Ohio 15th sees $6.5 million surge as Carey and Leonard close the gap
PAC spending and new polling data suggest a tighter contest than expected in a district Republicans recently redrew.
By Camila Herrera ·
Campaign finance records show a sharp increase in spending for Ohio's 15th Congressional District, with two candidates raising more than $6.5 million combined. The influx of cash signals a competitive election in a district that has historically favored Republicans.
Republican incumbent Mike Carey has received over $4 million in contributions. More than half of that total came from political action committees. The Safety and Affordability PAC, affiliated with President Donald Trump, spent over $1 million on Carey's campaign. Other PACs added another $1.6 million to support his bid. Carey, a former coal lobbyist based in German Village, also secured more than $1.6 million from corporate donors including Marathon Petroleum, Cardinal Health, Huntington Bank, and Abbott Laboratories.
Democratic challenger Don Leonard raised over $1.1 million directly but received nearly $4 million from outside PACs. These groups, many with left-leaning affiliations, ran advertisements against Carey. Leonard's campaign stated that the heavy Republican spending indicates party leadership views the district as competitive and is concerned. The campaign, which has pledged to avoid corporate PAC money, argued that the polls show Ohio voters are tired of Republican leadership. A statement from the Leonard campaign noted that recent polling contradicts earlier assumptions that the seat was unwinnable for Democrats.
Libertarian candidate Brennan Barrington is running a smaller operation that did not require federal financial disclosure. Barrington, an Ohio State engineering graduate living in downtown Columbus, argued that the high cost of the race reflects excessive congressional power. He proposed ranked choice voting for Senate seats and proportional representation for the House to reduce the impact of third-party candidates.
The district map is new, having been adopted in 2025 by Ohio Republicans. It includes parts of Franklin, Pickaway, and Miami counties. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as leaning Republican. However, a recent poll by Hart Research Associates, funded by Democrats, showed Leonard leading Carey 48% to 45% among likely voters. That survey did not ask about Barrington.
Carey has not responded to repeated requests for comment. Leonard, a former Ohio State professor from the Hilltop neighborhood, continues to rely on outside PAC support. Barrington said his candidacy aims to challenge the two-party system rather than act as a spoiler. He cited military commitments in the Middle East and federal regulatory burdens as key issues for his campaign.
The election will determine the fate of the first cycle under the new district boundaries. Both main candidates are spending heavily to secure their positions as the general election approaches.
