Yvette Renee Simpson (born August 2, 1978) is an American politician, lawyer, former member of the Cincinnati City Council.[1][2][3] She is the former chief executive of Democracy for America.[4][1]

Yvette Simpson
Member of the Cincinnati City Council
In office
December 1, 2011 – January 2, 2018
Personal details
Born
Yvette Renee Simpson

(1978-08-02) August 2, 1978 (age 46)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (Charterite)
Residence(s)Cincinnati, Ohio
EducationPrinceton High School;
Websitehttp://yvettesimpson.com

Education

edit

Simpson received an undergraduate degree from Miami University, a J.D. degree from the University of Cincinnati, and an M.B.A. from Xavier University.[5]

Political career

edit

She was sworn into the Cincinnati City Council in 2011, which led to the Council having its first African-American majority.[6]

Simpson unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor John Cranley in the 2017 Cincinnati mayoral election.[1][2][3] She received a greater percentage of the votes in the primary (45%) than her top competitors Cranley (35%) or Rob Richardson Jr. (20%).[7] She lost in the general election, Cranley (53.95%) Simpson (46.05%), against incumbent Mayor John Cranley in the 2017 Cincinnati mayoral election.[1][2][3]

Democracy for America

edit

On January 1, 2019, Simpson became chief executive of Democracy for America, a national progressive grassroots organizing group founded by former presidential candidate Howard Dean.[8] She is the group's first ever female chief executive.[9] Simpson announced she would step down from the position in 2022.[10] She resigned from DfA on 7 December 2022 as the organization neared bankruptcy.[2]

Personal life

edit

In June 2019, she became a political news contributor with ABC.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Howard (August 10, 2016). "Yvette Simpson Launches 2017 Mayoral Campaign To Unseat Cranley". WVXU. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Swartsell, Nick (August 17, 2016). "Mayoral race underlines rift among Cincinnati Democrats". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Williams, Jason (February 16, 2017). "Cincinnati mayor's race is set". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  4. ^ "Ulmer Counsel Yvette R. Simpson to Lead National Progressive Group Democracy for America". Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Yvette Simpson joins ABC News as a political contributor". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Historic Cincinnati city council sworn in, waiting for budget". Fox News. Fox19Now. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  7. ^ Coolidge, Sharon; Williams, Jason (May 2, 2017). "Primary victor Simpson: Cranley's 'not going to go easy'". The Enquirer. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "Democracy for America installs first female chief executive". November 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "Former Councilwoman Yvette Simpson to lead Democracy for America PAC". November 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "Democracy for America's Jim Dean steps down, appoints Yvette Simpson new Chief Executive". Democracy for America. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.