Columbus Monthly: Seven Questions with Mehek Cooke

The Republican Ohio House candidate on how her party can win back the Columbus suburbs

In 2018, the political landscape changed in Franklin County. While the Republican Party continues to dominate statewide offices in Ohio—and holds firm majorities in the General Assembly—Democrats succeeded in flipping four state legislative districts in the Columbus suburbs, mirroring a trend seen throughout the country. Now, three of those Democrats are facing reelection in 2020—and the coming elections will indicate whether the 2018 shift was an anomaly or the beginning of a more permanent realignment.

To reclaim those Franklin County seats, Republicans appear to be stealing a page from the Democrats, who won with four female, first-time candidates in 2018. Mehek Cooke, a Dublin small business attorney and former Kasich administration official, announced her candidacy in September for the Ohio House’s 21st district, which includes Dublin, Worthington, Hilliard and Northwest Columbus. Meanwhile, another Republican woman, Meredith Freedhoff, has announced she’s running in the Ohio House’s 19th district, which includes Westerville and New Albany. Republicans have historically dominated both districts.

“These are two dynamic, professional women who provide our community with everything that we would want in mainstream, center-right Republican leadership,” says Brad Sinnott, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee. “These are women who are going to be great candidates, but even more important, they’re going to emerge as legislative leaders once they’re elected to the Ohio House. They’re made of the right stuff.”

Columbus Monthly recently talked with Cooke about her campaign, the state of the GOP in Franklin County and what it will take to defeat Democratic Rep. Beth Liston, who won in 2018 with 57 percent of the vote. (This interview has been edited and condensed.)