Republican hopefuls emerge to replace Wenstrup. This time, it's a Marine who owns two LaRosa's
A fifth Republican, and the second this week, announced he wants a chance to succeed U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup.
The latest candidate to announce: Tim O'Hara, 46, a Marine who worked as a drill instructor and owns two LaRosa's pizzeria restaurants, according to his campaign.
"I know what it takes to whip a group into shape, and that’s why Ohio should send a drill instructor to Congress,” O'Hara said in a statement on Tuesday announcing his run for Congress. In the statement the Brown County resident lamented the United States' "wide-open southern border," the country's foreign policy, in particular singling out China as an economic threat to Ohio farmland and workers.
Wenstrup in November announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, touching off a wave of interest among Republicans seeking to run for the open seat.
O'Hara, of Hamersville, invested $750,000 into his campaign, his press release stated. O'Hara owns and operates several franchises, including LaRosa's restaurants in Mount Orab and Hillsboro and Dunkin' Donuts locations in Mount Orab and Chillicothe.
O'Hara also served as a Marine from 1995-2002, according to his campaign, and worked as a drill instructor.
The Republican field for the 2nd Congressional District in 2024 has started to get crowded. On Monday, entrepreneur and former Jackson County Republican Vice Chairman Larry Kidd, 59, launched his campaign.
Also running: Ohio state Sen. Niraj Antani and Clermont County Republican Party Chairman Charles Tassell and Scioto Valley Guardian editor Derek Myers, of Chillicothe.
Where is the district?
The sprawling district runs from Cincinnati's suburbs in the west to West Virginia in the east, covering most of southern Ohio. Almost all of the counties are considered part of Appalachia.
The district covers all of Clermont, Clinton, Pike, Adams, Brown, Highland, Ross, Scioto, Pickaway, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Lawrence, Gallia, and Meigs counties, as well as a portion of Fayette County.
What is the district like politically?
It's overwhelmingly Republican. In fact, it is the most Republican district of Ohio's 15, based on the 2020 presidential race results. President Donald Trump beat Joe Biden by about a 3-to-1 margin.
Wenstrup himself beat his most recent Democratic challenger Samantha Meadows in 2022 by the same margin.
What's the timetable?
The filing deadline for candidates is Dec. 20.
Because the district is so lopsidedly Republican, the March 19 primary will almost certainly determine who the next Congress member will be. The winners of any primaries will face off in the general election Nov. 5.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is running for Brad Wenstrup's seat?
