{ "id": "eph0bxnja4", "slug": "anita-somani", "title": "Anita Somani", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-s-to-t", "markdown": "# Anita Somani\n\nAnita Somani is an American politician and physician, a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 8th district.[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani) She is serving her second term representing the district, which includes the cities of Dublin and Worthington.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) Before entering politics, she worked for more than three decades as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Columbus.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Democratic[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani) |\n| Current office | Member, Ohio House of Representatives, District 8[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani) |\n| Education | M.D., Medical College of Ohio; OB/GYN residency, Mt. Carmel Medical Center[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nSomani is a Democrat.[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nSomani is a first-generation immigrant from India; her biography states that her father was the first Asian to serve in a Governor's cabinet.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She earned her M.D. from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her residency in OB/GYN at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She holds a certification in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS).[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) Before holding office, she worked for three decades as an OBGYN at OhioHealth in Columbus.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She is a past board member of the Columbus Medical Association and [Planned Parenthood](https://www.edgepedia.org/planned-parenthood), and a current board member of LEAD Ohio.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She lives in Columbus with her husband, where they raised their son, an engineer, and their daughter, an OB/GYN.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography)\n\n## Career\n\nSomani was sworn into the 136th Ohio General Assembly, beginning her second term as State Representative for House District 8, serving Dublin and Worthington.[3](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news/rep-somani-of-ohio-house-district-8-sworn-into-136th-general-assembly-125908) She represents the district following Ohio's new redistricting maps.[3](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news/rep-somani-of-ohio-house-district-8-sworn-into-136th-general-assembly-125908) After being sworn in, she said, \"I am honored to have been re-elected to the legislature. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass common-sense legislation that will improve the quality of life of Ohioans.\"[3](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news/rep-somani-of-ohio-house-district-8-sworn-into-136th-general-assembly-125908)\n\nShe serves on the House Medicaid Committee and serves as Ranking Member on the House Health Committee.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) Her stated legislative priorities are protecting reproductive rights, increasing access to high-quality healthcare, addressing the gun violence crisis, and championing public education.[3](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news/rep-somani-of-ohio-house-district-8-sworn-into-136th-general-assembly-125908)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Reproductive rights\n\nSomani ran for office because, her biography states, she believes Ohio has gone down the wrong path on issues including increasing abortion restrictions, which she says disproportionately affect marginalized communities.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She has sponsored the Reproductive Care Act (HB128), the Protect IVF technology bill (HB237), and a bill on the funding of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB245).[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She issued a statement on House Bill 347, legislation requiring a 24-hour waiting period for patients accessing reproductive care, which she said \"Undermines Healthcare, Ignores Ohio Voters, & Increases Costs for Families.\"[4](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news)\n\n### Healthcare\n\nSomani has used her medical background, in the words of her biography, \"to improve the public health of our state and to create evidence-based legislation that helps everyone in our community.\"[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) On her campaign website, she writes, \"Throughout my career, I have been committed to providing compassionate, top-notch care to patients across Central Ohio.\"[5](https://www.drsomani4ohio.com/) With Representative Ashley Bryant Bailey, she introduced the Ohio Menopause and Hormone Therapy Act, also known as the Hormone Optimization Treatment Through Insurance Expansion (H.O.T.T.I.E.) Act, which would align Ohio's insurance standards with updated federal guidance and current clinical evidence regarding menopausal hormone therapy, expanding access to care.[4](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news) She was among the House Democrats who unveiled the \"An Ohio You Can Afford\" legislative package, aimed at reducing healthcare, childcare, housing, energy, and consumer goods costs.[4](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news)\n\n### Kratom regulation\n\nSomani issued a statement on the Pharmacy Board's proposed rule to classify synthetic kratom as a Schedule 1 drug, opposing an outright ban and supporting strict regulation instead.[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani)\n\n### LGBTQ+ issues\n\nSomani issued a statement on House Bill 249, legislation that would ban drag shows outside of nightclubs, saying it \"Unfairly Targets LGBTQ+ Ohioans and Does Nothing to Address Real Issues.\"[4](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news)\n\n### Public education and capital funding\n\nSomani's biography states that public school funding should not go to school vouchers and that she strongly believes in the separation of church and state.[2](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography) She announced the passage of Senate Bill 450, the state's biennial capital appropriations budget, which allocates nearly $4B for the maintenance, renovation, and construction of state-owned infrastructure, including colleges, universities, school districts, and other community projects.[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani) She also announced Ohio Controlling Board approvals of $1.8M to replace boilers at the Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Joint Force Headquarters Building, $30,450 to replace flooring at the Ohio School for the Deaf Recreation Center, and $2.69M for renovation of the former elementary building of the Ohio School for the Deaf and the Ohio School for the Blind, along with $96K to replace an HVAC system at the school.[1](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani) • [4](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Representative Anita Somani - District 8 | Ohio House of Representatives](https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani)\n2. [Anita Somani Biography | Ohio House of Representatives](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/biography)\n3. [Rep. Somani of Ohio House District 8 Sworn Into 136th General Assembly](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news/rep-somani-of-ohio-house-district-8-sworn-into-136th-general-assembly-125908)\n4. [Anita Somani News | Ohio House of Representatives](https://ohiohouse.gov/members/anita-somani/news)\n5. [Reelect Dr. Anita Somani To The Ohio House of Representatives](https://www.drsomani4ohio.com/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Midwestern state legislators › Surnames S to T*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Anita Somani\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Anita Somani](https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani](https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Anita Somani\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-somani. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Anita Somani is an American physician and Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 8th district, serving Dublin and Worthington after three decades as an OB/GYN in Columbus." }