Who's In The Race

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who has held Ohio's 14th District seat for seven terms, faces Democrat Maria Jukic, a former Euclid City Council member.

The district covers Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula and Trumbull counties and parts of Portage and Mahoning counties, according to Ideastream Public Media. In the May 5 primary, Joyce took about 71% of the vote against former Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko. Jukic won the Democratic nomination with about 50% over Bill O'Neill and Carl Setzer.

What They Stand For

Joyce, a former Geauga County prosecutor, sits on the House Appropriations Committee, which writes federal spending bills. He wrote the law that renewed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and raised its authorized funding to $475 million a year by 2026, according to his House office. The program fights algae blooms, pollution, invasive species and erosion along Lake Erie and the other lakes.

Jukic spent 24 years in health care marketing and public affairs, including at the Cleveland Clinic, and is a licensed attorney. Her campaign website calls for lower health care costs, including letting Medicare negotiate drug prices, and for protecting Social Security.

Jukic also backs citizenship for Dreamers brought to the country as children and a guest worker visa program. On data centers, her site says, "Big tech didn't ask. They took."

The Money Behind The Race

Joyce reported raising about $1.4 million from Jan. 1, 2025, through June 30, according to Federal Election Commission filings. About $967,000 of that came from other political committees, and he had about $3.1 million in the bank at the end of June.

Jukic reported raising about $62,000 from Feb. 2 through June 30, nearly all from individual donors. She had about $34,000 left. Private Property Rights PAC has reported spending $12,000 to support Joyce through Sept. 21.

Race Outlook: Ratings And Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Republican as of Sept. 25, and Inside Elections gave it the same rating as of Sept. 17. Sabato's Crystal Ball calls it Safe Republican as of Sept. 22. On Kalshi, traders favored Joyce at about 92.1% as of 6:15 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 1.

Joyce won about 63% of the vote in 2024 and about 62% in 2022. Statewide, Republicans won 10 of Ohio's 15 House seats in both years, along with both U.S. Senate races, and Donald Trump carried Ohio with about 55% in 2024.

Voters have until Monday, Oct. 5, to register, early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 6, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, and absentee ballot requests are due by Tuesday, Oct. 27. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article