Second transgender woman’s candidacy for Ohio House is challenged

A second transgender woman’s petition to run for the Ohio House of Representatives is being challenged because she did not disclose her birth name, according to Ohio election officials.

Arienne Childrey, 41, of St. Mary’s, which is about 100 miles northwest of Columbus, is the sole Democrat to attempt a run for Ohio’s 84th House District seat. But Mercer County Republican Party Chair Robert Hibner asked the county’s board of elections to reject a campaign petition filed by Childrey last week, county Board of Elections Director Deb Sneddon told NBC News on Tuesday.

Hibner alleged that Childrey’s petition violated Ohio law, which requires people running for political office who have changed their name within the last five years to include their former names on candidacy petitions, Sneddon confirmed. The law, which was enacted in 1995, exempts people who have changed their name because of marriage, but it does not mention exemptions for trans people who change their names.

The challenge to Childrey’s candidacy comes a week after another trans woman — real estate photographer Vanessa Joy — was disqualified from running for a separate seat in the Ohio House for violating the same law by not disclosing her former name.

“As they’re actively attacking us, they certainly want to ensure that we don’t get an opportunity to hold any of the same power that they hold,” Childrey said Thursday, referring to state Republicans’ actions toward transgender people.

Hibner did not immediately return a request for comment. Sneddon referred NBC News to an attorney for the Mercer County Board of Elections regarding Childrey’s accusations that her candidacy is being challenged because she is transgender.

“I have not followed the accusations