Biography & Campaign Analysis
2026 race
Elizabeth Kirtley, a freelance writer, is the Democratic nominee in the 2026 election for Ohio's 6th congressional district, which covers parts of Appalachian Ohio and the Mahoning Valley, including Youngstown, Steubenville and Massillon.
She won a seven-candidate Democratic primary with 31.5% of the vote, ahead of public policy specialist Adrian Vitus with 22.0% and tattoo shop owner Sean Connolly with 20.6%. Michael Kripchak, the party's nominee for the district in 2024, withdrew from the primary to run for the state senate.
In the general election Kirtley faces the Republican incumbent, Michael Rulli, who was re-elected in 2024 with 66.7% of the vote and won his own primary with 76.2%. The election takes place on November 3, 2026.