Ohio's 12th congressional district is a United States congressional district in central Ohio, covering Athens County, Coshocton County, Fairfield County, Guernsey County, Knox County, Licking County, Morgan County, Muskingum County and Perry County along with parts of Delaware, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties. The district includes communities east of Columbus including Zanesville, Cambridge, and Mount Vernon. It is currently represented by Troy Balderson, a member of the Republican Party. Balderson took office following a special election held on August 7, 2018, to replace Rep. Pat Tiberi, who had resigned on January 15, 2018. Balderson was then re-elected in the 2018 general election two months later.
From 2003 to 2013 the district included eastern Columbus, including most of its heavily African-American neighborhoods. The district also took in most of its northern suburbs, including Westerville. It was one of two districts that split the state's capital city, the other being the 15th district. For most of the time from the 1980s to the 2000s, it was considered to be less Republican than the 15th, in part due to its large black population. However, redistricting after the 2010 census drew nearly all of the 15th's black constituents into the 3rd district, while the 15th was pushed into more exurban and Republican areas north and east of the capital.
It has been in Republican hands since 1920, except for an eight-year stretch in the 1930s and a two-year term in 1980 where the Democratic Party held the seat; in both instances the Democratic incumbent was later defeated by a GOP challenger. In the 2004 presidential election George W. Bush narrowly won the district against John Kerry, 51% to 49%. However, in the 2008 presidential election, Democratic candidate Barack Obama won the 12th district by a margin of 53% to 46%. After the 2011 redistricting cycle, the district has since been won in larger margins by Republican presidential candidates.
In the 2018 special election, Balderson was endorsed by prominent Republicans including President Donald Trump, Governor of Ohio John Kasich (who represented the 12th from 1983 to 2001), and former Rep. Tiberi. The Democratic candidate was Danny O'Connor. The winner was not immediately clear following the unexpectedly competitive August 7 election. Only on August 24 was Balderson officially declared the winner of the special election, which witnessed a significant swing away from the Republican Party as Balderson won with a margin of less than 1%, while fellow Republican Trump had carried the district by 11% in the 2016 presidential election. In 2020 the district swung heavily back to the Republicans as Balderson won by over 14%.
Recent election results from statewide races 2023-2027 boundaries Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 54% - 43%2012 PresidentRomney 56% - 44%2016 PresidentTrump 62% - 33% SenatePortman 67% - 29%2018 SenateRenacci 56% - 44% GovernorDeWine 60% - 37% Secretary of StateLaRose 61% - 37% TreasurerSprague 63% - 37% AuditorFaber 57% - 39% Attorney GeneralYost 63% - 37%2020 PresidentTrump 65% - 34%2022 SenateVance 63% - 37% GovernorDeWine 72% - 28% Secretary of StateLaRose 70% - 30% TreasurerSprague 69% - 31% AuditorFaber 69% - 31% Attorney GeneralYost 71% - 29%2024 PresidentTrump 66% - 33% SenateMoreno 60% - 36% 2027–2033 boundaries Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 57% - 41%2012 PresidentRomney 59% - 41%2016 PresidentTrump 63% - 32% SenatePortman 68% - 27%2018 SenateRenacci 57% - 43% GovernorDeWine 61% - 36% Attorney GeneralYost 64% - 36%2020 PresidentTrump 64% - 35%2022 SenateVance 63% - 37% GovernorDeWine 71% - 29% Secretary of StateLaRose 69% - 30% TreasurerSprague 68% - 32% AuditorFaber 69% - 31% Attorney GeneralYost 70% - 30%2024 PresidentTrump 65% - 35% SenateMoreno 59% - 37%
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST39/CD118_OH12.pdf
Athens County (24)
All 24 townships and municipalities
Coshocton, County (28)
All 28 townships and municipalities
Delaware County (9)
Berkshire Township, Galena, Genoa Township, Harlem Township, Kingston Township, Porter Township, Sunbury, Trenton Township, Westerville (part; also 4th)
Fairfield County (31)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Guernsey County (28)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Holmes County (14)
Baltic (shared with Tuscarawas County), Berlin Township, Glenmont, Hardy Township, Killbuck, Killbuck Township, Knox Township, Mechanic Township, Millersburg, Monroe Township, Paint Township, Richland Township, Salt Creek Township (part; also 7th), Walnut Creek Township
Knox County (30)
All 30 townships and municipalities
Morgan County (18)
All 18 townships and municipalities
Muskingum County (36)
All 36 townships and municipalities
Licking County (41)
All 41 townships and municipalities
Perry County (26)
All 26 townships and municipalities
Tuscarawas County (20)
Auburn Township, Baltic (shared with Holmes County), Bucks Township, Clay Township, Dover Township, Franklin Township, Gnadenhutten, Jefferson Township, Newcomerstown, Oxford Township, Perry Township, Port Washington, Rush Township, Salem Township, Stone Creek, Strasburg, Sugarcreek, Sugar Creek Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township
