Special election in Ohio's 15th congressional district

Two of Ohio’s 16 congressional districts are currently vacated, which means voters in those districts will decide on who will fill those seats for the next year.

While the general election for the two races is in November, the field of 12 Republicans and two Democrats will be whittled on Tuesday. The top Democrat and Republican in Tuesday’s special election will vie for the open congressional seat in the November general election.

Why is there a special election?

Shortly after earning reelection last November, Steve Stivers, who represented Ohio’s 15th congressional district, resigned from Congress to become the CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.

After this November's general election, the winner will fill his seat for the final year of the two-year term. Stivers was the district’s representative from 2011-21.

Who can vote in the primary?

Any voter who was registered as of July 6 who resides within the 15th congressional district can vote. The district includes all of Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Madison, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway and Vinton counties and parts of Athens, Fayette, Franklin and Ross counties.

Ohio has what is known as a partially open primary, which means any voter can participate in the party primary of their choosing. The caveat is that a voter will then be registered as a member of that party.

When and where to vote

Early voters can cast a ballot in person at the Board of Elections Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Voting precincts are open on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Voters are required to produce some form of identification, whether it is a state-issued driver’s license or I.D., utility bill, paycheck or bank statement.

To find your voting location and additional details about Tuesday’s election, tap here.

Republican primary

Whoever wins the GOP primary on Tuesday enters the November general election as the favorite. Dating back to the 60s, the district has been won by a Republican in 27 of the last 28 general elections. In November, Stivers defeated his Democratic challenger Joel Newby by a 63-37 margin.

The open seat has attracted a crowded field of 12 Republicans vying to replace Stivers.

Eight candidates have raised more than $100,000, according to campaign reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission earlier in July.

Thomas Hwang, who has not held elected office before, had spent the most among the candidates. As as of July 14, he has spent $491,031, according to the reports submitted to the FEC. Most of his campaign has been self-funded.

Bob Peterson, who was previously the president pro-tempore of the Ohio Senate, had $555,699 in contributions, according to the FEC. He was followed by Mike Carey, who the Associated Press reported was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Carey has raised $460,403, according to the FEC.

Jeff LaRe, who is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and backed by Stivers, has raised $239,299, according to the FEC.

Here is a look at the candidates. Additional information and a full questionnaire of the candidates is available from the Ohio League of Women Voters:

John Adams - Business owner
Mike Carey - Vice president of government affairs, American Consolidated Natural Resources
Thad Cooperrider - Occupation not provided
Ruth Edmonds - Occupation not provided
Ron Hood - Occupation not provided
Thomas Hwang - Small business owner
Stephanie Kunze - State senator, former member of Ohio House
Jeff LaRe - State representative
Bob Peterson - Occupation not provided
Brian Stewart (WITHDRAWN)
Omar Tarazi - Member of Hilliard City Council

Democratic primary

Two Democrats, Greg Betts and Allison Russo, are vying to win the party’s nomination in hopes of pulling off a November upset. While Betts is a newcomer to politics, Russo is a second-term member of the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2018, Russo flipped Ohio’s 24th House district after years of GOP control.

Russo has out fundraised Betts by a large margin. Russo has raised $273,023 compared to $8,775 for Betts, according to the FEC.