Jerrad
Shane Christian
Navy veteran and software engineer Jerrad Christian is the 2026 Democratic nominee challenging GOP incumbent in Ohio's 12th Congressional District.
- sources
- 10
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 10
Background
Jerrad Shane Christian is the 2026 Democratic nominee for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Troy Balderson in the November 3, 2026 general election. 1419 He grew up in Glouster, in Athens County, in Appalachian Ohio, and served in the U.S. Navy from 2002 to 2007, working as a flight-deck fueler and later as a meteorologist and oceanographer. 5717
After leaving the Navy, Christian worked as a factory janitor before transitioning into software engineering, which he pursued in part through a coding bootcamp (Tech Elevator, 2018) and study at Ohio University using the GI Bill. 1517 His LinkedIn profile lists him as a senior software engineer at RiskRecon through TEKsystems and as owner of Sparks Barbecue. 56
Christian previously ran for Congress in 2024 before securing the Democratic nomination in the 2026 primary. 14 He has no prior elected office. 14 His campaign centers on working-class and veterans' issues in a district he has described as having been dominated by one party for roughly 40 years. 1617
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 12, Ohio
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative, Ohio's 12th Congressional District (2026)
- Website
- christianforohio.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsChristian visits ICE detention center and signs Vote Common Good 'Faith, Hope, and Love' bus
Vote Common Good reported that Christian signed its 'Faith, Hope, and Love' bus during an event connected to his visit to an ICE detention center. His campaign website also criticizes federal immigration enforcement practices, stating the country needs a system in which agents cannot 'smash car windows, break into houses, and kill our neighbors in the streets of our community.'
I was inside an ICE detention center asking questions · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24filingChristian certified as Democratic candidate on Ohio's general-election ballot for OH-12
A candidate-monitoring page citing Delaware County's certified general-election list confirmed Jerrad Shane Christian as the Democratic candidate for Ohio's 12th Congressional District against Republican incumbent Troy Balderson in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Jerrad Shane Christian (D) — U.S. Representative, OH-12 · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 19newsChristian discusses healthcare, surveillance, immigration, and redistricting in Purple Political Breakdown interview
In an interview promoted by Purple Political Breakdown, Christian outlined support for Medicare for All single-payer healthcare, opposition to Flock license-plate surveillance cameras, and support for independent redistricting. He also addressed data-center development and immigration policy. These are reported summaries of interview positions, not a formal platform release.
My Interview with Jerrad Christian! Can he win the OH-12 District and beat Troy Balderson? · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 11newsChristian appears on Left Out Loud for a campaign interview
Christian was interviewed on Left Out Loud on August 11, 2026. The available listing identifies the interview but does not provide enough detail to establish a distinct new policy announcement.
Jerrad Shane Christian (D) — U.S. Representative, OH-12 · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30newsChristian's campaign reports $84,378 raised and $18,925 cash on hand through June 30
FEC-based totals through the June 30 reporting cutoff showed Christian's committee had raised $84,378, spent $69,210, and held $18,925 cash on hand. By comparison, incumbent Troy Balderson had raised $1,743,281, spent $767,354, and held $1,982,352 cash on hand.
Ohio's 12th District Race 2026: Who's Running (OH-12) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 5filingJerrad Christian wins Democratic primary for OH-12 with ~15,961 votes
Christian won the Democratic nomination in Ohio's 12th Congressional District primary. Ohio Secretary of State results reported 15,961 votes; NPR's results page, reflecting a different snapshot, showed 15,887 votes and 46.4%. He will face Republican incumbent Troy Balderson in the November 3 general election.
Ohio Primary Election Results 2026 · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Delaware County Democratic Party officialListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- Ohio AFL-CIO unionListed as endorsing Christian for the general election; no announcement date specified. ohioaflcio.org
- Center for Freethought Equality organizationListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- Progressive Victory organizationListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- Licking County Democratic Party officialListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section and on the county party's own website; no date given. ivoterguide.com
- Committee to Protect Health Care PAC organizationListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- United Auto Workers (UAW) unionListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- Freethought Equality Fund organizationListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- DC Statehood PAC organizationListed in iVoterGuide's 2026 endorsement section; no dated announcement found. ivoterguide.com
- Track AIPAC organizationTrack AIPAC posted: 'We are proud to endorse @JerradChristian for Congress in #OH12!' x.com · Feb 12, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $84K
- Spent
- $69K
- Cash on hand
- $19K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H4OH12080(opens in a new tab)
Sources 10
- [1] Ohio Primary Election Results 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] I was inside an ICE detention center asking questions(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] 2026 Endorsements — Ohio AFL-CIO(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [4] Ohio's 12th District Race 2026: Who's Running (OH-12)(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [5] Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [6] Jerrad Christian - Candidate Profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [7] Jerrad Christian - Candidate Profile - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [8] Jerrad Shane Christian (D) — U.S. Representative, OH-12(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [9] My Interview with Jerrad Christian! Can he win the OH-12 District and beat Troy Balderson?(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
- [10] AIPAC Tracker(opens in a new tab) Feb 12, 2026