Who are the Republicans running for Ohio’s 13th District?

Because the Could 3 main approaches, seven Republicans are gearing up for an election that may determine which amongst them will face off in opposition to Democrat Emilia Sykes for the thirteenth Congressional District seat.

The slate of hopefuls runs the gamut: citizen candidates wanting to shake up the established order in Washington, moderates keen to succeed in throughout the aisle to fix the growing partisan divide, attorneys who’ve labored on legislative insurance policies, the architect of Ohio’s anti-abortion Heartbeat Invoice and a former affiliate of Donald Trump who acquired the previous president’s seal of approval.

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Although boundaries have shifted by a prolonged and ever-changing redistricting course of, the thirteenth District seat is at the moment held by Democrat Tim Ryan, who’s now campaigning for U.S. Senate. If boundaries are upheld, the thirteenth District will embody everything of Summit County and elements of Stark and Portage counties.

State Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, is the lone Democrat within the race after John Impellizzeri, a Munroe Falls metropolis councilman, dropped out across the submitting deadline. Sykes, who represents Ohio’s thirty fourth District within the Statehouse, stepped down because the Home minority chief in December after a three-year tenure earlier than asserting her bid for Congress.

‘It has been extraordinarily demanding’:Summit County scrambling amid redistricting chaos

The Beacon Journal spoke to 6 out of the seven Republican candidates hoping to win the nomination in three weeks. This is who they’re and what they’re campaigning on:

Madison Gesiotto Gilbert

Who she is: Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, 30, is a Canton legal professional, former Miss Ohio USA and conservative political commentator. She beforehand served as co-chair of the nationwide Ladies for Trump advisory board. She holds a political science diploma from Ohio State College, the place she went on to attend legislation faculty. She initially sought to problem Marcy Kaptur within the ninth Congressional District, however boundaries shifted by redistricting and pushed her to the thirteenth.

The place she’s from: Canton

Her prime points: Gilbert didn’t reply to request for remark, however on her web site, she lists stances on 16 points, lots of which fall according to persevering with or finishing Trump’s coverage goals.

What differentiates her from different candidates: Gilbert is the one candidate within the district to obtain an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Trump lauded her insurance policies on border safety, abortion, election integrity, the navy and extra.

Shay Hawkins

Who he’s and why he is operating: Shay Hawkins, 47, is an legal professional and beforehand labored as a tax and commerce coverage aide to former U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci. In 2020, he misplaced an election in opposition to state Rep. Phil Robinson in a district of Cleveland suburbs.

“This neighborhood has given me all the things,” he mentioned. “I’m specifically positioned to present again within the space that’s most crucial on this neighborhood and that’s round jobs and financial system.”

The place he’s from: Broadview Heights

His prime points:

• Jobs and financial system: Hawkins labored on the 2017 Republican tax reform invoice that outlined Alternative Zone areas, which promote funding in distressed areas of the US. He mentioned he would work to develop these efforts.
• Inflation: Hawkins mentioned coping with inflation is “essential” and he would lower what he says is pointless spending in Congress.
• Vitality: Hawkins was the employees director for the subcommittee on power, pure assets and infrastructure inside the Senate Finance Committee whereas working underneath former Sen. Scott. “We have to turn out to be extra power impartial,” he mentioned. “I perceive in a concrete means what it takes to get extra us primarily based power from all sources into manufacturing as shortly as potential.”

What differentiates him from different candidates: “It’s my coverage expertise that units me aside essentially the most,” he mentioned. “I’ve been working with members of Congress to enhance the financial system whereas I used to be on Capitol Hill and as soon as I left the Hill.”

Santana King

Why he is operating: Santana King, 25, is the race’s youngest candidate and works as a protection contractor for the Navy. With a background in public service, he mentioned he needs to run as a result of “I’ve no ambition however to serve the general public.”

The place he’s from: North Royalton

His prime points:

• Reforming Republican Get together’s picture: King mentioned as a younger, half-Hispanic, half-Black conservative, he hopes to present an “optical face carry” to the get together to “guarantee longevity of the get together,” notably for younger individuals who is not going to determine as a Republican due to the “latest picture and administration.”
• Nationwide safety: Expressing concern over China’s risk to the US, King advocated for elevated nationwide safety and domesticating manufacturing and different trade that has left to abroad manufacturing.
• Vitality: “We should be power impartial to fight local weather change, which is controversial to say,” he mentioned. “I want it wasn’t.” 

What differentiates him from different candidates: “I am the one candidate within the race whose life and profession has targeted on public service and nationwide safety,” he mentioned. “If this election goes incorrect, these candidates aren’t nonetheless going to be in public service or working in authorities like I’ll.”

Janet Folger Porter

Who she is and why she’s operating: Janet Folger Porter, 59, is maybe greatest generally known as the architect of the Heartbeat Invoice, which prohibits abortions after a heartbeat might be detected about six weeks after conception. Folger Porter mentioned she is operating for Congress to “battle on your liberty as arduous as I’ve fought for all times.” She is the writer of six books and founder and president of Faith2Action, an anti-abortion group.

