Ohio voters will head to the polls this November to decide who will represent the state’s newly drawn 1st congressional district. The map, approved by the Ohio legislature in October 2025, was designed to give Republicans a better chance at an additional seat in the U.S. House.
Candidates and platforms
Democrat Rep. Greg Landsman is the incumbent. He has centered his campaign on lowering costs for families, capping insulin prices, raising the federal minimum wage, and reducing prescription‑drug prices. Landsman is also the lead sponsor of the Doctors Not AI Act of 2026, which would bar employers’ health insurers and self‑insured plans from using artificial intelligence to deny claims without a licensed health professional overseeing the decision.
Republican challenger Eric Conroy is a former CIA case officer and Air Force veteran. Conroy’s platform emphasizes cutting middle‑class taxes, expanding American energy production, and supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda. He praised the Trump administration’s strong border enforcement and its efforts to modernize the immigration system.
Data‑center water use
Landsman has called for a federal framework to require data‑center operators to disclose water usage, arguing that communities need transparency about how much water is drawn from public supplies and groundwater. “These data centers use a ton of water now,” he said in a congressional hearing, urging federal disclosure requirements.
Conroy takes a different approach, urging local governments to regulate data centers while insisting that technology companies should cover the utility costs they incur. He also warned that the United States must win the AI race against China, likening a loss to “losing the war for the internet.”
National security and foreign policy
At the recent Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Conroy defended President Trump’s continued military pressure on Iran, calling for ongoing air‑assault missions and strategic operations. He argued that friendlier relations with governments in Venezuela and Iran could ultimately benefit the American economy.
Landsman, by contrast, has repeatedly urged the administration to end military conflict in Iran and has voted for several War Powers Resolutions to limit the president’s ability to continue operations without congressional approval.
Fundraising and campaign finance
Financial reports show Landsman with a sizable advantage, having raised more than $4.6 million and holding $3.6 million in cash on hand. Conroy’s campaign has collected $1.5 million and reports $474,000 in cash.
Both candidates received contributions from political action committees: Landsman from the American Optometric Association PAC, the Laborers’ International Union of North America PAC, and the Stop Gun Violence PAC; Conroy from the Citizens United Victory Fund and the SEAL PAC, which supports former military candidates.
Voting information
Ohio’s military and overseas absentee ballots will be mailed on September 18, while domestic absentee ballots will be sent on October 6, the same day early in‑person voting begins. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can find more details at the Ohio Secretary of State website (ohiosos.gov) or the Center Square (thecentersquare.com/ohio).
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
