Ohio State Representative, District 44
November 3, 2026 · general election · District 44 · 3 candidates with a page
The seat is open. Rep. Josh Williams (R) has represented the district since January 1, 2025 (in the Ohio House since 2023, representing District 41 before 2025) and is not on the November 2026 general-election ballot for this seat, so the seat is open.
About this district
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 44th District | Ohio State Representative, District 44 |
Counties: Lucas · Ottawa · Wood
Last time, 2024: Josh Williams (Republican) 57.7% · 37,915 votes; Dave Blyth (Democratic) 42.3% · 27,818 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.
- Employee-benefits attorney representing union pension and health plans and apprenticeship training programs (per campaign)
- Bachelor's degree, Baldwin Wallace University, 2008
- Law degree, University of Toledo College of Law, 2013
7 of 11 sections researched · 10 sources
- Attorney in Oregon, Ohio, practicing bankruptcy, probate, estate planning and taxation law for 23 years (per campaign)
- Grain farmer in Wood and Ottawa Counties, farming 350 acres of soybeans, corn, wheat and hay on his family's 127-year-old farm (per campaign)
- Long-standing member of the Wood County Republican Party Central Committee and Executive Committee, and former Vice-Chair (per campaign)
7 of 11 sections researched · 14 sources
- Third-generation licensed architect at Stough & Stough Architects, a family firm since 1984 (per campaign)
- Master of Architecture, University of Michigan (per campaign)
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Ohio State University (per campaign)
5 of 11 sections researched · 6 sources
David J. Fournier
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 |
Edward L. Schimmel
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 |
Lyndsey Stough
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 |
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: Edward L. Schimmel has 5 entries, David J. Fournier has 4 entries and Lyndsey Stough has 0 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
- David J. Fournier: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Edward L. Schimmel: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Lyndsey Stough: 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.
Abortion
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
Support life - Funding for pregnancy center. - Increase credits for children. - Oppose assisted suicide.
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Agriculture
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
Protect Agricultural Industry. - Farmland preservation. - H2Ohio funding. - Oppose foreign ownership.
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Cost of living
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
People are stretched thin and need the cost of essentials like groceries, healthcare, and utilities to be lower.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Data centers
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
Regulation of Data Centers. - Require water recycling. - Mandatory Energy plan & Redevelopment plans. - Oppose tax credits.
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Education
David J. Fournier
Public dollars are a public trust. Ohio's universal voucher program is funneling billions in taxpayer money to private schools with no accountability, no transparency, and no obligation to serve every child. I'll fight to ensure that public dollars are managed responsibly and in the interest of the families and communities they're supposed to help.
Source: David Fournier
Edward L. Schimmel
Reform school funding. - Fairly fund public schools. - Cap max & minimum State contribution levels.
Lyndsey Stough
Public education is valuable and important, and needs to be properly funded.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Government ethics
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
Reduce government spending and uphold fiscal responsibility for long-term quality of life.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Guns
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
Support the 2nd Amendment. - Oppose local regulations. - 2nd Amendment Preservation Act (HB51).
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Health care
David J. Fournier
Working families deserve affordability. Healthcare costs are crushing Ohio families and small businesses while insurers and pharmacy middlemen profit from a system designed to keep prices hidden. I'll push for transparency and meaningful reforms that put families ahead of stockholders.
Source: David Fournier
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Jobs and the economy
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
Keeping Ohio a good place for business, creating new jobs, and growing Ohio’s economy benefits us all.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Local government
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
We need to work hard to return tax dollars to the 44th District for local government capital improvement projects.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Property taxes
David J. Fournier
Property taxpayers deserve relief, not blame. Ohio homeowners are shouldering an increasingly unfair burden while Columbus shifts costs downward and pretends it's a local problem. I'll work to fix the structural failures in our school funding and tax systems that keep forcing levies higher and squeezing families on fixed incomes out of their homes.
Source: David Fournier
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
None found in the records checked
Roads and infrastructure
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
None found in the records checked
Lyndsey Stough
A direct highway from Northwest Ohio to Columbus unlocks economic opportunities.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Taxes
David J. Fournier
None found in the records checked
Edward L. Schimmel
Phase out State Income Tax.
Lyndsey Stough
The Local Government Fund needs to be restored and tax dollars shared.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
Why they are running
David J. Fournier
I'm Dave Fournier, an employee-benefits attorney that represents union pension and health plans, and apprenticeship training programs. My job comes down to one principle: when you're managing someone else's money, you owe them loyalty and prudence. That's called fiduciary duty, and it's missing from the Statehouse.
Source: David Fournier
Edward L. Schimmel
Having lived most of my life either in Toledo or Northwood, I have always had a mixture of city and rural life,” said Schimmel. “It’s my hope that I can bring the prospective of a rural farmer, the business sense of an attorney, and the experience of a small-town mayor to the 44th District, because that’s what the district looks like, and that’s what we need in Columbus.
Lyndsey Stough
I believe Sylvania, the 44th District, and Northwest Ohio need an independent voice for real progress in Columbus.
Source: Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44
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.
David J. Fournier
Not yet researched
Edward L. Schimmel
Not yet researched
Lyndsey Stough
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schimmel (R) | 2016 | office | Mayor of Northwood |
| Schimmel (R) | 2007 | office | Member, Northwood City Council |
| Stough (I) | 2020 | office | Member, Sylvania City Council |
David J. Fournier
Not yet researched
Edward L. Schimmel
Not yet researched
Lyndsey Stough
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 |
David J. Fournier
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 16,322.49 | 78.6% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 4,445.97 | 21.4% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of July 23, 2026: raised $20,768, spent $16,322, cash on hand $4,446.
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 July 23, 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
Edward L. Schimmel
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 27,527.94 | 36.0% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 6,024.68 | 7.9% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 35,128.40 | 46.0% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 7,688.08 | 10.1% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of June 12, 2026: raised $62,656, spent $33,553, cash on hand $42,816.
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
Lyndsey Stough
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
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
- Ohio House of Representatives District 44 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- David Fournier · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- 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
- https://oft-aft.org/2026election
- https://uawpower.org/states/ohio
- https://ohea.org/oea-candidate-recommendations/
- https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-advocates-ohio/elections
- Edward Schimmel · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District · Committee to Elect Edward L. Schimmel · 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://www.buckeyefirearms.org/2026-bfa-pac-grades-and-endorsements-ohio-general-election
- https://ohiolife.org/ohio-right-to-life-pac-announces-2026-general-election-candidate-recommendations/
- https://ohiolife.org/2026-ortl-pac-recommendations/
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/lucas-county-slate-card.pdf
- https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/ohio/
- Lyndsey Stough · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Lyndsey Stough - Independent for Ohio House District 44 · Supporters of Stough · accessed 2026-09-21
Quick answers
When was the 2026 Ohio State Representative, District 44 election?
The election for Ohio State Representative, District 44 was held on November 3, 2026.
Who ran for Ohio State Representative, District 44 in 2026?
On the ballot for Ohio State Representative, District 44, in surname order: David J. Fournier (Democratic), Edward L. Schimmel (Republican), Lyndsey Stough (Independent).
Who holds the Ohio State Representative, District 44 seat now?
The seat is held by Josh Williams. The seat is open in this election.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Ohio State Representative, District 44, 2026", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2026/ohio-house-44/, built 2026-11-04, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-04