Ron Hood (R–Ashville), who has served the District since 2013, was unable to re-run for the office because of term limits. Three Republicans filed for the primary contest, which Brian Stewart won by more than 40 points. Charlotte Owens, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[3]
Brian Stewart (R) is an attorney and two-term Pickaway County Commissioner. He had previously been elected to Village Council in Ashville, Ohio. Stewart served in the United States Army where he was deployed in the Iraq War in 2005.[5]
Darrin Monhollen, Violet Township, Fairfield County
Brian Randles, Bloom Township, Fairfield County
Dennis Shaw, Washington Township, Pickaway County
Individuals
Joe Bizjak, Fairfield County GOP Executive Committee Member
Tom Jenkins, Morgan County GOP Chair
Alex Lape, Fairfield County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy
Cody Pettit, Muskingum County Young Republicans Chair
Rick Rose, Morgan Local School Board
Austin Reid, Amanda-Clearcreek Local School District Board President
Jennifer Sitterly, Fairfield County GOP Secretary
Cindy Tuttle, Morgan County Board of Elections
Angela White, GOP State Central Committee Member (District 20)
Mike Whitten, Pickaway County GOP Chair
Campaign Finance[]
Controversy[]
Brian Stewart had been endorsed and financially supported by Ohio House Speaker, Larry Householder, during his primary campaign. A political action committee that also supported Householder also ran negative campaign advertisements against Stewart's primary opponents. On July 21, 2020, Householder was charged in a bribery scandal. Stewart announced the following day that he would donate Householder's donations to his campaign to local non-profit organizations.[6] He received $13,292.35 from the Householder campaign, $1,000 from FirstEnergy who was also identified as being a part of the scandal, and $500 from Matt Borges, who was indicted as well.[7]