Rep. Troy Balderson, a Republican, is running for reelection to represent Ohio's 12th Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic candidate Jerrad Christian.

Balderson has held the seat since 2018.

A U.S. House member votes on federal legislation, serves on congressional committees and represents the district's interests in Washington. The seat carries a two-year term.

Candidate information

  • Name: Troy Balderson
  • Party: Republican
  • Date of birth: Jan. 16, 1962
  • Hometown: Zanesville, Ohio
  • Education: Zanesville High School (1980); attended Muskingum College and Ohio State University
  • Family: One adult son, Joshua

Experience and public service

Before entering public office, Balderson worked on his family's farm and at Balderson Motor Sales, the family's automotive dealership in Zanesville. He served as vice president and general manager there from 1987 to 2008, according to public records.

Balderson served in the Ohio House of Representatives for District 94 from 2009 to 2011. He then served in the Ohio State Senate representing District 20 from 2011 to 2018, according to BallotReady.

He was elected to Congress in 2018 and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he is vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. He also chairs the House Energy Action Team and is a member of the Republican Policy Committee, according to his congressional office.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Balderson's campaign website and his responses on BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Taxes and budget: Balderson says he supports restoring what he calls Trump's middle-class tax cuts before they expire. He says he backs a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On his campaign site, Balderson says he supports federal tax reform that doubled the standard deduction, expanded the child tax credit, provided tax relief for small businesses and working families, and repealed what he calls the Death Tax.

Energy and environment: Balderson says he wants to expand domestic energy production, build pipelines and acknowledge natural gas for what he calls its role in reducing emissions. He says he wants to repeal what he describes as a "radical green agenda."

Immigration and border security: Balderson says he supports working with President Trump to secure the border. He says he wants to hire more border patrol officers, end sanctuary cities and invest in better technology to detect illegal crossings.

Healthcare: Balderson says he wants to keep healthcare decisions between patients and doctors while protecting people with pre-existing conditions and lowering prescription drug costs. He says he supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

Veterans: Balderson says he wants to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs and allow veterans to choose their own doctors in their home communities.

Endorsements

The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady. Balderson's campaign website also states that Ohio Right to Life PAC endorsed his campaign.

  • American Israel Public Affairs Committee
  • Buckeye Firearms Association
  • Ohio Right to Life PAC

Candidate positions and claims were drawn from BallotReady questionnaire responses and the candidate's campaign website. The Powell-Olentangy Journal did not independently verify the candidate's statements about his record.