Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman has secured a second term in Ohio's 1st Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Eric Conroy, a former CIA officer and Air Force veteran who had the backing of President Trump. The race was called by Decision Desk HQ on election night, with Landsman leading by nearly 12 points as 51% of the vote was tallied.
Landsman, who first won the seat in 2022, faced a tougher environment this cycle after Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature redrew the district map. The new boundaries shifted the seat to the right, with Trump having lost the district by 6 points in 2024 under the old lines, but the Cook Political Report projected Landsman would have won the new map by 2.5 points. The redraw was part of a broader GOP effort to consolidate power, similar to rejected plans in Missouri and other states.
Conroy, who also received vocal support from Vice President Vance, campaigned heavily on national security and conservative credentials. But Landsman countered with a focus on kitchen-table issues, including prescription drug pricing, childcare affordability, and infrastructure investment. He also emphasized his support for codifying Roe v. Wade, a stance that resonates with suburban voters in the Cincinnati-area district.
During the campaign, Landsman faced a barrage of attack ads accusing him of insider trading and violating disclosure rules. He denied the allegations, pointing to his record as one of the few lawmakers who sold all personal stocks. "I'm one of only a few members of Congress that sold their stocks," he told WCPO, an ABC affiliate. He has since backed the Restore Trust in Government Act, which would bar members of Congress from trading individual stocks.
Landsman also drew criticism from some fellow Democrats earlier this year when he voted against a war powers resolution introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that sought to limit Trump's military actions against Iran. He defended his vote, arguing that targeted strikes on Iranian military assets were justified. "Congress declares war, and Congress must fund it. These are targeted strikes on core military assets," he said at the time, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. He later supported an alternative resolution that would have required the administration to withdraw forces within 30 days or face another vote.
The victory is a boost for Democrats as they seek to reclaim the House majority. The party has already seen flips in Wisconsin and California, though the overall national picture remains competitive. Landsman's win in a district that was deliberately drawn to favor Republicans underscores the resilience of incumbents who can localize their campaigns and appeal to moderate voters.
With the race called, Landsman is set to return to Washington, where he will continue to navigate a divided Congress and a politically charged atmosphere. His ability to survive a redrawn district may offer a blueprint for other Democrats facing similar challenges in the next cycle.
