Person
Jeff Clapper
- Public service
- Former member, Kent Planning Commission. (as stated by the campaign)
- Public service
- Member, Kent City Council (Ward 6, term 2024-2027); President Pro Tem of council. (as stated by the campaign)
Sources: Jeff Clapper for Ohio House District 72 · Council, Mayor and City Manager · Kent, Ohio City Council Observer Corps Report
Ballotpedia · Campaign Website · Ohio campaign finance
- $25KRaised, as filed · June 12, 2026
- $19KCash on hand · June 12, 2026
- no poll on fileLatest poll
- 9Positions in their words · 9 issues
- none on fileClaims checked
- none on fileOffices held
7 of 11 sections researched
Not yet researched: What they have said, checked, Record in office, Financial interests, Polling and approval.
What has been checked
- Profile 5 entries
- On the ballot 1 entry Confirmed as the Democratic nominee on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot. Checked: Ballotpedia's district page for Ohio House District 72, general election votebox
- Where they stand 9 entries Eight positions, one per issue on his campaign website's front page. One more position added October 2, 2026 (League of Women Voters candidate questionnaire, published in The Portager). Checked: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey (not completed); Ballotpedia's Campaign themes section (no 2026 statement recorded); his campaign website, fetched September 21, 2026; League of Women Voters candidate questionnaire, published in The Portager, read October 2, 2026
- What they have said, checked Not yet researched
- Record in office Not yet researched He has not held state elected or appointed office; this section does not apply the way it does for a state legislator.
- Money 1 entry Calendar-2026 contributions and expenditures, and cash on hand on the most recent report (filed 2026-06-12), as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Reports filed after that are not included. Checked: Ohio Secretary of State candidate cover-page export, 2026 reports
- Financial interests Not yet researched
- Polling and approval Not yet researched
- Elections 1 entry Added by the district guide's money and prior-results steps.
- Endorsements 4 entries
- Sources 5 entries
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 numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 72nd District | Ohio State Representative, District 72 |
On the ballot
- Ohio State Representative, District 72 · November 3, 2026 · Democratic
Source: Ohio elections, 2026
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Date | Deadline | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | Military and overseas absentee voting begins | The start of absentee voting for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters. | |
| October 5, 2026 | Voter registration deadline | 9 p.m. | Boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's office are open until 9 p.m. to accept registrations. |
| October 6, 2026 | Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begin | Early in-person voting runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 6 through October 9; hours change on later dates through Election Day. | |
| October 22, 2026 | Pre-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through October 14, 2026. |
| October 27, 2026 | Deadline for boards to receive absentee ballot applications | 8:30 p.m. | Applications for an absentee ballot must reach the county board by this time. |
| November 1, 2026 | Last day of early in-person voting | 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ends on Sunday, November 1; the hours that day are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the table above. By October 29, nearly 1.3 million Ohioans had already voted early in person or returned absentee ballots (Journal-News; Signal Ohio's counts from the Secretary of State's daily absentee file add to 1,289,090). The 2022 midterm saw 1.47 million early votes, then a record. |
| November 2, 2026 | No early in-person voting at boards of elections | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ended Sunday, November 1; there is no voting at boards of elections on Monday, November 2. Voters cast ballots at their assigned polling places on Tuesday, November 3. | |
| November 3, 2026 | Deadline for non-military/overseas absentee ballots to be received | 7:30 p.m. | Absentee ballots not covered by UOCAVA must be received by this time on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Last-minute absentee request for a hospitalization emergency | 3 p.m. | A voter, or a voter's minor child, who is hospitalized because of an accident or medical emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3 p.m. on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Polls open | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Election Day voting hours statewide. |
| November 7, 2026 | Deadline for military and overseas (UOCAVA) absentee ballots to be received | The extended receipt deadline for UOCAVA absentee ballots. | |
| November 8, 2026 | Boards of elections may begin the official canvass | County boards may begin the official canvass of the November 3 General Election ballots (5 days after the election). | |
| November 18, 2026 | Deadline for boards to begin the official canvass | County boards must begin the official canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (15 days after the election). | |
| November 24, 2026 | Deadline for boards to complete the official canvass | County boards must complete the canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (21 days after the election). | |
| December 11, 2026 | Post-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through December 4, 2026. |
Where they stand
Cost of living
I will fight to ensure wages keep up with the exploding cost of basic living expenses. We cannot continue to let billionaires fleece what is left of the middle class to line their pockets rather than pay workers a fair living wage.
