. 

"She has a strong public service record of fighting to uplift working-class people and deliver justice. We know Senator Turner will help create a mission-driven team in Congress to deliver relief during this pandemic and fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, racial justice, and getting big money out of politics," Rojas wrote. 

Aside from being a former state senator, Turner also led Our Revolution which stemmed from Sander's 2016 campaign. She then went on to be a co-chair in 2020 for the campaign. Her experience goes back to 2008 and 2012, when she served as a delegate for former President Barack Obama.