U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, Ohio District 5
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 spans north-central and northwest Ohio, including all of Lorain County and all or parts of Crawford, Hancock, Huron, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot counties, with cities such as Lorain, Elyria, Findlay, Bowling Green, Tiffin and Fostoria.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Bob Latta
U.S. Representative, Ohio District 5 (since 2007); Chair, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on EnergyBob Latta has represented the 5th District since 2007 and chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy. He is seeking an 11th term, emphasizing domestic energy production, federal debt and rural broadband.
Brian Shaver
President, Fostoria City Council; social studies teacherBrian Shaver is a Fostoria social studies teacher and city council president who won a four-way Democratic primary in May 2026. His campaign is built on affordability, accountability and availability, with a focus on congressional ethics and campaign finance changes.
Michael Veloff
Campaign staffer for Vermin Supreme campaigns; former health care workerMichael Veloff is a Galion resident who won the Libertarian nomination as a write-in candidate in the May 2026 primary. He campaigns under the tagline "Drunk Uncle for Congress" and has called for changes to Medicaid and health insurance subsidies and a lower drinking age.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Bob Latta Republican | Brian Shaver Democratic | Michael Veloff Libertarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Has reintroduced bills restricting abortion and received an A+ rating from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life scorecard. | Says, "I have no desire to tell a woman what to do with her body," and that health decisions belong to patients and doctors. | No public position found yet |
| Health Care | No public position found yet | Calls health care "a fundamental right" and supports lowering costs for insurance and prescriptions. | Supports expanding Medicaid with administration by the states and ending private health insurance subsidies. |
| Agriculture | Has urged full reauthorization of the Farm Bill. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Alcohol Policy | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Supports lowering the legal drinking age. |
| Budget & Debt | Supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Elections & Democracy | No public position found yet | Supports congressional term limits through an Article V amendment, strict campaign finance rules and ending insider trading by members of Congress. | No public position found yet |
| Energy & Environment | Supports increasing domestic energy production and prioritizing energy transmission. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Guns | No public position found yet | Supports the Second Amendment along with background checks and safe-storage requirements. | No public position found yet |
| Immigration | No public position found yet | Supports a "fair, humane" immigration system and opposes deportations without hearings. | No public position found yet |
| Infrastructure | Introduced the WIRELESS Leadership Act to streamline rural broadband deployment and co-led a House-passed bill on in-field connectivity for farmers. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Public Safety | Sponsored the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, which became law in 2025. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Taxes | No public position found yet | Says the wealthiest Americans should pay the same tax rate as everyone else without loopholes. | No public position found yet |