Besa Sharrah
Besa Sharrah (Republican Party) ran for election to the Ohio State Senate to represent District 16. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Sharrah completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Besa Sharrah earned a bachelor's degree from Wright State University in 2011 and a graduate degree from the Geneva Graduate Institute in 2019.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Ohio State Senate District 16
Beth Liston defeated Besa Sharrah in the general election for Ohio State Senate District 16 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Beth Liston (D) | 60.3 | 113,896 |
 | Besa Sharrah (R)  | 39.7 | 74,856 | |
| Total votes: 188,752 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio State Senate District 16
Beth Liston advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio State Senate District 16 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Beth Liston | 100.0 | 18,365 |
| Total votes: 18,365 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio State Senate District 16
Besa Sharrah advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio State Senate District 16 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Besa Sharrah | 100.0 | 14,975 |
| Total votes: 14,975 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Sharrah in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Besa Sharrah completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sharrah's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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PROFESSIONAL In her professional journey, Besa has gained experience in both small businesses and Fortune 500 companies like Emerson Climate Technologies, Nationwide Insurance and JP Morgan Chase. Her role as Vice President of Project Execution for the Global Resiliency Program, collaborating with the Federal Reserve and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, showcased her exceptional skills and expertise. She founded Sharrah Group Consulting to support different entities with political, social, and economic advice for domestic and international affairs.
LEADERSHIP Besa advocates for school choice, recognizing the importance of providing families with options for their children's education. Recently, she sponsored a school choice panel with the American Education Federation highlighting her commitment to promoting educational opportunities for all. She served on the board of trustees for the Westerville Uptown Review Board and The Diaspora for a Free Albania, a nonprofit advocating for fair and free elections and respecting the constitution. Besa has worked closely with Zonta International, an organization advancing the status of women locally and abroad. She founded the Zonta Club of Dayton, where she served as president between 2011 and 2013. COMMUNITY
Her multifaceted contributions reflect her compassion, empathy, and dedication to creating a just society. As a potential state senator, Besa pledges to challenge ineffective systems and fight for- My name is Besa Sharrah, and I am a first-generation American who grew up in post-communist Albania and witnessed the consequences of failed political dialogue. I have overcome persecution and tragic losses during the communist regime, and I know first-hand the devastation of a dictatorial society.My family survived the unthinkable tragedy of experiencing seven of my loved ones being executed because of their passion for democracy—the experiences of my family’s history fuel my commitment to championing freedom for all. My journey has made me a tough negotiator and an effective advocate who will always fight to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and well-represented.
- Relentlessly Fighting to Get You The Best Deal I am running for office because you deserve better. With the cost of inflation and rising taxes, our lifestyle and hard work are under attack. We don’t need lackluster representatives who are focused on driving their own agenda. This district needs strong representation. We have several issues at stake, and your health, wealth, and well-being are all being threatened by the leadership we have in place. I’m not a career politician or bureaucrat – I’ve got real-world work experience that can take this district into the future.
- Committed to Empowering Our Community I came to the United States to study Mechanical Engineering at Wright State University. I have spent the last seven years influencing international financial policy. I bring to the table not just ideas but a concrete plan of action. I've walked the walk, possessing the experience and tenacity required for the tough negotiations ahead for this district. I understand firsthand how ineffective leadership can leave the average American family behind. This district is poised for the largest growth and prosperity in Ohio. Together, let's shape a future that uplifts and benefits every member of our community.
As a dedicated legislator, my main objective for our district is to safeguard our way of life. Therefore, I will place significant emphasis on addressing the housing shortage and implementing swift policies to tackle this issue. Furthermore, I will prioritize workforce policies that not only enhance access to good jobs, but also ensure the availability of high-quality employment opportunities.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Ohio State Senate District 16 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 3, 2024
