Women in Politics

Steinem Sisters/Art Tatum Resource Center Collaboration

The Steinem Sisters Collection and the Art Tatum African American Resource Center are collaborating on a special Talking Circle focusing on Women in Politics.

On Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 pm at the Kent Library, the Steinem Sisters Collection and the Art Tatum African American Resource Center will host a Talking Circle on Women in Politics.  Please join us for our discussion.

What does the political landscape look like for women in Northwest Ohio for 2026?  Amy Acton may be Ohio's first female elected governor (Nancy Hollister served as governor for 11 days after George Voinovich resigned in 1998).  Marcy Katpur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history. She is up for election this year in a newly created district. The new maps could take Ohio’s current 10-5 Republican-to-Democratic-split to a potential 12-3 divide, based on likely voter index. What races are you watching this election cycle?  We will also discuss the issues and topics that are affecting women including the SAVE America Act, recent Supreme Court decisions, Voting Rights Act, and more.

Did you know that at the current rate, it will take at least 60 years to achieve reflective gender representation in state governments? And if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that women will continue to play a decisive role—whether in their roles as lawmakers on Capitol Hill, in statehouses and mayors’ offices across the country; or as a powerful voting bloc. Women turned out at higher rates than men and made up a majority of voters, and historic gender gaps reshaped the political landscape. That included a 17-point gender gap in Virginia’s governors’ race, leading Abigail Spanberger to become the state’s first woman governor. And a 13-point gender gap led Mikie Sherrill to likewise make history in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race (MS. magazine, 1/2026).

Our subject matter experts for this Talking Circle are Holly Monsos and Teresa Fedor.

Holly Monsos is Professor Emeritus of Theatre, retired from the University of Toledo after serving as a Professor, Chair and Associate Dean over the years. Since retiring she has been able to become more active in the Toledo Lucas County chapter of the League of Women Voters and is currently serving as the group's president. 

In 2000, Teresa Fedor pursued her passion for public service and was elected to serve the 52nd district in the Ohio House of Representatives. She served as an Ohio Senator during the 126th, 127th, and 128th General Assemblies. Since joining the General Assembly, Representative Fedor has worked to improve the educational opportunities for our children, provide new economic opportunities for Ohio's economy, connect & improve services for veterans, increase accessibility to children's health insurance, and to criminalize human trafficking.
 
Representative Teresa Fedor has championed responsive and responsible government. During her years in the Senate, she has helped to unveil the Bureau of Workers Compensation coin scandal, made certain that Ohio's voting machines leave a paper trail, and worked collaboratively with the majority and the governor during the budget process. Protecting our most vulnerable young Ohioans has been a driving force for her. Last year the Governor signed her landmark Human Trafficking legislation into law, which will now criminalize human trafficking in our state.

Before her career as a legislator began, Representative Fedor worked as a teacher for 18 years, spending 15 years with the Toledo Public School system. A long-time public servant, Representative Fedor served in the United States Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard for six and a half years."

ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS

A part of the library since 1989, the Art Tatum African American Resource Center is a dedicated space to provide educational and historical information on African American cultural heritage and experiences.  Through books, other materials, public programs, and art exhibits, the Resource Center recognizes and celebrates the lived experiences of African Americans. The Resource Center is named in honor of American jazz great Art Tatum (1909-1956) who grew up in Toledo's Roosevelt neighborhood.

The Steinem Sisters Collection champions women’s historical, cultural, and political contributions and strives to provide a welcoming space for women from all walks of life to share their truths. It is composed of feminist materials, intersectional works that uphold human and women’s rights and interests in defining and promoting political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes, races, classes, sexual orientations, and genders. The Steinem Sisters Collection has grown to over 900 titles in the ten years since its inception. Regular programming, including book discussion groups and talking circles, aims to highlight the collection and build community. This collection was possible due to a generous donation by The Steinem’s Sisters Collective.