Ohio State Representative, District 40
November 3, 2026 · general election · District 40 · 3 candidates with a page
The seat is held. Rep. Rodney Creech (R) has held the seat since January 2023 (representing District 43 from 2021 to 2022, before redistricting) and is running for re-election, so the seat is held.
Sources: Rodney Creech · Representative Rodney Creech - District 40
About this district
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 40th District | Ohio State Representative, District 40 |
Counties: Butler · Montgomery · Preble
Last time, 2024: Rodney Creech (Republican) 77.1% · 45,615 votes; Bobbie Arnold (Democratic) 22.9% · 13,569 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.
- Started a small lawn-care business after college that now has more than 40 employees (per campaign)
- Bachelor's degree in agronomy, with an area of study in turf science, Morehead State University
- Born and raised on his family's four-generation farm in West Alexandria, Ohio (per campaign)
9 of 11 sections researched · 21 sources
- Registered Nurse (per campaign)
- Volunteer paramedic (per campaign)
- Grew up on a farm (per campaign)
7 of 11 sections researched · 12 sources
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (per campaign)
- Serves his community through his church, youth soccer, and the Citizens Urban Forestry Advisory Board (per campaign)
- Miamisburg, Ohio, with his wife and daughter (per campaign)
6 of 11 sections researched · 6 sources
Rodney Creech
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 |
Timothy Hornbacker
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 |
Joshua Umbaugh
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 | none found |
| 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: Rodney Creech has 3 entries, Timothy Hornbacker has 3 entries and Joshua Umbaugh has 0 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Where they stand: Timothy Hornbacker has 7 entries, Joshua Umbaugh has 5 entries and Rodney Creech has 2 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Rodney Creech's record in office has 6 entries, Joshua Umbaugh's has 0 and Timothy Hornbacker's has 0. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Sources: Rodney Creech has 13 entries, Timothy Hornbacker has 8 entries and Joshua Umbaugh has 6 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Jump to a candidate
- Rodney Creech: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Timothy Hornbacker: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Joshua Umbaugh: 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.
Agriculture
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
I grew up on a farm, I know what it costs - not just in dollars, but in early mornings, in years, and in the quiet worry that follows a farmer through every season.
Source: Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
None found in the records checked
Elections and voting
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
None found in the records checked
Joshua Umbaugh
The legislature should respect the result of citizen ballot initiatives, rather than seeking new ways to criminalize behavior that Ohioans have clearly chosen to legalize.
Source: Joshua Umbaugh
Government ethics
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
We restore public trust by putting people over politics - closing corporate tax loopholes, keeping tax dollars in our communities, demanding absolute transparency in every deal made with Ohio's money, and making sure no backroom agreement ever shields a corporation from the accountability it owes to District 40.
Source: Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
Representation should not be a tribal contest, nor should decisions come from lobbyists or party leadership.
Source: Joshua Umbaugh
Health care
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
Ohio is facing more than $5 billion in projected Medicaid losses over the next decade.
Source: Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
None found in the records checked
Jobs and the economy
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
Our communities are ready to grow. Columbus needs to catch up.
Source: Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
We should not bail out or subsidize large corporations, giving them unfair advantages over our locally owned small businesses.
Source: Joshua Umbaugh
Local government
Rodney Creech
Investing in demolition is really an investment in our future.
Source: Rep. Creech Applauds Funding to Support Local Demolition Projects
Timothy Hornbacker
None found in the records checked
Joshua Umbaugh
None found in the records checked
Property taxes
Rodney Creech
I was proud to vote on a budget that provides Ohioans billions in property tax relief and invests in the future of our state through economic development and job creation
Source: Rep. Creech Votes to Deliver Billions in Historic Property Tax Relief for Ohioans
Timothy Hornbacker
District 40 homeowners, families, farmers, and seniors are being squeezed by rising property taxes, and I won't pretend otherwise.
Source: Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
End Property Taxes – Support ballot initiative to abolish real property taxes.
School choice
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
Right now, over a billion dollars a year in voucher money is leaving our communities while public schools face a funding crisis not seen since the Great Recession.
Source: Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
None found in the records checked
Veterans
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
None found in the records checked
Joshua Umbaugh
I support Defend the Guard legislation, which would prohibit deploying Ohio Guard troops to overseas combat without a formal congressional declaration of war.
Source: Joshua Umbaugh
Why they are running
Rodney Creech
None found in the records checked
Timothy Hornbacker
Zoning is a critical mission concerning quality of life for all Ohioans. Data Centers, High Tension lines, factory farms: each of these physical developments has an outsized effect on their immediate neighbors.
Source: Timothy Hornbacker
Joshua Umbaugh
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.
