Greater Cincinnati’s nationally watched congressional race has already been full of surprises.
Already one of the nation’s few competitive House races, Ohio Republican legislators redrew the lines last year to make it easier to oust Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman from the 1st Congressional District. Yet the district’s more GOP tilt failed to draw any current Republican office-holders into the field.
Four Republicans eventually filed to run. The only one to be endorsed by a county party in the district abruptly dropped out April 20.
On the Democratic side, Landsman has faced a harsh primary challenge from the scion of a well-known family of pastors, Damon Lynch IV. He has labeled Landsman ‘Genocide Greg’ for his votes supporting the Iran war and campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Dr. David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati and former speechwriter for two Democratic gubernatorial candidates, said it’s strange that Republicans put energy into redrawing Landsman’s district but didn’t find candidates with name recognition or political experience to contest it.
“It really is an extraordinary combination. It’s like spending a year planning a dinner party and then not showing up for it,” he said.
Democrats have criticized both primary candidates
Landsman has faced criticism from Lynch and constituents on social media over his vote against a war powers resolution to stop military action in Iran without congressional approval. He then voted for a subsequent war powers resolution on April 16 and declared, “It’s time to be done in Iran.”
Lynch faced criticism for voting for President Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary and for voting infrequently. He registered to vote in Hamilton County in 2002 and voted in 2025 but otherwise has not voted since at least 2021, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
Niven believes Landsman is likely to win the Democratic primary.
“Incumbents who lose primaries lose them because they’re not paying attention, because they’re not working,” he said. He cited New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as an example and said she won her primary election in 2018 because then-incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley “sleepwalked through it.”
“Landsman’s not sleepwalking through anything,” Niven said. “He takes both elections very, very seriously.”
An open field of Republican candidates
Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Russell Mock said he spoke to Republican candidates Eric Conroy, Dr. Steven Erbeck and Rosemary Oglesby-Henry before they announced their bids for Congress. He said he hadn’t spoken to Holly Adams, who recently moved to the 1st District from Powell, Ohio.
Mock said he thinks it’s great that Republicans are still able to recruit “good, qualified candidates who live in Hamilton County to run for this district,” and it’s great for people to have a choice in the Republican primary.
The Warren County Republican Party endorsed Dr. Steven Erbeck, who has since dropped out of the race.
Mock said in general, the Hamilton County party’s preference was not to endorse in primaries without an incumbent candidate.
“ We want the voters to decide,” he said.
Former CIA officer Eric Conroy, who lives in downtown Cincinnati, has emerged as the frontrunner in the primary with the most money raised, according to January campaign finance data, He also picked up several key endorsements, including from Trump and former 1st District Republican Rep. Steve Chabot.
Conroy grew up in Miami Heights in western Hamilton County and maintained a legal residence in Ohio while on deployment with the Air Force. He moved back to the Cincinnati area in early 2025, according to campaign consultant Tim Edson. Conroy hasn’t spoken to The Enquirer without Edson and responds to questions via Edson.
A ‘must-hold’ district for Democrats
Ohio’s 1st district includes Clinton County, Warren County and parts of Hamilton County. Swing Left, a nonprofit organization that supports Democrats running for office, identified Landsman’s seat as one of 14 “must-hold” districts in the midterm election.
Landsman has the advantages of an incumbent, including name recognition and fundraising. His campaign committee has received over $2.8 million in individual contributions compared to Lynch’s $11,520, according to the Federal Elections Commission reports through March 31.
Conroy leads the Republican candidates fundraising-wise, with over $432,452 in individual contributions. Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, a nonprofit organization founder from Westwood, has raised $43,165. Holly Adams, a Loveland resident who’s worked for Turning Point USA Faith, has raised $8,331.
Two ‘actual primary’ contests
Niven said the situation in Ohio’s 1st District is unique with its primaries on both sides this year.
“ From the voters’ perspective, they have a chance, whether it’s to protest vote against (Landsman) in the Democratic primary or to pick his opponent for November,” he said. “There is something to be said for having actual primary contests.”
The primary election is May 5. Early voting started on April 7. To check your voter registration or find your polling location, visit VoteOhio.gov.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why Ohio’s 1st District features 2 ‘actual’ primaries this year
Reporting by Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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