Ohio State Representative, District 89
November 3, 2026 · general election · District 89 · 2 candidates with a page
The seat is open. Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R) has held the seat since August 1, 2019; he withdrew from the November 2026 race in August 2026 and the Republican Party named Erie County Treasurer Caleb Stidham as its nominee, so the seat is open. Swearingen said he would keep serving in the current General Assembly. The Ohio Supreme Court denied a request to remove Stidham from the ballot on October 9, 2026.
Sources: Ohio House of Representatives District 89 · D.J. Swearingen · Republican lawmaker DJ Swearingen drops out of Ohio House race · Politicos on the move: Aug. 16 · State ex rel. Koebel v. Erie County Board of Elections, 2026-Ohio-3999
About this district
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 89th District | Ohio State Representative, District 89 |
Counties: Erie · Huron · Ottawa
Last time, 2024: D.J. Swearingen (Republican) 58.7% · 35,148 votes; Alicia Roshong (Democratic) 41.3% · 24,762 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.
Steven Kraus
Not yet researched
- High school diploma, Sandusky High School
- Bachelor's degree, The Ohio State University, 2025
- Studied political science and history (per campaign)
7 of 11 sections researched · 12 sources
- Erie County Treasurer
- Chairman, Erie County Republican Party
6 of 11 sections researched · 8 sources
Easton Retzke
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 |
Caleb Stidham
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 | 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.
Where they stand: Easton Retzke has 5 entries and Caleb Stidham has 1 entry. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Jump to a candidate
- Easton Retzke: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Caleb Stidham: 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.
Education
Easton Retzke
I also support strong investment in K–12 public schools so students have the resources, safe environments, and quality teaching they need to succeed.
Source: Easton Retzke (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
Caleb Stidham
None found in the records checked
Government ethics
Easton Retzke
I am committed to open, responsible governance that residents can trust. This includes clear financial transparency, fair campaign practices, and accessible ways for the community to engage with their government.
Source: Easton Retzke (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
Caleb Stidham
There seems to be some confusion; there is no conflict of interest because I did not lead or chair the meeting that selected me as the candidate
Source: GOP consultant warns Stidham nomination could cost Ohio HD89 seat
Housing
Easton Retzke
I advocate for practical, affordable housing solutions that help families, seniors, and young professionals, while encouraging fair and responsible development that preserves our neighborhoods.
Source: Easton Retzke (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
Caleb Stidham
None found in the records checked
Jobs and the economy
Easton Retzke
I support policies that attract new industries and strengthen core sectors like manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. By investing in infrastructure, public services, and workforce development, we can ensure sustainable, long-term growth that benefits working families and local communities.
Source: Easton Retzke (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
Caleb Stidham
None found in the records checked
Why they are running
Easton Retzke
We need to put working people and our communities first, stand up for our schools, protect Lake Erie, support good-paying jobs, and make sure decisions made in Columbus actually reflect what people here need.
Source: Sandusky City Commissioner Richard Koonce Endorses Easton Retzke for Ohio House District 89
Caleb Stidham
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.
Easton Retzke
Not yet researched
Caleb Stidham
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
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Easton Retzke
Not yet researched
Caleb Stidham
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 |
Easton Retzke
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 7,468.42 | 79.7% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 166.8 | 1.8% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 1,694.73 | 18.1% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 37.9 | 0.4% |
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of September 2, 2026: raised $9,163, spent $7,635, cash on hand $1,733.
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 September 2, 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
Caleb Stidham
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 (downloaded 2026-09-19; latest report filed 2026-09-14)
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 elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-30 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Republican lawmaker DJ Swearingen drops out of Ohio House race · Ohio Capital Journal (republished from News5 Cleveland) · 2026-08-06 · accessed 2026-09-30
- Politicos on the move: Aug. 16 · Ohio Society of CPAs · 2026-08-14 · accessed 2026-09-30
- Ohio House of Representatives District 89 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-30 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- 2026 General Election sample ballot, Port Clinton 1A (89th District: Retzke, Stidham, write-in line) · Ottawa County Board of Elections · 2026-09 · accessed 2026-11-01
- State ex rel. Koebel v. Erie County Board of Elections, 2026-Ohio-3999 · Supreme Court of Ohio · 2026-10-09 · accessed 2026-11-01
- D.J. Swearingen · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-22
- Easton Retzke · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-22 · 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://gunsensevoter.org/states/oh/voterguide/
- https://gunsensevoter.org/faq/
- https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-advocates-ohio/elections
- Sandusky City Commissioner Richard Koonce Endorses Easton Retzke for Ohio House District 89 · Retzke for Representative · 2026-09-30 · accessed 2026-10-02
- Caleb Stidham · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-30 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Caleb Stidham, State Rep., Dist. 89 (2026 General Election candidate profile) · iVoterGuide · 2026-10-20 · accessed 2026-10-20
- 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/
- GOP consultant warns Stidham nomination could cost Ohio HD89 seat · TiffinOhio.net · 2026-08-15 · accessed 2026-10-02
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Ohio State Representative, District 89 election?
The election for Ohio State Representative, District 89 is on November 3, 2026.
Who is running for Ohio State Representative, District 89 in 2026?
On the ballot for Ohio State Representative, District 89, in surname order: Easton Retzke (Democratic), Caleb Stidham (Republican). Write-in candidate, not printed on the ballot: Steven Kraus.
Who holds the Ohio State Representative, District 89 seat now?
The seat is held by D.J. Swearingen. The seat is open in this election.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Ohio State Representative, District 89, 2026", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2026/ohio-house-89/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03