Libertarian
Don Kissick and James Mills
Background and Bio
Don Kissick earned a degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and completed military education at the U.S. Navy Fire Controlman "A" and "C" Schools in Illinois, later moving to Northwestern Ohio. Kissick served six years in the U.S. Navy, including two deployments to the Middle East during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and worked as a production associate and auto worker at the Honda of America Manufacturing engine assembly plant in Anna, Ohio, and currently works as a television Master Control Operator in Lima. He served as the Allen County Libertarian Party and Central Committee Chair, and has previously run for the U.S. House of Representatives, Allen County Commissioner, and U.S. Senate. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, Sarah, and their two children.
His running mate, James Mills, has a Master’s of Business Administration and is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor in Warren, Ohio. Mills is a small business owner and CEO of Ironvest Financial Partners, a benefits administration firm. He has served in leadership within the Libertarian Party of Ohio and is new to elected politics.
His running mate, James Mills, has a Master’s of Business Administration and is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor in Warren, Ohio. Mills is a small business owner and CEO of Ironvest Financial Partners, a benefits administration firm. He has served in leadership within the Libertarian Party of Ohio and is new to elected politics.
Policy Issue Summaries
Policy Issue Stances:
- Healthcare: According to the campaign, Kissick does not support expanded Medicaid coverage and calls for the repeal of Ohio's Certificate of Need laws, which he says drive up healthcare costs by limiting competition among providers.
- Education: In campaign materials, Kissick expresses support for Ohio's school voucher program but supports income-based caps on voucher payments, saying families with fewer resources should receive priority consideration for that funding.
- Taxes: The Kissick-Mills campaign supports eliminating property taxes and replacing that revenue with locally controlled, consumption-based (sales) taxes. They also want to lower income taxes generally and roll back the state diesel fuel tax, offsetting the revenue loss in part by eliminating what they describe as "corporate welfare" — subsidies to larger institutions.
- Data Centers: According to the campaign, Kissick opposes new data center development, opposes tax incentives for data center developers, and has called for greater transparency, private property rights protections, environmental stewardship, and local control.
- Abortion: In campaign materials, Kissick has said that the 2023 constitutional amendment protecting abortion access reflects the will of Ohio voters, and that, as governor, he would not sign any legislation attempting to circumvent it, calling such efforts unconstitutional.
Endorsements
Key Endorsements:
- No institutional endorsements were identified in public campaign materials at the time of this publication.
Background and Bio
Don Kissick earned a degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and completed military education at the U.S. Navy Fire Controlman "A" and "C" Schools in Illinois, later moving to Northwestern Ohio. Kissick served six years in the U.S. Navy, including two deployments to the Middle East during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and worked as a production associate and auto worker at the Honda of America Manufacturing engine assembly plant in Anna, Ohio, and currently works as a television Master Control Operator in Lima. He served as the Allen County Libertarian Party and Central Committee Chair, and has previously run for the U.S. House of Representatives, Allen County Commissioner, and U.S. Senate. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, Sarah, and their two children.
His running mate, James Mills, has a Master’s of Business Administration and is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor in Warren, Ohio. Mills is a small business owner and CEO of Ironvest Financial Partners, a benefits administration firm. He has served in leadership within the Libertarian Party of Ohio and is new to elected politics.
His running mate, James Mills, has a Master’s of Business Administration and is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor in Warren, Ohio. Mills is a small business owner and CEO of Ironvest Financial Partners, a benefits administration firm. He has served in leadership within the Libertarian Party of Ohio and is new to elected politics.
Policy Issue Summaries
Policy Issue Stances:
- Healthcare: According to the campaign, Kissick does not support expanded Medicaid coverage and calls for the repeal of Ohio's Certificate of Need laws, which he says drive up healthcare costs by limiting competition among providers.
- Education: In campaign materials, Kissick expresses support for Ohio's school voucher program but supports income-based caps on voucher payments, saying families with fewer resources should receive priority consideration for that funding.
- Taxes: The Kissick-Mills campaign supports eliminating property taxes and replacing that revenue with locally controlled, consumption-based (sales) taxes. They also want to lower income taxes generally and roll back the state diesel fuel tax, offsetting the revenue loss in part by eliminating what they describe as "corporate welfare" — subsidies to larger institutions.
- Data Centers: According to the campaign, Kissick opposes new data center development, opposes tax incentives for data center developers, and has called for greater transparency, private property rights protections, environmental stewardship, and local control.
- Abortion: In campaign materials, Kissick has said that the 2023 constitutional amendment protecting abortion access reflects the will of Ohio voters, and that, as governor, he would not sign any legislation attempting to circumvent it, calling such efforts unconstitutional.
Endorsements
Key Endorsements:
- No institutional endorsements were identified in public campaign materials at the time of this publication.
Last Updated:2026-09-25
