Jaime Castle

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jaime Castle

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

Miami University, 1999

Personal

Birthplace

Cincinnati, Ohio

Religion

Unitarian Universalist

Contact

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jaime Castle ran for election to the Cincinnati City Council in Ohio. She did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 7, 2023.

Biography

Jaime Castle was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She obtained an undergraduate degree from Miami University in December 1999. As of 2020, Castle was a teacher.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Cincinnati, Ohio (2023)

General election

General election for Cincinnati City Council (9 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Cincinnati City Council on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (Nonpartisan)	11.0	49,822
✔	Submit photo	Meeka Owens (Nonpartisan)	11.0	49,783
✔		Reggie Harris (Nonpartisan)	10.9	49,339
✔		Victoria Parks (Nonpartisan)	10.3	46,341
✔	Submit photo	Scotty Johnson (Nonpartisan)	10.1	45,659
✔		Mark Jeffreys (Nonpartisan)	10.0	45,295
✔		Anna Albi (Nonpartisan)	9.9	44,770
✔	Submit photo	Jeff Cramerding (Nonpartisan)	9.5	42,650
✔		Seth Walsh (Nonpartisan)	9.0	40,641
		Liz Keating (Nonpartisan)	8.2	36,789

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 451,089
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jaime Castle (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Castle in this election.

2021

See also: City elections in Cincinnati, Ohio (2021)

General election

General election for Cincinnati City Council (9 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Cincinnati City Council on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (Nonpartisan)	7.5	28,672
✔		Greg Landsman (Nonpartisan)	7.0	26,996
✔		Reggie Harris (Nonpartisan)	6.7	25,828
✔	Submit photo	Meeka Owens (Nonpartisan)	6.3	24,177
✔		Victoria Parks (Nonpartisan)	5.9	22,879
✔	Submit photo	Scotty Johnson (Nonpartisan)	5.3	20,265
✔	Submit photo	Jeff Cramerding (Nonpartisan)	5.1	19,695
✔		Mark Jeffreys (Nonpartisan)	4.9	18,772
✔		Liz Keating (Nonpartisan)	4.5	17,497
		Michelle Dillingham (Nonpartisan)	4.1	15,910
	Submit photo	Phillip O’Neal (Nonpartisan)	4.0	15,295
		Kevin Flynn (Nonpartisan)	3.6	13,888
		Elizabeth Sundermann (Nonpartisan)	3.6	13,830
	Submit photo	Steve Goodin (Nonpartisan)	3.3	12,794
	Submit photo	Jim Tarbell (Nonpartisan)	3.1	11,734
		Brian Garry (Nonpartisan)	2.7	10,258
		Tom Brinkman Jr. (Nonpartisan)	2.5	9,805
	Submit photo	John Williams (Nonpartisan)	2.2	8,367
	Submit photo	LaKeisha Cook (Nonpartisan)	1.9	7,224
	Submit photo	Jackie Frondorf (Nonpartisan)	1.8	6,947
		Jaime Castle (Nonpartisan)	1.7	6,395
	Submit photo	Peterson Mingo (Nonpartisan)	1.4	5,278
		Evan Holt (Nonpartisan)	1.3	5,139
		Kurt Grossman (Nonpartisan)	1.3	4,975
	Submit photo	Bill Frost (Nonpartisan)	1.2	4,695
	Submit photo	Galen Gordon (Nonpartisan)	1.1	4,210
	Submit photo	Te’Airea Powell (Nonpartisan)	1.1	4,109
	Submit photo	Stacey Smith (Nonpartisan)	1.1	4,109
	Submit photo	Jalen Alford (Nonpartisan)	0.8	3,166
	Submit photo	Rob Harris II (Nonpartisan)	0.7	2,651
		Andrew Kennedy (Nonpartisan)	0.6	2,439
	Submit photo	John Maher (Nonpartisan)	0.6	2,158
	Submit photo	Logan Simmering (Nonpartisan)	0.4	1,652
	Submit photo	K.A. Heard Jr. (Nonpartisan)	0.4	1,496
	Submit photo	Nick Jabin (Nonpartisan)	0.4	1,358

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 384,663
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Charlie Winburn (Nonpartisan)
• Derek Bauman (Nonpartisan)
• Darius Clay (Nonpartisan)
• James Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
• Linda Matthews (Nonpartisan)
• Robert Moore (Nonpartisan)
• Victor Phillips (Nonpartisan)
• Nathaniyah Yisrael (Nonpartisan)

2020

See also: Ohio's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Ohio's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (April 28 Democratic primary)

