Jeffrey Todd Smith
Jeffrey Todd Smith (Republican Party) is running for election to the Ohio House of Representatives to represent District 40. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on May 5, 2026.[source]
Smith (Republican Party) (also known as J) was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 43. He assumed office on July 24, 2018. He left office on December 31, 2020.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Smith was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Conservation Committee (decommissioned), Vice chair
- Criminal Justice Committee (decommissioned)
- House Primary and Secondary Education Committee (decommissioned)
- State and Local Government Committee (decommissioned)
Elections
2026
See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 40
Lew Lainhart and Jeffrey Todd Smith are running in the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 40 on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Lew Lainhart  | |
 | Jeffrey Todd Smith | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2020
See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Rodney Creech defeated Amy Cox in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rodney Creech (R) | 54.2 | 31,463 |
 | Amy Cox (D) | 45.8 | 26,552 | |
| Total votes: 58,015 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Amy Cox advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Amy Cox | 100.0 | 6,664 |
| Total votes: 6,664 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Rodney Creech defeated incumbent Jeffrey Todd Smith (Unofficially withdrew) in the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rodney Creech | 65.5 | 5,359 |
| Jeffrey Todd Smith (Unofficially withdrew) | 34.5 | 2,817 | |
| Total votes: 8,176 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Incumbent Jeffrey Todd Smith defeated Dan Foley in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeffrey Todd Smith (R) | 50.2 | 22,388 |
 | Dan Foley (D) | 49.8 | 22,251 | |
| Total votes: 44,639 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Dan Foley advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Foley | 100.0 | 5,009 |
| Total votes: 5,009 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43
Incumbent Jeffrey Todd Smith defeated Kenneth Henning in the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 43 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeffrey Todd Smith | 52.8 | 4,065 |
| Kenneth Henning | 47.2 | 3,636 | ||
| Total votes: 7,701 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2020
Jeffrey Todd Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
J. Todd Smith participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 7, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and J. Todd Smith's responses follow below.[1]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) The restoration of rights back to the people. Over the years, too much power and decision making has been yielded to Columbus. This must change. A few issues: there is a move right now to consolidate eductional decisions with politicians in Columbus. This must be stopped and decisions and authority must be given back to local school boards. Second amendment rights must not be restricted by the state. Bills are being propsed to limit these rights and not provide proper protection for law-abiding citizens with the passing of a "Stand Your Ground" bill. Religious rights are being infringed. We must push through a "Pastor's Protection Bill" which will allow ministers to serve according to their religious conviction without fear of harassment or prosecution. Etc. These and more all have to do with protecting the citizens right's and authority. 2) There is always a need for tax and regulation reduction. We must continue the work to roll back burdensme taxes and regulations on businesses so they can create more jobs and on individuals so they can live better lives. I am a pastor and have seen far too many of our elderly people taxed out of their homes by the every increasing property taxes when a community is growing and expanding. I want to look into the possibility of cutting or freezing the taxes of our seniors in these areas. |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Business/personal taxes, regulation, agricultural. I was raised in a small business family (my dad was an automotive technician) and saw first hand how over-taxation and overregulation hurt small business owners and families. I have lived the past 21 years in Farmersville/Germantown which is a farming community and those issues touch every part of our community.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. J. Todd Smith answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | Winston Churchill. He has to be the greatest leader of the last century. He galvanized a nation to fight against overwhelming odds and helped overcome the evil of his time. He did this while being opposed many times by his own people and party. America needs, and at this time must have, leaders who will stand against their own party if necessary to do what is right for the citizens of this amazing country.[3] | ” |
| “ | The Bible and "The Federalist (Papers)"[3] | ” |
| “ | Integrity and clarity.[3] | ” |
| “ | Clear expression, thoughtful consideration, diplomacy and patriotism.[3] | ” |
| “ | To pass legislation that improves the lives of the constituents, protects their rights and follows the laws and constitution of this great state.[3] | ” |
| “ | That he treated people right, was true to himself and did what was right.[3] | ” |
| “ | The Bicentennial in 1976. I remembered the quarters being changed! I was 9 years old.[3] | ” |
| “ | I worked odd jobs when in my mid-teens but my first job for others was a job as a PTF (Part-Time Flex) and the United States Postal Service. It was a 3 month job but they liked me and extended it for an additional 3 months. I then left and went to college.[3] | ” |
| “ | She enjoyed my company![3] | ” |
| “ | Thanksgiving. It seems to not be so commercialized and focuses on family time.[3] | ” |
| “ | The Bible. It truly speaks to every facet of life (and eternity) and never lets you get by with doing wrong. It speaks and encourages the reader to be better. Aside from that, my favorite since a kid was "Ole Yeller" and later in life the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien.[3] | ” |
| “ | My front porch or back deck....with coffee...early in the morning.[3] | ” |
| “ | "The Sweet By and By"...and Cotton-Eyed Joe![3] | ” |
| “ | The original design of the founding fathers with the federal congress, the two-year house and the six-year senate. The one house is trying to hurry and get things done because they only have two years to serve while the other chamber attempts to slow things down and work through the issues more thoughtfully because they have six years to do it.[3] | ” |
| “ | It depends. Every politicians took their first position with no political experience. If one in their previous experience becomes more loyal to the party and their own advancement than to the people and their platform, then their previous experience is a negative. I would rather have a leader committed to the people who was a novice than a expert politician who would not do what was best for their state and constituents.[3] | ” |
| “ | Fixing the tax burden placed on us by bad state contracts and a shrinking tax base due to anti-business policies.[3] | ” |
| “ | Honest debate and put all issues to an open vote.[3] | ” |
| “ | Not only beneficial but necessary. You cannot trust the judgment of a person you do not know. We must start reaching across the aisle again.[3] | ” |
| “ | The one that is in place now. I have heard of other options but none that seems to be an improvement of what we are doing now. Till something better is proposed, stick with what you are doing.[3] | ” |
| “ | Lincoln. Difficult times, strong opposition but determined and principled and made a difference that is still remembered.[3] | ” |
| “ | Not even thinking about that. I want to serve right here.[3] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Ohio scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Ohio State Legislature was in session from January 6 to December 31.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Representatives are scored on their votes on bills affecting working families.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills impacting Ohio's business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 7 through December 31.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 132nd Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 2 through December 31.
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "J. Todd Smith's responses," April 7, 2018
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jeff Rezabek (R) |
Ohio House of Representatives District 43 2018-2020 |
Succeeded by Rodney Creech (R) |
