Who is running for Ohio House District 55 in Ohio in 2026?

Paul Michael Kurtz (D), Philip L. Pirdy (Libertarian), C. Michelle Teska (R)

When is the Ohio 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ohio › Races › Ohio House District 55

Ohio House District 55 — Ohio 2026

3 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Ohio Secretary of State list, as of October 29, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

FPaul Michael KurtzDemocratic

Candidate for State Representative, District 55 (Democrat).

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tDFiscalD

No 2023-26 Ohio General Assembly roll-call record. Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio; Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. iVoterGuide rates Liberal. Evidence pass (2026-10-29): marriage/family graded from campaign-site statements; remaining defaulted values unchanged.

Life: Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio (2026).
Family: Campaign site: calls for including "gender affirming care" in Ohio healthcare and strong statewide anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ Ohioans; opposes recent restrictions.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
2nd Amendment: Named a 2026 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Ballotpedia

N/RPhilip L. PirdyLibertarian

Candidate for State Representative, District 55 (Libertarian).

No 2023-26 Ohio General Assembly roll-call record. Libertarian candidate; not enough scored evidence to assign an overall grade. iVoterGuide lists Insufficient Information.

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

AC. Michelle TeskaRepublican

Incumbent state representative, District 55; Republican.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted the conservative way on all 9 scored 2023-26 Ohio roll calls on which a vote was recorded. Endorsed by Ohio Right to Life PAC; endorsed by Ohio Value Voters; endorsed by Buckeye Firearms PAC; NRA-PVF grade A. iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Life: Voted yes on HB 347 (2026 SHE WINS Act, abortion informed consent), HB 485 (2025 Baby Olivia Act, fetal-development instruction) and HB 324 (2025 Patient Protection Act, restricting telehealth/mail prescribing of abortion drugs) (3 of 3 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Family: Voted yes on HB 249 (2026 Indecent Exposure Modernization Act, adult-cabaret rules) (1 of 1 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Religious liberty: Voted yes on HB 486 (2025 Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, instruction on Judeo-Christian influence) and HB 21 (2025 Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act) (2 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
2nd Amendment: Endorsed by Buckeye Firearms Association PAC (2026 grade A); NRA-PVF 2026 grade A (endorsed).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on SB 1 (2025 House passage: Advance Ohio Higher Education Act) and HB 335 (2025 House passage: limits on inside-millage property-tax growth) (2 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Fiscal: Voted yes on the 2025 House override of the HB 96 line-item veto on property-tax/school-levy reform (1 of 1 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ballotpedia

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