Republican candidate for Ohio's 1st Congressional District, Eric Conroy, traveled to Afghanistan as part of his work with the CIA. (Courtesy of the Conroy campaign)
Ohio, once a reliable swing state, has shifted to the right over the past few election cycles. Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, a businessman and political outsider, defeated longtime incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2024, securing a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.
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On the campaign trail, Moreno also tied his Democrat opponent's voting record to Biden's, capitalizing on Ohio's conservative shift.
Conroy blamed the Democratic Party's "lack of initiative, lack of foundation, and lack of any real ideas" for Ohio's red wave.
Conroy, who attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado, poses with his father. (Courtesy of the Conroy campaign)
"I’m running for Congress because I’ve seen the threats we face abroad and the struggles families face here at home. It’s time for new leadership that will stand up to the extremes, restore common sense, and fight to make sure the American Dream stays within reach for every Ohioan," Conroy said.
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Core among Conroy's campaign promises are a commitment to building the economy, supporting law enforcement and securing the border. The Republican has also vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare, a hot-button issue heading into the 2026 midterm elections as Democrats seize on Republicans' Medicaid reform included in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill."
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-cia-officer-air-force-veteran-launches-gop-campaign-dem-held-district-ohio