Source: November 2026 Voters Guide presented by The League of Women Voters
Data centers
Portage County’s farmland, natural resources, and quality of life deserve to be protected. I believe local communities should have a strong voice in decisions that impact their neighborhoods. I will fight for greater local control, transparency, and responsible development to ensure that large-scale data centers do not negatively impact our residents, infrastructure, water resources, or rural character.
Education
Whether a student chooses college, a trade school, an apprenticeship, or workforce certification, every Ohioan should have an affordable pathway to success. I will support expanding access to higher education, career technical training, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs so that every student can build a successful future right here in Ohio.
Health care
No family should have to choose between paying their bills and receiving necessary medical care. I will work to improve access to quality, affordable health coverage while supporting practical legislative solutions that reduce costs, increase transparency, and put patients before politics.
Housing
Ohio families deserve access to safe, affordable housing. I support policies that encourage the construction of workforce and affordable housing, remove unnecessary barriers to development, and help first-time homebuyers achieve the dream of homeownership while protecting existing neighborhoods.
School choice
Every child deserves a strong public education. I believe Ohio should fully invest in its public schools instead of diverting taxpayer dollars away from local districts through the EdChoice voucher program. Our public schools are the foundation of our communities and should receive the resources they need to help every student succeed.
Vehicle emissions testing
Portage County residents shouldn't be forced to pay for and take time out of their schedules for mandatory E-Check inspections when many newer vehicles are already built with advanced emissions technology and onboard diagnostics. Ending E-Check would reduce costs and inconvenience for working families while treating Portage County the same as many other Ohio counties that do not have the requirement.
Veterans
Ohio is home to the nation’s sixth-largest veteran population. I am committed to improving the services and benefits available to our veterans by expanding access to employment opportunities, transportation, housing and the support they have earned through their service.
Why they are running
It has always been my belief that if I was willing to express an opinion about decisions being made in my community then I should also be willing to get involved in the decision making process. That belief has led me to spending the better part of the last decade in local government. After getting my start on Kent’s Planning Commission I ran for and was elected to Kent City Council where I now serve as President. My next goal is to take all of my experience and desire to serve my community to the Ohio State House as Representative for District 72 where I will work to make life better for all Ohioans.
What they have said, checked
Not yet researched
Record in office
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Money
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 6,016.78 | 24.2% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 33.5 | 0.1% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 18,713.48 | 75.3% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 104.1 | 0.4% |
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
| Race | Filer | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Representative, District 72 | OhioSOS Committee to Elect Jeff Clapper | $24,730 | $6,050 | $18,818 | June 12, 2026 |
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
Outside spending
Financial interests
Not yet researched
Polling and approval
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Elections
| Race | Party | Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Representative, District 72 (2026) | Democratic | Pending |
Endorsements
Endorsements received
unionOhio Education Association
August 18, 2026
Listed in the organization's 2026 Ohio House recommended candidates, District 72.
Source: ohea.org
unionUAW
2026
Listed as a State House endorsement on the UAW's 2026 Ohio endorsement page, grouped under UAW Region 2B.
Source: uawpower.org
organizationOhio Environmental Council Action Fund
2026
Listed in the organization's 2026 Ohio House endorsements, District 72.
Source: theoecactionfund.org
organizationMoms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (a distinction, not an endorsement)
2026
Named a Gun Sense Candidate for 2026. Moms Demand Action says the distinction "is not an endorsement from Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund or its volunteer networks, and it should not be represented as such."
Sources: gunsensevoter.org · gunsensevoter.org
Sources
Every URL on this page, once each.
- Jeff Clapper · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Jeff Clapper for Ohio House District 72 · Jeff Clapper for Ohio · 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
- Council, Mayor and City Manager · City of Kent · accessed 2026-09-25
- Kent, Ohio City Council Observer Corps Report · League of Women Voters of the Kent Area · accessed 2026-09-25
- Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- 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/
- November 2026 Voters Guide presented by The League of Women Voters · The Portager and the League of Women Voters of Kent and Northern Portage County · 2026-09-30 · accessed 2026-10-02
- Ohio campaign finance
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Jeff Clapper", https://crackedbuckeye.com/people/jeff-clapper/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03