Democrat Don Leonard unseated Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey in Ohio's 15th Congressional District on Nov. 3, flipping a seat that ad been held by Republicans since 2011.
The Associated Press projected Leonard's victory on election night, according to WOSU. Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State's website showed Leonard leading 52% to 45% districtwide with 85% of precincts reporting as of 10:49 p.m., according to WOSU. Libertarian Brennan Barrington drew less than 3%.
Franklin County results
The 15th District covers southwestern Franklin County, where Hilliard sits, along with parts of Clark, Pickaway and Miami counties and all of Fayette, Highland and Madison counties.
Unofficial Franklin County results showed a wider margin in the county portion of the district, with all 351 precincts reporting. The report was generated at 12:09 a.m. on Nov. 4.
Candidate | Party | Votes | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
Don Leonard | Dem | 122,451 | 62.19% |
Mike Carey | Rep | 69,270 | 35.18% |
Brennan Barrington | Lib | 5,023 | 2.55% |
Write-in totals | — | 143 | 0.07% |
Precincts reporting: 351 of 351 (Franklin County only)
These results reflect only the Franklin County portion of the district. The districtwide 52%-to-45% margin cited above came from the Ohio Secretary of State's website at 85% of precincts reporting, as reported by WOSU.
What the race means for Hilliard
Leonard, 48, a former Ohio State University professor of city and regional planning, is a first-time candidate who lives in Columbus's Hilltop neighborhood. He held his election night watch party in Hilliard, according to WOSU.
He won the May primary after the Democrats' previous nominee, Adam Miller, was arrested at a No Kings protest in Grove City, according to WOSU.
"I am honored that the voters have placed their trust in me," Leonard said in a statement. "The voters of this district didn't fall for the scare tactics. Instead, they chose to stand up and make it clear that we deserve better."
Carey, first elected in a 2021 special election after former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers left office, said in a Facebook statement that he was disappointed but proud of his work. He said he knew 2026 would present a challenge "unlike any other we had seen in the Buckeye State," according to WOSU.
The Cook Political Report had rated the race "lean Republican" before the election. Leonard's win was part of a broader shift. Democrats flipped at least two Ohio congressional seats on Nov. 3 and flipped control of the U.S. House nationally, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
All results remain unofficial pending certification later in November.
