Don Leonard

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says "one job should be enough" to buy a home, raise a family, and retire with dignity.[1],[3]
• Says he will focus on lowering the costs of health care, home ownership, child care, and aging.[1],[2]
• Says he will work across party lines, hold town halls, and reach out to members of the opposing party with civility.[1],[4]
• Says he takes no PAC money from corporations or foreign lobby groups and wants to get money out of politics.[1],[3]

Background

• Democratic nominee for U.S. House, Ohio's 15th District (won May 5, 2026 primary with about 53% of the vote over Adam Miller), Ohio's 15th Congressional District · 2026[2],[5]
• Arrested at a "No Kings" protest in Grove City on March 28, 2026, and charged with obstructing official business and cited for violating the city's noise ordinance; Leonard said he would challenge the charges, and no outcome had been reported as of this research., Grove City Police Department · 2026[6],[7]
• Professor of city and regional planning, The Ohio State University · c. 2016–2026 (about 10 years)[1],[2],[4]
• Postdoctoral researcher, Tulane University[4]
• Volunteer (two years, South America), U.S. Peace Corps[1],[2]

Education

• Ph.D., Government (2013), Cornell University[1],[2]
• Master's degree, Regional Development (2003), University of Massachusetts Lowell[2]
• Bachelor's degree, Political Science (2001), University of Massachusetts Lowell[2]

Where they stand

• Health Care
  Supports creating a public option "like Medicare" for anyone who wants it and says he would work to cut out-of-pocket costs of private health insurance.[1],[2]
• Housing
  Supports a "21st-century GI Bill" for housing that he says would double the rate of starter home construction.[1],[2]
• Economy & Jobs
  Says no Ohio family should spend more than 7% of monthly income on child care; supports expanding Head Start and subsidies for private care.[1],[2]
• Social Security & Medicare
  Supports eliminating the Social Security payroll tax cap and supporting family caregivers who care for aging or disabled relatives at home.[1],[3]
• Energy & Environment
  Supports a national moratorium on new data center construction and a "data center bill of rights" with setbacks from farms and neighborhoods, local control over siting, and ratepayer protections; also supports renewable energy and passive cooling for data centers.[1],[3]
• Elections & Democracy
  Opposes the Citizens United v. FEC ruling and supports limiting money in politics; supports an independent commission to investigate and report to Congress on the conduct of the current administration; says Congress should restore its constitutional authority over decisions to go to war.[1],[2],[3]

Voting record

Don Leonard has not held an office with a recorded voting record. See Background and Where they stand.

In their words