List of members representing the district
Member Party Year(s) Congress Electoral history Counties represented District established March 4, 1823 John Sloane Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822.Re-elected in 1824.Re-elected in 1826.Lost re-election. Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1829 John Thomson Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1828.Re-elected in 1830.Redistricted to the . Robert Mitchell Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1835 Elected in 1832. Elias Howell Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –March 3, 1837 Elected in 1834. Alexander Harper Whig March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 Elected in 1836. Jonathan Taylor Democratic March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1841 Elected in 1838. Joshua Mathiot Whig March 4, 1841 –March 3, 1843 Elected in 1840. Samuel Finley Vinton Whig March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1843.Re-elected in 1844.Re-elected in 1846.Re-elected in 1848. John Welch Whig March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1850. Edson B. Olds Democratic March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1852. Samuel Galloway Opposition March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 Elected in 1854. Samuel S. Cox Democratic March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1856.Re-elected in 1858.Re-elected in 1860.Redistricted to the . William E. Finck Democratic March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1862.Re-elected in 1864. Philadelph Van Trump Democratic March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1866.Re-elected in 1868.Re-elected in 1870. Hugh J. Jewett Democratic March 4, 1873 –June 23, 1874 Elected in 1872.Resigned to become President of the Erie Railroad. Vacant June 23, 1874 –December 7, 1874 William E. Finck Democratic December 7, 1874 –March 3, 1875 Elected to finish Jewett's term. Ansel T. Walling Democratic March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1877 Elected in 1874. Thomas Ewing Jr. Democratic March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1876.Redistricted to the . Henry S. Neal Republican March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1881 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1878.Redistricted to the . George L. Converse Democratic March 4, 1881 –March 3, 1883 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1880.Redistricted to the . Alphonso Hart Republican March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1885 Elected in 1882. Albert C. Thompson Republican March 4, 1885 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1884.Redistricted to the . Jacob J. Pugsley Republican March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888. William H. Enochs Republican March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1890.Redistricted to the . Joseph H. Outhwaite Democratic March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1895 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1892. David K. Watson Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1897 Elected in 1894. John J. Lentz Democratic March 4, 1897 –March 3, 1901 Elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898. Emmett Tompkins Republican March 4, 1901 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1900. De Witt C. Badger Democratic March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1905 Elected in 1902. Edward L. Taylor Jr. Republican March 4, 1905 –March 3, 1913 Elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910. Clement L. Brumbaugh Democratic March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1921 Elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Retired. John C. Speaks Republican March 4, 1921 –March 3, 1931 Elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Lost re-election. Arthur P. Lamneck Democratic March 4, 1931 –January 3, 1939 Elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Lost re-election. John M. Vorys Republican January 3, 1939 –January 3, 1959 Elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Retired. Samuel L. Devine Republican January 3, 1959 –January 3, 1981 Elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Lost re-election. Bob Shamansky Democratic January 3, 1981 –January 3, 1983 Elected in 1980.Lost re-election. John Kasich Republican January 3, 1983 –January 3, 2001 Elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Retired to run for U.S. President. Pat Tiberi Republican January 3, 2001 –January 15, 2018Elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Resigned to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable. 2003–20132013–2023 Vacant January 15, 2018 –August 7, 2018 Troy Balderson Republican August 7, 2018 –presentElected to finish Tiberi's term.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–2027
Recent election results The following chart shows historic election results.