Mike
Kirchner
Retired pension actuary and first-time Republican candidate challenging Rep. Shontel Brown in Ohio's 11th District
- sources
- 6
- positions
- 6
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Mike Kirchner is the 2026 Republican nominee for Ohio's 11th Congressional District, challenging five-term incumbent Democrat Shontel Brown in the November 3 general election. 1618
Kirchner is a retired pension actuary who spent approximately 30 years as a consultant evaluating pension plans, working for the Wyatt Company—known as Towers Watson at the time of his retirement. He graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in applied mathematics. 912
Originally from Tiffin, Ohio, Kirchner lives in Highland Heights. He has described the 2026 race as his first campaign for public office. 9128
Kirchner is running in a heavily Democratic district; as of October 2026, his campaign had raised approximately $1,500 compared to Brown's $1.2 million. 12
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 11, Ohio
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Retired pension actuary (Republican candidate for U.S. House, Ohio's 11th District)
- Website
- mikekirchner.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 10newsKirchner tells Cleveland.com he has seen a source giving him a 2% chance of winning
Kirchner told Cleveland.com, 'I just looked at one place that said I have a 2% chance of winning.' The article did not identify that source or describe it as a formal poll result. Cracked Buckeye had noted on September 24 that it had no poll of the race on file.
Ohio's 11th District race: an incumbent with $1.2M vs. a $1,500 campaign · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 10newsKirchner proposes redirecting FICA employee contributions into individual 401(k)-style accounts
Cleveland.com reported Kirchner's proposal to stop collecting the employee portion of FICA tax and redirect it into protected individual 401(k)-style accounts. He claimed the Social Security trust fund would be exhausted around 2032, after which payroll-tax revenue would cover only eight or nine monthly payments a year instead of twelve.
Ohio's 11th District race: an incumbent with $1.2M vs. a $1,500 campaign · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 10newsKirchner reported to have spent just under $1,500 on his campaign through mid-September
Cleveland.com reported Kirchner had spent just under $1,500 through mid-September, including about $900 to self-publish a 20-page book on Social Security. He had not raised enough to file a campaign-finance report.
Ohio's 11th District race: an incumbent with $1.2M vs. a $1,500 campaign · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsWKYC profiles Kirchner as retired financial adviser focused on Social Security
WKYC described Kirchner's campaign as emphasizing transparency, personal responsibility, and compassion, with particular focus on Social Security. It identified him as a retired financial adviser who spent decades evaluating pension plans.
Ohio 11th Congressional District election 2026: What you need to know about Shontel Brown vs. Mike Kirchner · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 5newsKirchner wins Republican primary for Ohio's 11th District, defeating James Hemphill
Kirchner defeated James Hemphill, a Cleveland Heights contractor, in the Republican primary. Vote totals were not reported. He advanced to face Democratic incumbent Shontel Brown in the November 3 general election.
Ohio's 11th District race: an incumbent with $1.2M vs. a $1,500 campaign · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Apr 17newsKirchner states Social Security focus in Cleveland Jewish News candidate questionnaire
A Cleveland Jewish News questionnaire quoted Kirchner saying, 'I have significantly researched our Social Security old age and survivor system, and we should have a game plan. We do not.' He listed Social Security as his main initiative and improving personal responsibility as his lesser initiative.
U.S. Representative, Ohio's 11th District, 2026 · Cracked Buckeye · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H6OH11210(opens in a new tab)
Sources 6
- [1] Ohio's 11th District race: an incumbent with $1.2M vs. a $1,500 campaign(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Ohio 11th Congressional District election 2026: What you need to know about Shontel Brown vs. Mike Kirchner(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [3] U.S. Representative, Ohio's 11th District, 2026 · Cracked Buckeye(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [4] smarter.vote › races › oh-house-11-2026Mike Kirchner (R) – OH-11 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Aug 29, 2026
- [5] Even in Ohio's safest Democratic congressional seat, nobody gets a free pass this May(opens in a new tab) Apr 27, 2026
- [6] A look at candidates in local races on the May 5 ballot | Elections(opens in a new tab) Apr 17, 2026