Ohio's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (April 28 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Ohio District 2

Incumbent Brad Wenstrup defeated Jaime Castle and James Condit Jr. in the general election for U.S. House Ohio District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brad Wenstrup (R)	61.1	230,430
		Jaime Castle (D)	38.9	146,781
		James Condit Jr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	37

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 377,248
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 2

Jaime Castle advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 2 on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jaime Castle	100.0	40,956

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,956
= 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 U.S. House Ohio District 2

Incumbent Brad Wenstrup defeated H. Robert Harris in the Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 2 on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brad Wenstrup	94.2	53,674
	Submit photo	H. Robert Harris	5.8	3,326

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,000
= 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.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jaime Castle did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2021

Jaime Castle did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Jaime Castle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Castle's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am not a career politician nor ever thought to be one. When I learned that no one was stepping up to run against the current Representative for my district, whom many are not happy with, I came forward to run. I believe that I am better in touch with what the people of my district want and need. I have many life experiences that will help to my shape my public service decisions.

I am currently a teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools and I reside in Cincinnati's easternmost neighborhood Mt. Washington. I taught full time before marriage and kids, but took a break from teaching to raise my kids. While at home with them, I started a small business creating sewn projects for clients ranging from individuals to large businesses. I learned a lot about the challenges small businesses face. Three years ago, I returned to teaching part time. While my previous full time teaching job was teaching English at the high school level, now I work with all grades Pre-K through 12, teaching various subjects including gym, art, music, and often with small special needs groups. I have worked in various schools with many students and teachers. This dynamic job has given me an unique view as to many educational successes and areas needing improvement.

I am from Greenhills, Ohio and am one of five children. Both my parents worked for the city of Cincinnati but are now living in Adams County Ohio. My life spreads across our district and I want to be present throughout it and stay in touch.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Expand single payer healthcare with the goal of universal healthcare for all (including mental healthcare)
• Reform school loan financing with an expansion of federal subsidies for public service and healthcare service
• Expand and create programs to aid rural Americans with improvements in healthcare access and job creation and training.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a teacher, supporting public education is very important to me. We need to rely on educational experts as to the best ways to serve teachers and students.

Access to healthcare, medicine, and mental health services must be improved. We need more healthcare professionals and better proximity to services.
Environmental protections must be strengthened not deregulated. I will not sell out to big business at the cost of pollution.
Gun violence can be decreased if all parties come to the table to discuss ways to help. Strengthening background check implementation and instilling red flag laws are ways to start.
Women's Rights must be protected. Instead of trying to control women's bodies, standardized sex education based on science and health needs to be created. Access to birth control in the form of an over the counter birth control pill would also help decrease the amount of unplanned pregnancies.

Many other reforms are needed: criminal justice, immigration, campaign finance - all of these have been dirtied by for profit agendas. We need to put people first!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

No. I am still discovering. Maybe I need to write a book?

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity

Diplomacy
Intelligence
Empathy
Adaptability
Being a good listener
Being effective (following through with legislation that had positive results for the people and country)

I like to see a good sense of humor too - it shows a person's humanity.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity

Diplomacy
Intelligence
Empathy
I am a fantastic listener
I get things done
I have a good sense of humor too

Truly - I do not think that I am corruptible and that is a very good start.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A person elected to this office must always put the interest of the people first. Country before party, country before big business, country before your religious views, country above self. Too often elected officials put agendas first that are based on selfish reasons.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If I only serve one term but do it with such integrity and empathy, fighting for those who haven't been heard... if I get to Washington and always side with the people regardless of my future campaign contributions from corporate interest, then I have done a worthy job. I have no political ego nor big pictures of me in some lofty position. I have been thrown into this situation but am doing it willingly and fearlessly because people need a choice and people deserve politicians that are not corrupt. I want my legacy to be as a honorable, brave servant of the people.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my life that I remember was the Challenger explosion. I was in the fourth grade (age 9) which is the same age that my son is now actually (which helps to put things into perspective better). It was a big deal to watch happening live as my teacher was super excited about the Challenger because of there was a civilian teacher on board named Christa McAuliffe. She was chosen from thousands of applicants and was living out so many people's dream. We had a big old box TV's up on a corner shelf above the chalk board and we turned on the news channel that best came through. We sat on the floor Indian Style (criss-cross applesauce we call it now!) and all stared up in anticipation and excitement. It really is something to see a shuttle launch. However, it is something all together different to see a shuttle launch and then seconds later blow into pieces. I remember we all looked immediately at our teacher for understanding , but she fell apart. There were a lot of tears. We cried hard for the humanity lost.
Fast forward to 2001. I was teaching a 10th grade English class when a cell phone went off. Accusingly, I looked at my students but they all shook their heads. It turns out that it was my phone (it was my first cell phone and was newly acquired). My best friend called to tell me of the terrorist attacks in New York knowing that I had family there. That day I rolled a big old box TV into my classroom and played footage of the news all day. I told my students that this day they would remember for the rest of their lives. Many did not get the humanity of it then. I hope that they, looking back, do now.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is my favorite book. That book destroys me every time - the way that female relationships are depicted so excruciatingly beautiful and difficult and true tears me apart. The sacrifices that the mothers make I could feel before I became a mother but now that I have children, I feel so much stronger how mothers will do anything for their children. Before I was the annoyed child, but to hear the words "I see you!" still does me in. We all just want to be seen and heard. And we want our loved ones to be safe.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Oh man - this is hard because I see other people struggle just to survive so my personal issues seem fluff.

