Who's running in Ohio's 11th 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 · Shontel Brown 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.
Strengthening U.S.-Israel relations; she visited Israel in 2023 and has been among the strongest supporters of that relationship in her party.
Gun violence prevention; she is endorsed by Giffords.
Labour rights; she is endorsed by the Ohio Conference of Teamsters.
Federal investment in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
Health care access.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 11th District since November 2021, when she won a special election; re-elected in 2024 with 78.3%.
Former chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and Cuyahoga County council member.
Member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition.
Beat Ardelia Holmes, David Light and Cortney Peterson in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
The state's largest transport union and the country's best-known gun violence prevention group have endorsed her re-election.
— Ohio Conference of Teamsters and Giffords
Arguments against
Groups campaigning against AIPAC's role in Democratic primaries say the organisation effectively bought her seat, pointing to the outside money spent for her in the 2021 special election and since; progressive critics also say her support for Israel disregards the effects of the war on Palestinian civilians.
— Track AIPAC
What we couldn’t verify
The claim that AIPAC-linked spending decided her election is her critics' characterisation of independent expenditures; her campaign's response was not located.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Brown for the 2026 cycle could be found, and no criticism of her from Mike Kirchner's campaign was located.
A second published case for her re-election, beyond those two endorsements, could not be found.
Won the Republican nomination for Ohio's 11th District in the May 5, 2026 primary.
Has not held elected office.
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
Kirchner's policy positions could not be established: his campaign site presents videos rather than written positions, and no candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Kirchner by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Shontel Brown's campaign, and against Cleveland.com, Signal Cleveland and Ideastream coverage.
His fundraising was not established from sources read; the district is safely Democratic.
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 the new congressional map adopted in October 2025. Democratic incumbent Shontel Brown beat three primary challengers; Republican Mike Kirchner won his party's nomination. The district takes in Cleveland and its inner suburbs, including Euclid, Cleveland Heights and Warrensville Heights, and has been safely Democratic. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Associated Press primary reporting. Criticism of Kirchner 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.