2016 Ohio's 8th congressional district special election


A special election to the United States House of Representatives for was held to determine the successor to John Boehner, who resigned his seat on October 31, 2015. Republican Governor of Ohio John Kasich set the primary election for March 15, 2016, and the general election for June 7. The winner of the June special election ran for reelection in November 2016 but served the remainder of Boehner's 13th two-year term, which ended in early January 2017.

Republican primary

Before John Boehner announced his retirement in October 2015, J. D. Winteregg and Eric Gurr both entered the race during the summer with the intention of challenging Boehner. After Boehner's retirement, over twenty Republicans pulled a petition with the Board of Elections to run for the vacant seat. Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds was considered the front-runner for the nomination but unexpectedly suspended his campaign for the seat in December 2015.

Candidates

Withdrawn

  • Eric Gurr, businessman and candidate in 2014
  • Roger Reynolds, Butler County Auditor

Declined

Democratic primary

Corey Foister, founder of Next Generation America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting more young people involved in government. He is a stage-IV cancer survivor of neuroblastoma. At age 25, he is currently the youngest candidate in America to win the nomination of a major U.S. political party for United States Congress.

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Green primary

James J. Condit Jr., a frequent candidate for public office as a member of the Constitution Party, ran unopposed for the Green Party's nomination. Due to his controversial remarks on Jewish Americans belief that the September 11 attacks were an inside job, his candidacy was disavowed by the Green Party of Ohio.

Candidates

General election

Candidates

  • Warren Davidson, businessman
  • Corey Foister, nonprofit owner
  • James J. Condit Jr., perennial candidate