Ohio State Representative, District 28
November 3, 2026 · general election · District 28 · 2 candidates with a page
The seat is held. Rep. Karen Brownlee (D) has held the seat since January 1, 2025 and is running for re-election, so the seat is held.
Sources: Karen Brownlee · Representative Karen Brownlee - District 28
About this district
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 28th District | Ohio State Representative, District 28 |
Counties: Hamilton
Last time, 2024: Karen Brownlee (Democratic) 55.9% · 35,671 votes; Jenn Giroux (Republican) 44.1% · 28,121 votes; Regina Collins (Independent) 0.0% · 5 votes.
Sources: 2024 Official Election Results · LaRose certifies official 2024 general election results
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by surname. Ohio rotates the order candidates appear in by precinct, so no order on this page is the order on a ballot.
- Social worker
- Bachelor's degree, University of Michigan, 1995 (per campaign)
- Master of Social Work, Northern Kentucky University, 2018 (per campaign)
9 of 11 sections researched · 24 sources
- Co-founded Cole Realty Associates with her husband in 2006 (per campaign)
- Mayor of Blue Ash, Ohio (per campaign)
- Led on the School Board: Jill served eight years on the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education, including as president, vice president, policy liaison, and student achievement liaison. (per campaign)
7 of 11 sections researched · 10 sources
Karen Brownlee
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | researched |
| polling | not researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | researched |
| sources | researched |
Jill Cole
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | not researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | not researched |
| polling | not researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | researched |
| sources | researched |
The race in pictures
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
A note on our coverage
Read before the columns: where one candidate has more entries than another, this says which of the two reasons it is.
Endorsements received: Karen Brownlee has 7 entries and Jill Cole has 2 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Karen Brownlee's record in office has 5 entries and Jill Cole's has 0. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Jump to a candidate
- Karen Brownlee: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Jill Cole: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
Where they stand
Their own words, by issue, with the date, the venue and the link. A paraphrase is marked as one.
Families and child care
Karen Brownlee
None found in the records checked
Jill Cole
Programs That Support Youth: Jill believes in strengthening after-school programs, summer activities, and recreational opportunities that give children safe, enriching environments to grow and learn.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
Government ethics
Karen Brownlee
Honesty, accountability, and the ability to listen to and bring people together to get the best outcomes for the most people.
Source: Karen Brownlee
Jill Cole
Ethical Leadership and Transparency: Jill is committed to honest government, accountability, and a system that puts the public interest ahead of special interests.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
Health care
Karen Brownlee
I believe in healthier communities. This means equitable access to support the health and safety of all people in Ohio. As a social worker, my major focus is going to be helping kids and families.
Source: Karen Brownlee
Jill Cole
None found in the records checked
Public safety
Karen Brownlee
None found in the records checked
Jill Cole
Support for Law Enforcement: Jill backs investments in public safety and law enforcement training, believing strong communities start with safe neighborhoods.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
Roads and infrastructure
Karen Brownlee
None found in the records checked
Jill Cole
Strategic Infrastructure Investment: Jill supports prioritizing infrastructure that improves logistics and commerce — especially high-traffic commercial corridors and underserved areas.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
School choice
Karen Brownlee
None found in the records checked
Jill Cole
Balanced School Choice: Jill supports expanding educational opportunities for parents through vouchers and charter schools, but believes this must not come at the expense of strong, accountable public schools.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
Taxes
Karen Brownlee
None found in the records checked
Jill Cole
Tax Relief and Waste Reduction: Jill supports cutting personal income taxes and eliminating wasteful spending to make Ohio more affordable and fiscally responsible.
Source: Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio
Why they are running
Karen Brownlee
I am running to bring common sense and normalcy to the Ohio State House. I am tired of chaos and culture wars.
Source: Karen Brownlee
Jill Cole
None found in the records checked
What they have said, checked
Newest first. Each check is shown in the checker's own rating word, with their name, the date and the link.
Karen Brownlee
Not yet researched
Jill Cole
Not yet researched
Record in office
Dated actions. Any evaluation of an action is printed with the name of whoever made it and the link.
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Person | Date | Kind | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownlee (D) | 2025 | office | Ohio State Representative, District 28 |
| Brownlee (D) | 2025-04-09 | vote | 2025-04-09 (vote): Voted no on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House-passed version) (House Bill 96); the House vote was 60-39 and t |
| Brownlee (D) | 2025-06-11 | vote | 2025-06-11 (vote): Voted no on whether the House would concur in the Senate's amendments to the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bi |
| Brownlee (D) | 2025-06-25 | vote | 2025-06-25 (vote): Voted no on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote was |
| Brownlee (D) | 2025-07-21 | vote | 2025-07-21 (vote): Did not vote on overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-t |
| Brownlee (D) | 2026-06-10 | vote | 2026-06-10 (vote): Voted no on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November |
Karen Brownlee
-
June 10, 2026 · vote
Voted no on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Issue 3 (Senate Joint Resolution 10); the House vote was 62-30 and the motion passed.
