Ohio State Representative, District 43
November 3, 2026 · general election · District 43 · 3 candidates with a page
The seat is held. Rep. Michele Grim (D) has held the seat since January 1, 2023 and is on the November 2026 ballot for re-election, so the seat is held.
Sources: Michele Grim · Michele Grim Biography
About this district
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 43rd District | Ohio State Representative, District 43 |
Counties: Lucas
Last time, 2024: Michele Grim (Democratic) 60.3% · 26,881 votes; Wendi Hendricks (Republican) 39.7% · 17,661 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.
- Previously served in public health roles in government, university research and with nonprofit healthcare providers
- B.A. in women and gender studies, University of Toledo, 2005
- Master's degree in public health, University of Toledo
9 of 11 sections researched · 28 sources
- Long-time employee at Kroger (per campaign)
- Served as Deputy Campaign Manager for the Roberto Torres for Mayor campaign (per campaign)
- Active in the Barrows Street Block Watch Association (per campaign)
5 of 11 sections researched · 6 sources
- Attorney, licensed in Ohio, Virginia and the District of Columbia, now on inactive status (per campaign)
- Retired as Vice President for Federal and External Relations at the International Code Council in 2015 (per campaign)
- Standards Advisor to Iraq, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, 2006-2007 (per campaign)
7 of 11 sections researched · 10 sources
Michele Grim
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 |
Zach Hall
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | not researched |
| money | none found |
| interests | not researched |
| polling | not researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | none found |
| sources | researched |
David Karmol
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | none found |
| 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: Michele Grim has 7 entries, David Karmol has 2 entries and Zach Hall has 0 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Michele Grim's record in office has 5 entries, David Karmol's has 0 and Zach Hall's has 0. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Sources: Michele Grim has 13 entries, David Karmol has 6 entries and Zach Hall has 5 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
- Michele Grim: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Zach Hall: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- David Karmol: 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.
Civil rights
Michele Grim
None found in the records checked
Zach Hall
Government should protect your rights, not control your life. I’ll fight to restore liberty, personal responsibility, and freedom of choice for every Ohioan
Source: Zach Hall
David Karmol
None found in the records checked
Cost of living
Michele Grim
Whether taking on high healthcare costs and energy costs or cracking down on corporate price-gouging and wage theft, Michele is standing up to the powerful to put money back in our pockets.
Source: Meet Michele
Zach Hall
None found in the records checked
David Karmol
None found in the records checked
Government ethics
Michele Grim
None found in the records checked
Zach Hall
Public officials and law enforcement should be held to the same standards as the people they serve. I’ll work to ensure accountability, transparency, and trust in our institutions.
Source: Zach Hall
David Karmol
None found in the records checked
Health care
Michele Grim
On City Council, she spearheaded a groundbreaking public-private partnership that has so far abolished over $230 million in medical debt for more than 112,000 people in our area. Now she’s working to pass the bipartisan Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act to enact permanent patient protections and stop medical debt from ruining lives.
Source: Meet Michele
Zach Hall
None found in the records checked
David Karmol
None found in the records checked
Property taxes
Michele Grim
None found in the records checked
Zach Hall
No one should have to pay rent to the government forever. Eliminating property taxes will protect homeowners, strengthen communities, and give families true ownership.
Source: Zach Hall
David Karmol
As a senior, David knows that unexpected increases in home expenses, like property taxes and utilities, can threaten the ability to stay in a home. He supports caps on property tax increases and strong oversight of state-regulated utilities.
Source: Karmol for Ohio
Public safety
Michele Grim
None found in the records checked
Zach Hall
None found in the records checked
David Karmol
David is a former prosecutor who began his career investigating and prosecuting consumer fraud cases. He believes in tough law enforcement and serious jail time for repeat offenders. He supports law enforcement, emergency responders and firefighters.
Source: Karmol for Ohio
Roads and infrastructure
Michele Grim
As Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee and a member of the House Finance Committee, she has championed economic development and infrastructure investment while fighting to fully and fairly fund our public schools.
Source: Meet Michele
Zach Hall
None found in the records checked
David Karmol
David believes that Ohio should provide good highways, stable school funding, and efficient services to citizens, as well as a welcoming environment for businesses that provide jobs for Ohioans.
Source: Karmol for Ohio
Why they are running
Michele Grim
State Representative Michele Grim is a tireless advocate fighting to level the playing field for everyday people.
Source: Meet Michele
Zach Hall
That’s why he’s committed to fighting for lower taxes, protecting individual freedoms, and ensuring government stays accountable to the people—not special interests.
Source: Zach Hall
David Karmol
I'll represent you, and make decisions based on common sense, not party politics or ideology.
Source: David Karmol
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.
Michele Grim
Not yet researched
Zach Hall
Not yet researched
David Karmol
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grim (D) | 2023 | office | Ohio State Representative, District 43 |
| Grim (D) | 2022 | office | Toledo City Council, At-large |
| Grim (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 |
| Grim (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 |
| Grim (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 |
| Grim (D) | 2025-07-21 | vote | 2025-07-21 (vote): Voted against overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax |
| Grim (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 |
| Karmol (R) | 1979-05 | office | Member, Ohio House of Representatives |
| Karmol (R) | 2017 | office | Member, Lucas County Board of Elections |
| Karmol (R) | 2021 | office | Member, Toledo-Lucas County Board of Health |
Michele Grim
-
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
Voted against 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
Zach Hall
Not yet researched
David Karmol
None found in the records checked
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 |
Michele Grim
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 6,926.34 | 7.4% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 11,551.67 | 12.3% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 28,175.66 | 30.1% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 46,990.99 | 50.2% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 12, 2026: raised $35,102, spent $18,478, cash on hand $75,167.
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
Zach Hall
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
None found in the records checked
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, every name variant listed in _staging/d2/money-legislative.json
David Karmol
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 5,578.32 | 62.9% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 3,296.18 | 37.1% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 11, 2026: raised $8,874, spent $5,578, cash on hand $3,296.
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
Data from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: Ohio House of Representatives · Dave Karmol
- Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Michele Grim · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Michele Grim Biography · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- Ohio House of Representatives District 43 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Meet Michele · Friends of Michele Grim · accessed 2026-09-21
- Representative Michele Grim - District 43 · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- Member Directory · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-08
- Ohio House of Representatives · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-08
- 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
- 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
- Zach Hall · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- David Karmol · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Karmol for Ohio · Karmol for Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/lucas-county-slate-card.pdf
- https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/ohio/
- Dave Karmol · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Ohio State Representative, District 43 election?
The election for Ohio State Representative, District 43 is on November 3, 2026.
Who is running for Ohio State Representative, District 43 in 2026?
On the ballot for Ohio State Representative, District 43, in surname order: Michele Grim (Democratic), Zach Hall (Libertarian), David Karmol (Republican).
Who holds the Ohio State Representative, District 43 seat now?
The seat is held by Michele Grim.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Ohio State Representative, District 43, 2026", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2026/ohio-house-43/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03