Ohio Democrats Flip Three Seats, Defeating 2026 Redistricting Map
Voters in Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton rejected Republican incumbents, shifting the state's congressional delegation to eight Democrats and seven Republicans.
By Noor Graham ·
Ohio Democrats broke through a congressional map drawn to favor Republicans, flipping three seats in a decisive shift for the state's delegation. The new lineup will send eight Democrats and seven Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. This result overturns the 2026 redistricting plan, which was designed to yield 12 Republican and three Democratic seats.
Don Leonard defeated incumbent Mike Carey in a district covering Columbus suburbs and rural areas to the south and west. In the Cleveland suburbs, Brian Poindexter unseated Max Miller. Kristina Knickerbocker declared victory in Dayton, overtaking 20-year incumbent Mike Turner. The Associated Press had not officially called Knickerbocker's race as of Wednesday afternoon.
Leonard, a former Ohio State University professor, credited voter fatigue with the Republican agenda for the wins. He told WOSU that no map could have saved the party from the election results. "I think for many Americans, there was no map that could have saved the Republican Party from the wallop they got last night," Leonard said. He noted that high turnout in rural and suburban areas helped drive the outcome.
Turnout in the southern and western portions of Franklin County exceeded previous cycles. Leonard won more than 60% of the vote in those areas, compared to 53% for candidates who ran against Carey in 2022 and 2024. Rural counties such as Pickaway, Madison, and Fayette also saw higher participation, though Carey captured a smaller share of the vote than in past years.
Poindexter, a union ironworker and Brook Park City Council member, defeated Miller, who faced allegations of abusing his daughter and ex-wife. Miller denies the claims. Knickerbocker, a U.S. Air Force veteran and nurse, is challenging Turner, a former Dayton mayor. Leonard described his colleagues as strong neighbors and promising future lawmakers.
Paul Beck, a professor emeritus at Ohio State University, said voters were fed up with corruption associated with President Donald Trump and Ohio Republicans. Beck pointed to Carey's career as a coal lobbyist and the FirstEnergy scandal as factors that hurt Republican candidates. "Somebody who's been a lobbyist is not going to fare well in the current realm of elections because they are looked upon as people who are.. supportive of the very rich and the very well-heeled," Beck said.
Leonard plans to expand constituent services in his new role. He intends to open offices in the Hilltop neighborhood, the south side of Columbus, and Highland County. He also promised to create an app for residents and pursue committee assignments in Ways and Means or Appropriations. His early legislative priorities include banning congressional stock trading and establishing new ethics rules.
The five reelected Democratic representatives are Joyce Beatty, Greg Landsman, Marcy Kaptur, Shontel Brown, and Emilia Sykes. The seven reelected Republicans are Troy Balderson, Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, Dave Joyce, Dave Taylor, Bob Latta, and Michael Rulli. These results reflect a national trend where Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress.