The place she’s from: Hinckley

Her prime points:

• Private liberty and anti-vaccination mandates: She mentioned she would work to take away funding from states that require COVID-19 vaccinations as a situation for employment, schooling, journey, medical remedy and the acquisition of products and companies.
• Inflation: She mentioned she would lower taxes to households, farmers and enterprise homeowners, in addition to funds to “enemies of America and enemies of Israel, our biggest ally within the Center East.”
• Training: She mentioned she is going to introduce an “anti-indoctrination act,” which might lower federal funding to colleges that instruct on essential race concept, gender identification and sexuality.

What differentiates her from different candidates: “If I have been to say it in two phrases, I would say ‘actions’ and ‘outcomes,’ ” she mentioned. “Out of all people (within the race), I know I have essentially the most expertise in how a invoice turns into a legislation, having handed lots that are actually on the books.”

Dante Sabatucci

Who he’s and why he is operating: Dante Sabatucci, 53, calls himself the race’s “citizen candidate.” Sabatucci runs three companies, together with a gross sales consulting agency, a property firm and a baseball academy. An Military veteran who has lived in Stark and Summit counties his entire life, he mentioned he feels he’s tuned in to the needs and wishes of the realm. 

The place he’s from: Cuyahoga Falls

His prime points:

• Election integrity: Sabatucci mentioned he needs to strengthen anti-corruption legal guidelines and implement a nationwide voter identification legislation to extend voter confidence in elections. “If we do not have the arrogance that we have now free and truthful elections, then we do not have a rustic,” he mentioned.
• No vaccine mandates: Sabatucci mentioned he’s in opposition to “coercing” residents into receiving the COVID-19 vaccination as a situation for employment.
• Monetary reform: “We can not proceed alongside the traces of spending greater than we usher in as a rustic,” he mentioned. “The actual risk is the debt.” He mentioned he would work to stability the funds and cease borrowing cash.

What differentiates him from different candidates: “I do know the folks right here,” he mentioned. “I do know what we take into consideration. I do know what we’re pissed off about in Washington. … I’ve extra expertise than the opposite candidates not simply in enterprise, however in life.”

Ryan Saylor

Why he is operating: Ryan Saylor, 27, was motivated to launch his marketing campaign by the assumption that the US “is just not doing as nicely appropriately,” condemning profession politicians and the financial state of the nation. He works at Summa Well being as a building undertaking engineer.

The place he’s from: Stow

His prime points:

• Accountability for elected officers and profession politicians: Saylor says he helps time period limits on “incompetent” and “corrupt” politicians within the federal authorities.
• Inflation: “Wages won’t ever realistically sustain with inflation,” he mentioned. “Everybody has a decrease way of life as a result of they’re not producing the identical wealth they have been yesterday.”
• Bringing manufacturing again to the U.S.: Saylor expressed concern about exporting manufacturing abroad and “robbing jobs from Individuals.” He mentioned he would work to repair the commerce deficit and produce manufacturing again to the US.

What differentiates him from different candidates: “I’ve lived on this district my entire life,” he mentioned. “I’m from the center class. I’m consultant of the typical particular person.”

Greg Wheeler

Who he’s and why he is operating: A self-described “native man,” Greg Wheeler, 33, is an accountant and legal professional with a background in constitutional legislation. He’s operating as a result of he does not consider Congress has finished a adequate job representing the realm’s folks and pursuits.

“We have enormous points as a result of the 2 events have turn out to be so antagonistic to 1 one other,” he mentioned. “We’re not getting correct authorities.”

The place he’s from: Barberton

His prime points: 

• Inflation: “If we cannot afford to place a roof over our head or meals on our desk, all different political points turn out to be unimportant,” he mentioned. Wheeler mentioned together with his background in finance, he can work to resolve problems with rising prices and cut back “reckless” authorities spending.
• Scale back measurement of presidency: “We need to downsize our authorities to some extent,” he mentioned. 
• Enhance American manufacturing: “Why are we making all the things out of the US to our detriment?” Wheeler requested. He mentioned outsourcing manufacturing abroad creates provide chain points, nationwide safety points and will increase the carbon footprint on the planet.

What differentiates him from different candidates: “I am a neighborhood man who lives within the district and desires to ensure my household, associates and neighbors get the very best illustration on the federal degree,” he mentioned.

Reporter Abbey Marshall is a corps member with Report for America, a nationwide service program that locations journalists into native newsrooms. Study extra at reportforamerica.org. Contact her at at amarshall1@gannett.com.

Interactive voter information on-line

Go to BeaconJournal.com to view our 2022 Major Voter Information with unedited responses from candidates who selected to take part. Simply enter your deal with and get a custom-made pattern poll. Extra content material additionally will seem in print this week. The information is a joint effort of the Akron Beacon Journal and League of Ladies Voters of Akron and Hudson and financially supported by the Knight Basis.