Who's running in Ohio's 1st congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Greg Landsman currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Abortion rights; he is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Reducing the role of outside money in politics; he is endorsed by End Citizens United.
Support for Israel; he is endorsed by AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel.
Federal employees' pay and job protections; he is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees.
Cost of living and constituent services in Cincinnati.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 1st District since January 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 54.6%.
Former Cincinnati city council member; previously an educator and non-profit director.
Beat Damon Lynch IV in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary.
Had raised $3.7 million as of late April 2026, against $850,000 for his opponent.
Arguments in favor
Abortion rights, campaign finance and federal employee organisations have all endorsed his re-election, as have the main pro-Israel groups — a breadth his campaign presents as fitting a swing district.
— Planned Parenthood Action Fund, End Citizens United, the American Federation of Government Employees, AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel
He had raised more than four times as much as his opponent by late April, which his campaign presents as evidence he can hold a district drawn to defeat him.
— The Landsman campaign, and Federal Election Commission filings reported by The Hill
Arguments against
His Republican opponent says he has been part of a party that failed to address the day-to-day problems people face and instead promoted what he calls a far-left agenda that puts no money back in people's pockets.
— Eric Conroy, his Republican opponent
He drew a primary challenge from the left, from an activist backed by an organisation that campaigns against AIPAC's role in Democratic primaries, over his acceptance of AIPAC's endorsement.
— Track AIPAC, which endorsed Damon Lynch IV in the Democratic primary
What we couldn’t verify
The National Republican Congressional Committee added this seat to its target list, and the Congressional Leadership Fund reserved $4 million in the Cincinnati media market; no NRCC page attacking Landsman by name was located.
Landsman's response to Conroy's characterisation was not established from sources read.
How the new district lines change his position is contested; the calculation cited above is from analysts rather than from either campaign.
What he calls common-sense conservative leadership for south-west Ohio.
Cost of living and household economics rather than what he describes as a far-left national agenda.
National security, drawing on his Air Force and CIA service.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy; served on active duty in the Air Force.
Former CIA case officer working overseas in national security.
Born and raised on Cincinnati's West Side; has not held elected office.
Won a four-way Republican primary on May 5, 2026.
Had raised about $850,000 as of late April 2026, against $3.7 million for the incumbent.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Conroy by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism' and 'residency', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Greg Landsman's campaign, and against Cincinnati Enquirer, WVXU, Ohio Capital Journal and Local 12 coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
He is endorsed by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance and was added to the National Republican Congressional Committee's programme for priority challengers; the Congressional Leadership Fund has reserved $4 million in the Cincinnati market for the general election.
His positions on specific federal legislation were not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Ohio held its primary on May 5, 2026, under a new congressional map that the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted unanimously on October 31, 2025; the state was required to redraw because the previous map was valid for only two cycles. Democratic incumbent Greg Landsman beat activist Damon Lynch IV for renomination; Republican Eric Conroy won a four-way primary. The redraw moved the district toward Republicans: it keeps Cincinnati and part of Hamilton County but adds parts of Warren County and all of Clinton County, and analysts calculate that President Trump would have carried the new lines by about 2.5 points after losing the old ones by six. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Ohio Capital Journal and The Hill reporting. Criticism of Conroy by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Ohio ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.