Candidate for U.S. Representative, Ohio District 11
Shontel Brown
DemocraticIncumbent
Shontel Brown, a Democrat, has represented Ohio's 11th District since winning a 2021 special election. Before that she served on the Cuyahoga County Council and the Warrensville Heights City Council. She is Vice Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, and her campaign emphasizes Social Security, food assistance (SNAP), health care costs and federal investment in the district.
- Current or most recent role
- U.S. Representative, Ohio's 11th District (since 2021)
- Hometown
- Warrensville Heights (lifelong Clevelander)
- Campaign website
- shontelbrown.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says she has been "Delivering Results for Ohio's 11th District," pointing to federal funding she helped secure for neighborhood development, infrastructure, transit and community spaces.[1]
- Highlights her role in passing the Social Security Fairness Act, which restored full benefits for many retired public employees.[1],[4]
- Points to her Hunger Free Future Act as her effort to protect SNAP benefits from cuts.[1],[5]
- Says public service means "showing up, telling the truth, and doing the work."[1]
Background
- U.S. Representative, Ohio's 11th District; Vice Ranking Member, House Agriculture Committee, U.S. House of Representatives · 2021–present[2],[3]
- Chair, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party · Elected 2017[2],[10]
- Council Member, District 9, Cuyahoga County Council · 2015–2021[3],[10]
- City Council Member, Warrensville Heights City Council · 2012–2015[2],[10]
- Founder/owner, Diversified Digital Solutions (technology and marketing services); earlier private-sector marketing and sales roles, Private sector · Before public office[2],[3]
Education
Where they stand
- AgricultureIntroduced the Hunger Free Future Act (2025), which would bar USDA updates to the Thrifty Food Plan that increase food insecurity; says Congress should reverse the SNAP cuts in the 2025 budget law (H.R. 1) through the Farm Bill.[5],[6]
- Health CareSupports extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits; in March 2026 urged the Senate to pass the House-passed three-year extension.[7]
- Social Security & MedicareCo-sponsored and voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, and signed the discharge petition to bring it to a floor vote.[4]
- EducationIntroduced the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act (2026), which would create a $2 billion grant program to help low-income elementary schools cap K–3 classes at 18 students.[8]
- HousingIntroduced the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act (2026), which would create a 1% interest HUD loan program to repair distressed HUD-assisted multifamily housing.[9]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 7148 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Senate amendments) Full-year fiscal 2026 funding package for most federal agencies plus short-term Homeland Security funding; ended a four-day partial shutdown (passed 217–214). (U.S. House) | No[16],[20] | Feb 3, 2026 |
| S. 1071 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Compromise annual defense policy bill authorizing about $900 billion for national defense programs (House agreed to the House-Senate agreement 312–112). (U.S. House) | Yes[15],[19] | Dec 10, 2025 |
| H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 (Senate amendment) Ended the 43-day federal government shutdown, funding most agencies through Jan. 30, 2026 (passed 222–209). (U.S. House) | No[14],[17] | Nov 12, 2025 |
| H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act Budget reconciliation bill extending the 2017 individual tax cuts, changing Medicaid and SNAP rules, increasing border and defense spending, and raising the debt limit (final House passage of Senate version; passed 218–214). (U.S. House) | No[11] | Jul 3, 2025 |
| H.R. 1968 – Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Funded the federal government through Sept. 30, 2025, largely at fiscal 2024 levels (passed 217–213). (U.S. House) | No[12],[18] | Mar 11, 2025 |
| S. 5 – Laken Riley Act Requires federal detention of certain noncitizens without legal status who are charged with or arrested for theft-related or certain violent crimes (final House passage; passed 263–156). (U.S. House) | No[13] | Jan 22, 2025 |
In their words
“Everyone deserves to receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned”
“This anniversary is a reminder of something simple: the Affordable Care Act works”
“We must address the affordable housing crisis from all angles.”
Sources
- Re-Elect Congresswoman Shontel Brown (campaign homepage), Shontel Brown for Congress
- Biography, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown (shontelbrown.house.gov)
- Shontel Brown, Ballotpedia
- Congresswoman Brown Votes for Social Security Fairness Act to Repeal Provisions, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, November 12, 2024
- Congresswoman Brown Introduces Bill Blocking Republican Plan to Cut SNAP Benefits for Tax Cuts, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, April 1, 2025
- As Grocery Prices Skyrocket, Brown Sounds Alarm on New Trump SNAP Cut Taking Effect Today, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, October 1, 2026
- Brown Calls for Renewal of Tax Credits on Anniversary of Affordable Care Act, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, March 23, 2026
- Reps. Brown, McBath, Sen. Merkley Introduce Legislation to Reduce Class Sizes, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, September 29, 2026
- Brown, Blunt Rochester, Gimenez Introduce Legislation to Preserve and Repair Distressed Affordable Multifamily Housing, Office of Rep. Shontel Brown, September 24, 2026
- Shontel Brown (bio), Center for Women and Politics of Ohio, Baldwin Wallace University
- Roll Call 190 | Bill Number: H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, July 3, 2025
- Roll Call 70 | Bill Number: H.R. 1968, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, March 11, 2025
- Roll Call 23 | Bill Number: S. 5 – Laken Riley Act, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, January 22, 2025
- Roll Call 285 | Bill Number: H.R. 5371, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, November 12, 2025
- Roll Call 320 | Bill Number: S. 1071, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, December 10, 2025
- Roll Call 53 | Bill Number: H.R. 7148, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, February 3, 2026
- House passes bill to end historic government shutdown, sending measure to Trump, OPB (Associated Press), November 12, 2025
- Congress passes “full-year” Continuing Resolution through September 30, 2025, National Association of Counties, March 14, 2025
- FY2026 NDAA: Status of Legislative Activity, Congressional Research Service (via EveryCRSReport), February 10, 2026
- House Repasses Five Full-Year Funding Bills, Restores Government Stability, House Appropriations Committee, February 3, 2026
Photo: Official portrait, U.S. House of Representatives (Public domain (U.S. government work)).
Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for U.S. Representative, Ohio District 11
- Mike Kirchner (Republican)