The Franklin County Board of Elections certified the candidates for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District special primary in a meeting on May 24. Candidates interested in running had until May 17 to file. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 3, and the general election is set for Nov. 2.
Fourteen candidates were certified to the ballot: two Democrats and 12 Republicans. The candidates are:
- Greg Betts (D)
- Allison Russo (D)
- John Adams (R)
- Mike Carey (R)
- Eric M. Clark (R)
- Thad Cooperridder (R)
- Ruth Edmonds (R)
- Ron Hood (R)
- Tom Hwang (R)
- Stephanie Kunze (R)
- Jeff LaRe (R)
- Bob Peterson (R)
- Brian Stewart (R)
- Omar Tarazi (R)
Write-in candidates have until May 28 to file declarations of intent with the county board.
The special election was called after Steve Stivers (R) left office to become the President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, effective May 16. Stivers served from 2011 to 2021.
After Stivers’ resignation, the partisan breakdown of the U.S. representatives from Ohio will be three Democrats, 11 Republicans, and two vacancies. The U.S. House will have 219 Democrats, 211 Republicans, and five vacancies. A majority in the chamber requires 218 seats.
As of May 14, seven special elections have been called during the 117th Congress. From the 113th Congress to the 116th Congress, 50 special elections were held.
Additional reading:
- Special elections to the 117th United States Congress (2021-2022)
- Ohio’s 15th Congressional District special election, 2021 (August 3 Democratic primary)
- Ohio’s 15th Congressional District special election, 2021 (August 3 Republican primary)
- Ohio’s 15th Congressional District
