Ohio's 14th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Democratic primary)

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← 2024
Ohio's 14th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 4, 2026
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in Ohio

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Ohio's 14th Congressional District
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Ohio elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on May 5, 2026, in Ohio's 14th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
February 4, 2026
May 5, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Ohio law provides for closed primaries, meaning a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. However, a voter of any affiliation can choose the ballot they would like to vote on the day of the primary, and their choice may be regarded as registration with that party.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Ohio's 14th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results


Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 14

Maria Jukic, Bill O'Neill, and Carl Setzer are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 14 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Maria Jukic
Maria Jukic Candidate Connection
Image of Bill O'Neill
Bill O'Neill Candidate Connection
Image of Carl Setzer
Carl Setzer Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Maria Jukic

Image of Maria Jukic

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am tired of sorting people into two categories when most of us are in the massive middle. I want to listen, learn, and find common ground. I am a child of immigrants. Union family. Grounded in Christian ethics: love your neighbor as yourself. Attorney. Healthcare career. Former City Councilwoman. I was born in Cleveland in a Croatian-American family in a working-class neighborhood. My mom was in the UAW and my dad was a draftsman. I was class president and valedictorian at Villa Angela Academy. I have a BA in American Studies, University of Notre Dame; MA in Theology and Religious Studies, John Carroll.; JD, Cleveland State College of Law; and a Fulbright Fellowship. I spent 24 years in healthcare doing Marketing/Public Affairs at Euclid Hospital and Arts and Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. I served 4 years on Euclid City Council, graduated from Leadership Lake County, and served on nonprofit boards. I worked in manufacturing, community organizations, and international humanitarian aid. As a teen, I had two paper routes, worked at the mall, and was a waitress. My family and I know hard work and struggle. I know that having support, education, and opportunity can lead to the American dream. I love this country for our freedom and democratic values, the beautiful tapestry of Americans, the decency and generosity of the people, and the promise of “liberty and justice for all.” I want America to be the “shining city upon a hill” again, and I’m ready to fight for it."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

FOR THE PEOPLE: Today’s system is rigged in favor of special interests, large corporations, and the wealthiest among us at the expense of regular people. I want to improve the lives of regular Americans and fight for them. Protect Social Security and Medicare. Restore Medicaid and SNAP. Improve tax policy for people who work for a paycheck, for small businesses, and for farmers. Help the rich and corporations pay their fair share. Provide for our armed services members, veterans, and their families. Create jobs, support unions, and increase the minimum wage. Support education. Collaborate with communities. Defend environmental protections because when polluters are allowed to pollute, regular people get sick and die. Ask Erin Brockovich.

FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND THE RULE OF LAW: Our government is blatantly and shamelessly violating the Constitution and undermining the Rule of Law - and Congress is letting them. I took an oath to the Constitution twice, as a lawyer 1and as a City Councilwoman. I take that oath seriously and I will stand up for the Constitution - even when I don’t like it. When my family was discriminated against and persecuted in a communist country for their beliefs and for being on the wrong side of the government, they were immensely grateful for this country where everyone was treated equally under the law, regardless of wealth, class, social group, or immigration status. We need to find our way back to that promise - with liberty and justice for all.

FOR HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY: ~30 million Americans will not have health insurance in 2026. ~100 million owe $220 billion in medical debt. 500,000 households face medical bankruptcy every year. 80% of U.S. counties are healthcare deserts. Prescription drugs are a financial burden for 67% of Americans. And the US ranks last among high-income nations. All of this while insurance and pharmaceutical companies make record profits. There must be a better way, but there is not enough political will to do it, largely because of special interests, lobbying, and campaign finance. But that’s another topic. My goal is to have honest, bipartisan, and broad-ranging conversations to create reasonable, long-term solutions to improve healthcare.

Bill O'Neill

Image of Bill O'Neill

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice; a retired Lieutenant Colonel, United State Army with a Bronze Star from Vietnam; and a former Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Hillcrest Hospital an affiliate of the Cleveland Clinic. I am currently licensed as an Attorney At Law and a Registered Nurse in the State of Ohio. During Law School I was the Commanding Officer of the Armored Cavalry National Guard Troop in Painesville Ohio. I believe health care is a right and that Medicare for All is the proper approach to remedy the health care crisis that plagues America. I believe that Green Energy jobs are critical to our economy and advocate electric commuter rail from Cleveland to Conneaut and solar panels on top of every government building in Ohio. Lastly I believe that all Americans distrust our government for good reason. Money has permeated every level of government and therefore I will take No Money From Nobody as I did in previous successful elections. I was elected and re-elected to the five county 11th District Court of Appeals that encompasses most of the newly gerrymandered 14 th Congressional district. . I am the Senior Vice Commander of Chagrin Falls VFW Post 12067; a eucharistic minister at Saint Joan of Arc Church, and have coached boys baseball and girls basketball and softball. I founded and ran a restaurant known as O'Neill's Landing in Geneva On the Lake and we employed 25 workers for ten years. I have four kids."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Medicare for all. As an emergency room nurse I have seen firsthand the tragedy of uninsured Americans who arrive too late because they did not have insurance. A full 60% of Americans pay for Medicare insurance but cannot access coverage until they are senior citizens. Health care is a right in America and far too many citizens live their life in fear of a medical crisis that will take away their savings and their home. Medicare for all, without limitation is the answer.

