{ "id": "epj1766f7f", "slug": "paula-hicks-hudson", "title": "Paula Hicks-Hudson", "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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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-h-to-j", "label": "Surnames H to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-h-to-j" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Paula Hicks-Hudson is an American Democratic politician who represents Ohio's 11th Senate district and previously served as mayor of Toledo and in the Ohio House.", "snippet": "Paula Hicks-Hudson is an American Democratic politician who represents Ohio's 11th Senate district and previously served as mayor of Toledo and in the Ohio House.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-h-to-j", "markdown": "# Paula Hicks-Hudson\n\nPaula Hicks-Hudson is an American politician. A Democrat, she is a member of the Ohio Senate representing the 11th district.[1](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson) She previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, as mayor of Toledo, as a Toledo city councilwoman for the 4th district, and as president of the Toledo City Council.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic[1](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson) |\n| Current office | Member of the Ohio Senate, 11th district[1](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson) |\n| Previous offices | Ohio State Representative; Mayor of Toledo; Toledo City Councilwoman, 4th District; Toledo City Council President[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) |\n| Education | B.A., Spelman College; M.A., Colorado State University; law degree, University of Iowa College of Law[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nHicks-Hudson is a Democrat.[1](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHicks-Hudson graduated from [Spelman College](https://www.edgepedia.org/spelman-college) with a B.A. and from [Colorado State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/colorado-state-university) with an M.A., and earned a degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) After law school, she worked at the Toledo Legal Aid Society, where she helped small business owners, disabled workers, and seniors.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\nShe was married to Freeman W. Hudson from 1973 until his passing in 2018. She is the mother of two adult daughters, Patricia Hope and Leah Free Star, and the grandmother of seven.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n## Career\n\nHicks-Hudson served on the Toledo City Council as the 4th District councilwoman and as Toledo City Council President.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) She then became mayor of Toledo; her campaign website states that she was the first black female mayor of the city.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) According to her campaign website, as mayor she focused on programs to improve educational and job opportunities in Lucas County and was an advocate for programs geared toward helping neglected and underrepresented youth.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\nShe later served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) She is the current State Senator for Ohio's 11th district.[1](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson) • [2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\nHer campaign website states that she continues to contribute to her community by serving on boards and organizations including the NAACP, the YWCA, the Frederick Douglass Community Center, Toledo Youth Hostel, and the Federations of Business and Professional Women, Inc.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Jobs and economic development\n\nOn her campaign website, Hicks-Hudson writes that she \"will continue to work to bring good paying jobs and economic development to Lucas County.\"[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) The site states that as a state representative and state senator she has fought to return tax dollars sent to Columbus back to Lucas County and Northwest Ohio to invest in roads, bridges, rail safety, and infrastructure, and to restore funding for the Ohio Maritime Assistance Program.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) It also states that she has the experience and relationships needed to bring investments back to the district to create jobs and improve roads, bridges, schools, and public service facilities.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n### Environment and clean water\n\nHer campaign website states that she \"will continue to protect Lake Erie, one of our region's greatest assets, and fight for clean water and air to preserve our environment for generations to come.\"[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n### Health care and reproductive rights\n\nHer campaign website states that she \"will continue to lead the charge to ensure women have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, and she will continue to fight for the rights and freedom of all citizens.\"[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) The site describes her as a strong advocate for protecting women's reproductive rights.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n### Labor and working people\n\nHer campaign website describes her as \"a friend of labor and working people\" and states that she has fought to protect collective bargaining rights, prevailing wage, and project labor agreements to ensure trades women and men are paid and treated fairly, and to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n### Voting rights and other civil issues\n\nHer campaign website states that she has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights, majority rule in Ohio, fair legislative districts, and voting rights, and that she has fought for educational independence.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/) The site also states that she will continue to invest in keeping neighborhoods and communities safe and livable.[2](https://paulahickshudson.com/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Paula Hicks-Hudson - Ohio House of Representatives](https://ohiohouse.gov/paula-hicks-hudson)\n2. [Paula Hicks-Hudson for Ohio State Senate](https://paulahickshudson.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 H to J*\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/paula-hicks-hudson", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson.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": "\"Paula Hicks-Hudson\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Paula Hicks-Hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Paula Hicks-Hudson\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-hicks-hudson. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Paula Hicks-Hudson is an American Democratic politician who represents Ohio's 11th Senate district and previously served as mayor of Toledo and in the Ohio House." }