Rodney Creech
Not yet researched
Timothy Hornbacker
Not yet researched
Joshua Umbaugh
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creech (R) | 2008 | office | Twin Township Trustee |
| Creech (R) | 2015 | office | Preble County Commissioner |
| Creech (R) | 2021 | office | Member, Ohio House of Representatives, District 43 |
| Creech (R) | 2023 | office | Member, Ohio House of Representatives |
| Creech (R) | 2024-12-19 | bill | 2024-12-19 (bill): Joint primary sponsor, with Rep. Kevin D. Miller, of House Bill 256 (135th General Assembly), Require ODNR to inquire about organ donation, |
| Creech (R) | 2025-04-09 | vote | 2025-04-09 (vote): Voted yes on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House-passed version) (House Bill 96); the House vote was 60-39 and |
| Creech (R) | 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 |
| Creech (R) | 2025-06-25 | vote | 2025-06-25 (vote): Voted yes on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote wa |
| Creech (R) | 2025-07-21 | vote | 2025-07-21 (vote): Voted to override the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax levies |
| Creech (R) | 2026-06-10 | vote | 2026-06-10 (vote): Voted yes on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the Novembe |
Rodney Creech
-
June 10, 2026 · vote
Voted yes 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
Voted to override 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 yes 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 yes 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
-
December 19, 2024 · bill
Joint primary sponsor, with Rep. Kevin D. Miller, of House Bill 256 (135th General Assembly), Require ODNR to inquire about organ donation, signed into law December 19, 2024 (effective March 20, 2025).
Timothy Hornbacker
Not yet researched
Joshua Umbaugh
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 |
Rodney Creech
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 16,619.19 | 5.1% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 253,068.68 | 78.0% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 3,380.81 | 1.0% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 51,481.21 | 15.9% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 11, 2026: raised $20,000, spent $269,688, cash on hand $54,862.
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
Timothy Hornbacker
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 183.1 | 8.8% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 171.1 | 8.3% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 886.9 | 42.8% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 828.9 | 40.0% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 12, 2026: raised $1,070, spent $354, cash on hand $1,716.
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
Joshua Umbaugh
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 89.9 | 15.0% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 194.4 | 32.3% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 100.1 | 16.7% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 216.5 | 36.0% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 12, 2026: raised $190, spent $284, cash on hand $317.
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
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
- Candidate & Petition Activity, November 3, 2026, General Election · Butler County Board of Elections · 2026-09-28 · accessed 2026-09-30
- Election Notice for use with the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (lists Hornbacker, Umbaugh and Creech for the 40th District; write-ins are marked "(Write-in)") · Butler County Board of Elections · 2026-10-02 · accessed 2026-11-01
- Rodney Creech · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Representative Rodney Creech - District 40 · Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- About Rodney · Committee to Elect Rodney Creech · 2026-09-22 · accessed 2026-09-22
- Rep. Creech Votes to Deliver Billions in Historic Property Tax Relief for Ohioans · Ohio House of Representatives · 2025-04-14 · accessed 2026-09-22
- Rep. Creech Applauds Funding to Support Local Demolition Projects · Ohio House of Representatives · 2026-04-24 · accessed 2026-09-22
- 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 40 · 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://www.buckeyefirearms.org/2026-bfa-pac-grades-and-endorsements-ohio-general-election
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/butler-county-slate-card.pdf
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/montgomery-county-slate-card.pdf
- https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/ohio/
- 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
- House Bill 256, 135th General Assembly · The Ohio Legislature · accessed 2026-09-22
- Timothy Hornbacker · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Citizens for Hornbacker · Citizens for Hornbacker · 2026-09-21 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Issues - Citizens for Hornbacker · Citizens for Hornbacker · 2026-09-22 · accessed 2026-09-22
- https://gunsensevoter.org/states/oh/voterguide/
- https://gunsensevoter.org/faq/
- https://ohea.org/oea-candidate-recommendations/
- 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
- Joshua Umbaugh · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Elect Josh Umbaugh Ohio State Representative · Umbaugh for Ohio · 2026-09-22 · accessed 2026-09-22
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Ohio State Representative, District 40 election?
The election for Ohio State Representative, District 40 is on November 3, 2026.
Who is running for Ohio State Representative, District 40 in 2026?
On the ballot for Ohio State Representative, District 40, in surname order: Rodney Creech (Republican), Timothy Hornbacker (Democratic), Joshua Umbaugh (Libertarian).
Who holds the Ohio State Representative, District 40 seat now?
The seat is held by Rodney Creech.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Ohio State Representative, District 40, 2026", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2026/ohio-house-40/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03