Democrats Elect Pepper New Party Chairman

Ohio Democrats have elected Cincinnati lawyer David Pepper as their next chairman as the party looks to rebuild after a year of political missteps and devastating losses. Pepper was selected by the state executive committee Tuesday to replace Chris Redfern. Redfern has resigned effective Dec. 31 after a bruising campaign season that included losing his own House seat and every statewide election. Pepper was Democrats' 2014 attorney general candidate. He plans to have state Sen. Nina Turner, the party's 2014 secretary of state candidate, on his leadership team. Pepper and Turner say they will win elections by instituting "a culture of high ethics, accountability, transparency, trust and fairness" and promoting diversity and inclusion. Pepper, a former Hamilton County commissioner, is son of a former CEO of Procter & Gamble.