Don Leonard

Don Leonard earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in regional development from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and a Ph.D. in government from Cornell University. His career experience includes working as a professor of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University. Leonard has also served in the U.S. Peace Corps in South America.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I know what it feels like to be on the outside of the American Dream looking in. I’m the son of a heroic single mom. Growing up, we saw times when all her resourcefulness and hard work wasn’t enough to keep poverty and homelessness at bay. This childhood taught me the value of personal responsibility. But I also learned the importance of social safety nets, devoted public school teachers, and a measure of dumb luck.

Against all odds, I’ve lived my version of the American Dream. After college, I spent two years with the U.S. Peace Corps in South America. After receiving a doctorate in government from Cornell University, I have been blessed to serve as a professor of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University.

My daughter was born at OSU Hospital on a frigid night in January of 2025. For three precious weeks I shut out the outside world and focused on caring for my wife and rocking my daughter to sleep.

By the time I returned to my classroom, the world was almost unrecognizable. State and federal lawmakers were attacking free thought on college campuses. Trump’s tariff war was threatening to drive up prices, crash the supply chain, and wipe out everyone’s retirement savings. Meanwhile, masked federal agents were abducting legal residents off of American streets. All while the courts and Congress looked the other way.

My wife and I looked at our newborn baby and wondered what kind of country she was going to grow up in.

We decided we had to do something.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH:

The hard-working families of Central Ohio deserve better than an economy where it takes two or three jobs just to get by.

For the past 45 years, Reagan Republicans and more than a few Reagan-lite Democrats have been inflicting trickle-down economics on Ohio's cities and towns. They've cut government funding for schools, hospitals, and social safety nets. They've cut trade deals that leave blue-collar workers, unions, and entire communities powerless in the face of globalization. And they've cut taxes for billionaires and corporations on Wall Street while leaving Main Street high and dry.Congress can put $1000/mo back in the pockets of working families by tackling the big-ticket items that drain working families' finances most:

-HEALTHCARE: We must cut the out-of-pocket cost of private health insurance in half while at the same time ensuring that all Americans have access to a public option for their health insurance.

-HOME OWNERSHIP: Every working family should be able to afford to buy a home. That begins with a 21st century GI Bill for starter home construction.

-UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE: Childcare should not cost families a second mortgage. Expand head start and provide subsidies for private care.

-AFFORDABLE AGING: No-one should struggle financially because they choose to stay home to care for a family member.WE'VE GOT TO GET THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS AND BACK IN THE POCKETS OF WORKING FAMILIES:

The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC represents a complete betrayal of America's founding principles. The decision created the dark-money pathway that allowed an unelected billionaire named Elon Musk to contribute more than a quarter of a billion dollars to Trump's re-election campaign in 2024.

While it is impossible to know for certain whether Trump's election depended upon these funds, we know that Musk focused on swing states like Pennsylvania and paid campaign workers $47 per registered voter located.

We also know that, once in office, Trump gave Musk unprecedented authority to cut critical government programs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I will fight for working families by restoring economic leadership within the federal government. As the nation reals under the weight of an affordability crisis, U.S. House committees like Commerce, Financial Services, Appropriations, Education and Workforce will play an essential role in determining the fate of the American Dream.

Campaign websiteLeonard's campaign website stated the following:We need an economy where every full-time job supports a full life, whether it’s in food services or investment banking. Where our kids can eventually afford to move out of the house and start a life of their own. Where a single parent’s take home pay is more than enough. And where automation technologies give us more time with our family, not fewer job opportunities. But building this future requires bold national action. And it starts with tackling the big-ticket items that drain working families’ finances most.Healthcare All Americans deserve quality insurance they can afford to use. Housing Every working American should be able to afford to own a home.Childcare Great care for our little ones shouldn’t cost a second mortgage.Aging Supporting family caregivers means more freedom for retirees.— Don Leonard's campaign website (April 24, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.