Sources: Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Senate Joint Resolution 10
-
July 21, 2025 · vote
Did not vote on overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax levies and certain emergency levies on the ballot (the House vote was 61-28, override succeeded).
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
June 25, 2025 · vote
Voted no on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote was 59-38 and the motion passed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
June 11, 2025 · vote
Voted no on whether the House would concur in the Senate's amendments to the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote was 1-85 and the motion failed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
April 9, 2025 · vote
Voted no on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House-passed version) (House Bill 96); the House vote was 60-39 and the motion passed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
Jill Cole
Not yet researched
Money
Totals and donors exactly as filed with the FEC or the Ohio Secretary of State, each figure with its filing link.
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Karen Brownlee
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 15,653.90 | 17.0% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 27,267.98 | 29.7% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 17,863.77 | 19.4% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 31,117.42 | 33.9% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 12, 2026: raised $33,518, spent $42,922, cash on hand $48,981.
Ohio campaigns were due to file pre-general reports on October 22, covering activity through October 14, 2026. They are not in these figures, which come from the latest report in our records, dated June 12, 2026.
Sources: Campaign Finance Data · Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Campaign Finance
Top donors, as filed
None found in the records checked
Outside spending
None found in the records checked
In-state share
Not yet researched
Checked: Ohio Secretary of State candidate cover-page export, 2026 reports
Jill Cole
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 14,544.62 | 12.2% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 18,830.40 | 15.7% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 37,600.38 | 31.4% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 48,679.84 | 40.7% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 11, 2026: raised $52,145, spent $33,375, cash on hand $86,280.
Ohio campaigns were due to file pre-general reports on October 22, covering activity through October 14, 2026. They are not in these figures, which come from the latest report in our records, dated June 11, 2026.
Sources: Campaign Finance Data · Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Campaign Finance
Top donors, as filed
None found in the records checked
Outside spending
None found in the records checked
In-state share
Not yet researched
Checked: Ohio Secretary of State candidate cover-page export, 2026 reports
The result
Not yet researched
Sources
- Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- November 2026 General Election Candidate List (dated 8/21/2026) · Hamilton County Board of Elections · 2026-08-21 · accessed 2026-09-30
- Karen Brownlee · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Representative Karen Brownlee - District 28 · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- Campaign Finance Data · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- Campaign Finance · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- House Bill 96: votes · Ohio General Assembly
- Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Ohio General Assembly
- Ohio House of Representatives District 28 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- 2024 Official Election Results · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://oft-aft.org/2026election
- https://uawpower.org/states/ohio
- https://gunsensevoter.org/states/oh/voterguide/
- https://gunsensevoter.org/faq/
- https://ohea.org/oea-candidate-recommendations/
- https://theoecactionfund.org/2026-endorsements/
- https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-advocates-ohio/elections
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Announces State Legislature, Supreme Court Endorsements · 2026-07-20
- 2026 Abortion Forward endorsements · Abortion Forward · 2026-10-01 · accessed 2026-10-22
- Abortion Forward releases slate of candidates who respect will of voters · Abortion Forward · 2026-10-01 · accessed 2026-10-22
- 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee · Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
- House Bill 96 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
- Senate Joint Resolution 10 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
- Jill Cole · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Jill Cole for Ohio State Representative · Jill Cole for Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- Pragmatic Leadership that Delivers Real Results | Jill Cole for Ohio · Jill Cole for Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://ohio-chamber-object-storage-m0uzx.sevalla.storage/uploads/2026/July/13/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE.pdf
- https://ohio-chamber-object-storage-m0uzx.sevalla.storage/uploads/2026/March/27/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE.pdf
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hamilton-county-slate-card.pdf
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Ohio State Representative, District 28 election?
The election for Ohio State Representative, District 28 is on November 3, 2026.
Who is running for Ohio State Representative, District 28 in 2026?
On the ballot for Ohio State Representative, District 28, in surname order: Karen Brownlee (Democratic), Jill Cole (Republican).
Who holds the Ohio State Representative, District 28 seat now?
The seat is held by Karen Brownlee.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Ohio State Representative, District 28, 2026", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2026/ohio-house-28/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03