U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, Ohio District 3
Represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which writes federal laws, approves the federal budget and taxes, and oversees the executive branch.
2-year term. Under the 2026 map, the district lies entirely within Franklin County and includes much of central Columbus along with Bexley, Whitehall and the Franklin County portion of Reynoldsburg.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Joyce Beatty
U.S. Representative, Ohio District 3 (since 2013)Joyce Beatty has represented the Columbus-based 3rd District since 2013 and previously served as Ohio House Democratic leader and as a senior vice president at Ohio State University. She is campaigning on affordable housing, civil rights, education and the economy.
Cleophus Dulaney
Columbus business ownerCleophus Dulaney is a Columbus business owner who ran unopposed in the May 2026 Republican primary after a 2020 bid for the same seat. His campaign focuses on cost of living, housing access, small businesses and police-community relations.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Joyce Beatty Democratic | Cleophus Dulaney Republican |
|---|---|---|
| Economy & Jobs | Supports a livable wage, equal pay for equal work and more investment in job training; cites legislation to raise the federal minimum wage. | Supports investment in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and clean energy jobs, apprenticeships, and easier access to capital for small businesses. |
| Elections & Democracy | Opposes efforts to restrict voting and supports making voting easier, including her Save Voters Act. | Supports voting rights, secure and accessible elections and fair district maps. |
| Health Care | Calls health care "a right, not just a privilege" and supports expanding and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. | Supports letting Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices directly and targeting pharmaceutical middlemen. |
| Housing | Has introduced the Housing Financial Literacy Act and the Jumpstart HOUSE Act and supports first-time homebuyer incentives. | Lists gentrification and a shortage of affordable housing in Columbus as concerns and says he is focused on evictions and housing access. |
| Immigration | Supports a pathway to full citizenship for undocumented immigrants and DREAMers. | No public position found yet |
| Public Safety | No public position found yet | Calls for a better relationship between residents and police and lists rehabilitation for homelessness and opioid addiction as an issue. |
| Social Security & Medicare | Supports expanding Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and ensuring their long-term solvency. | No public position found yet |
| Taxes | No public position found yet | Supports targeted tax relief for working and middle-class families and lists property taxes as an issue. |