I believe in green energy and believe the federal government is failing to provide intelligent answers. Let me give you an example The Red Line of the Regional Transit Authority that is funded by federal dollars....starts at Tower City in Cleveland and ends nine miles later in East Cleveland. That is truly stupid. What happened to the commuters in Euclid, Willoughby, Painesville, Mentor and Ashtabula? They, along with thousands of others are in a daily traffic jam on Route 2. We need to extend solar powered high speed commuter rail east to Conneaut. It saves the environment, provides jobs and improves the quality of life. it brings rural workers to urban jobs. A Nursing Assistant from Geneva can then work at University Hospital.

No money From Nobody. Everyone distrusts our government at all levels and there is a good reason for that distrust. Money has provided access to government and that is wrong. When I ran for the Supreme Court of Ohio I took no money from nobody. I rans against and defeated an incumbent who spent $2-million on television to attempt to buy his seat. That is wrong, and when I am elected in November 2026 voters will once again know that I cannot be bought.

Carl Setzer

Image of Carl Setzer

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "My name is Carl Setzer, and I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. My father was a tool and die maker, and my mother was a social worker. I attended university in Alabama and left the United States in 2004 to teach in China, where I witnessed economic growth I had previously only read about in accounts of America’s Gilded Age. I earned a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007. From 2007 to 2010, I worked in information security, observing the early growth of security consulting along with the emergence of fintech and artificial intelligence. In 2010, I left that industry to found what became one of China’s leading craft beer brands prior to COVID-19, gaining experience in entrepreneurship, workforce management, and international business. The COVID-19 pandemic changed my family’s life and business. My wife and I lost control of our brewery due to private equity pressures. In 2020, I was detained after returning to China with COVID-19 and spent nearly two months in government quarantine facilities, strengthening my appreciation for civil liberties and individual rights. My wife became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2024. Living abroad gave me insight into immigration, opportunity, and the importance of preserving the institutions that allow people to build better futures."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

My main healthcare policy is expanding Medicare for All W-2 employees. The working class deserves to have the stability and security that we already provide to Americans over the age of 65 and to our veterans. Expanding Medicare to include all W-2’d employees will cut the employer contributions and create growth capital and reinvestment dollars for small, midsized and large companies across America, while cutting the costs of employee contributions and saving American working families up to $10,000 dollars a year. It will also expand the Medicare user base by over 100,000,000 Americans driving down costs for retired Americans and increasing affordability for everyone.

Americans are overdue for a Consumer Bill of Rights that protects ownership of personal data, gives families greater control over what children are exposed to, and strengthens individuals’ ability to maintain personal privacy. The right to privacy has been weakened, and I believe it is important to restore meaningful protections. I support federal action to combat scam and spam phone calls that are frequently used by predatory actors, including stronger enforcement requirements and improved consumer blocking protections. I believe personal data has real economic value. Individuals should have the right to opt out of companies selling their information or, if they choose to allow it, receive compensation when their data is sold.

America is due for major reform in workforce development. High school students should have alternatives to traditional college pathways that help them quickly identify careers that fit their skills and interests. Too many Americans fall into jobs they never planned to pursue simply to earn a living. I support programs allowing students to explore multiple trades during their final two years of high school, followed by a structured post-graduation program where they gain hands-on experience across several fields. This approach would help employers recruit workers who already understand and enjoy the work while helping young adults efficiently discover stable, in-demand career paths.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Ohio

Election information in Ohio: May 5, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: April 6, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by April 6, 2026
  • Online: April 6, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: April 28, 2026
  • By mail: Received by April 28, 2026
  • Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: May 5, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 5, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

April 7, 2026 to May 3, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Maria Jukic Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Bill O'Neill Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Carl Setzer Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," . This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Ohio in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Ohio, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Ohio U.S. House Major party 50 $85 2/4/2026 Source
Ohio U.S. House Minor party 25 $85 2/4/2026 Source
Ohio U.S. House Unaffiliated 1% of the vote cast for governor in the district in the last election $85 5/4/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19," accessed December 19, 2025
  2. ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.05," accessed December 19, 2025


Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Jon Husted (R)
Bernie Moreno (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Bob Latta (R)
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (5)


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