Mike Carey
Mike Carey, a Republican former coal lobbyist who has represented Ohio's 15th congressional district since winning a 2021 special election, seeks reelection in 2026 against Democrat Don Leonard.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Mike Carey.
- Born
- March 13, 1971
- Birthplace
- Sabina, Ohio
- Education
- East Clinton High School
Marion Military Institute (Associate of Arts in economics)
Ohio State University (Bachelor of Arts in history)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Mike Carey was born on March 13, 1971, and raised in Sabina, Ohio. After attending East Clinton High School, he earned an Associate of Arts degree in economics from the Marion Military Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Ohio State University.
He served in the Army National Guard from 1989 to 1999, and as a college student he worked as an aide to State Senator Merle G. Kearns. Carey and his wife, Meghan, have two sons and live in Columbus; he also has a son, Prescott, from a previous relationship. He is a Roman Catholic.
Career
Before entering Congress, Mike Carey worked in the coal industry as vice president of government affairs for American Consolidated Natural Resources, a coal company, and served as chairman of the board of the Ohio Coal Association, a post he left after launching his congressional run. During the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections he developed campaign ads against Democratic nominees John Kerry and Barack Obama.
Carey won an 11-candidate Republican primary in the 2021 special election for Ohio's 15th congressional district and won the special election on November 2, 2021. In 2022 he defeated Democratic nominee Gary Josephson, a union leader. In 2023 he relaunched the House Civility and Respect Caucus with Representative Joyce Beatty. He serves on the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on House Administration.
2026 race
Mike Carey is the Republican incumbent in Ohio's 15th congressional district, which encompasses the southwestern Columbus metro area, including Dublin, Hilliard and Grove City.
He was re-elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2024, and in the 2026 Republican primary he defeated Samuel Ronan, a 2018 candidate for the 1st district.
In the general election on November 3, 2026, he faces Democrat Don Leonard, who won his primary with 52.9% of the vote against former state representative Adam Miller, and Libertarian Brennan Barrington, an engineer.