I think though, it is something that I have been witnessing personally. I would say that the biggest struggle that I have gone through is watching my mother struggle with mental illness and trauma.

You could make a movie or write book based on her life and it would not be a feel good one. I did not know about any of her life trials until my early 20s as she hid it from us and wanted us to have a happy carefree childhood.

My mother was born is Brooklyn in 1944. Her parents were separated but her father snuck into the hospital and wrapped her up in a newspaper to try to take her away. He was caught and she was returned. Her mother suffered from MS and they lived with my mother's grandparents. They were not happy that they were caretakers. My mother never felt wanted and I never heard her say that she felt loved. At 18 she married the first nice guy that asked as her grandfather would not allow her to move out with friends or go to college. That husband hit her after he brought home a STD that she asked about. She always felt controlled and threatened. She had two kids with him but was widowed at age 23. She met my father and saw a promise of an easier life. It did get better but her pain was never healed. When I was five, she took a lot of pills. It was a cry for help I think and she began therapy shortly afterwards. Her therapists were never good. They threw a lot of pills at her but never trulyl listened. I'm 42 now and she still isn't well - she has PTSD and I fear she will never be healed.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Being a Representative by definition means that the people that vote for you entrust you to make the best decisions that effect their lives. A person with this position needs to listen to their people and stay in touch with their needs and struggles. A person needs to be accessible and not hide from criticism nor complaint. This position is unique as it should be the purest reflection of the voice of the people.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

In the sense that a person understands rules and processes, it can be beneficial to have previous experience. But those things can be learned before serving and not having previous experience should not be a hindrance. What you do get with a political newcomer is fresh energy and insight free from the things that can corrupt like political alliances and bought-for allegiance.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The people as a nation need to rid themselves of the toxic political divide as that alone is inhibiting our progress. There is so much corrupting politics right now: Big Money, special interests, political egos, corporate/capitalistic interests over people/workers/environment - we are being divided so that we are weak. Once we can come together, we can address so many problems and make reforms across the board to improve the life, liberty, and happiness of all Americans. We need to realize that we do not live in our own bubble though too. We need to work with other nations to create a healthy world in regards to environmental threats, trade deals, and in keeping peace.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would be honored to serve on any committee and would give my all to learning and listening to experts on any issue. My first choice would be serving on the Education and Labor Committee as I feel my professional background and having a teacher's point of view will be highly beneficial to informing decisions made here.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I struggle with this as it was set as such in the Constitution. However the challenge that occurs is that you get one solid year of service which may be a lot of learning the job if it's the first term for a person. The second term is muddied with having to worry about campaigning again to win another term. Solutions to this predicament would be to lengthen the term to 3 years or even better, to reform campaign financing. If each candidate can only raise a certain equal amount or be given an equal stipend, then there would be less financial burden for candidates. That would also allow more people to run for office that were previously held back due to income obstacles.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am 100% for them on every level. Term limits would help end corruption and allow for better representation of the people.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Past Representative Jeannette Rankin's work for Women's Rights stands out to me as she was elected at a time when women were not even allowed to vote and then went on to introduce legislation that would become the 19th Constitutional Amendment.
I am watching a lot of the women that are new to Congress that have come from nontraditional backgrounds, but it is too soon to point to any specific person just yet. I admire that each ran for Congress and we're elected which demonstrates great bravery and personal strength.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have begun to travel across the eight counties of this district and my intentions is to listen and learn. Generally, people feel like their voice is not heard whether they live in the most populous portion of the district or the most remote. So far I have heard many touching stories but I will not use them as a political prop.

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.

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