Upper Arlington Mayor Ukeme Awakessien Jeter is running as a Democrat for Ohio House of Representatives District 7 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Republican William Mercier and Cameron Koffel, who has no party preference, according to BallotReady.

Awakessien Jeter's policy positions below are drawn from her responses to a BallotReady candidate questionnaire.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: Ohio House of Representatives, District 7
  • Current role: Upper Arlington City Council member (elected 2021) and mayor (selected January 2024), according to the Upper Arlington city staff directory
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, University of Maine (2004); master of business administration, University of Massachusetts Lowell (2009); juris doctorate, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (2013)
  • Hometown: Grew up in Nigeria, one of five children, and immigrated to the United States to attend college at the University of Maine, according to the UMaine Alumni Association

Experience and public service

Awakessien Jeter made history in 2021 as the first person of color elected to Upper Arlington City Council in the city's 103-year history, according to the city staff directory. In January 2024, her council peers selected her as Council President and Mayor for a two-year term. She was the first person of color in that role.

Before entering public office, she worked as an engineer at manufacturing facilities including Georgia Pacific and SCA Tissue starting in 2004, according to the UMaine Alumni Association. She later practiced law at several firms: Pearne & Gordon LLP (2013–2014), McDonald Hopkins LLC (2014–2017), Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (2017–2018) and Nationwide (2018–2021), according to BallotReady. She served as a partner in the intellectual property group at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP from 2021 to 2025, according to BallotReady.

She is assistant dean for global perspectives at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, according to BallotReady. She also volunteers as secretary of the board of directors at Ohio Legal Help and as a board member of the University of Maine Alumni Association.

Awakessien Jeter is the author of "ImmiGRIT," a 2024 book about identity, grit and leadership through the lived experience of an immigrant, according to the UMaine Alumni Association.

On the issues

Education: Awakessien Jeter said she will "fight to stop the voucher drain, reinvest in public education, and ensure teachers and students have the resources they need to succeed."

Taxes and school funding: She said she will "fight for fair, constitutional school funding so homeowners finally get real, lasting tax relief. No more temporary fixes or election-year gimmicks."

Economy: Awakessien Jeter said she supports small businesses "so communities can have vibrant and thriving main streets."

Housing: She said she wants to invest in housing "so families and seniors can stay in their communities and new homeowners can move into communities."

Infrastructure: Awakessien Jeter said she supports upgrading "the aging infrastructure that our communities rely on every day."

Candidate responses were submitted through BallotReady's questionnaire platform.