Democrat
Don Leonard
Background and Bio
Don Leonard earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Ph.D. in government from Cornell University. He served in the U.S. Peace Corps in South America and later worked on World Bank and USAID international development projects before joining the faculty at The Ohio State University as a professor of city and regional planning, a position he held for a decade before stepping down to run for Congress. He lives in Columbus and has a young daughter.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Economy and Taxes: Leonard’s campaign website highlights his opposition to trade deals, government bailouts, and tax breaks that primarily benefit corporations and billionaires. According to his campaign, he supports economic policies such as affordable housing, increased wages, affordable child care, paid family leave, and support for those caring for an aging parent or a disabled loved one.
- Data Centers: Campaign materials have expressed concern for rapid data center development, particularly the impact of fossil fuels, and he has called for regulations and data center development that protect clean water, strengthen the electric grid, create good local jobs, and focus on local control.
- Healthcare: Campaign materials express Leonard’s support for policies that promote quality, affordable health insurance, as well as policies that support in-home caregiving support for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. According to his campaign, he supports universal healthcare and protecting reproductive healthcare and has expressed opposition to federal cuts to Medicaid.
Endorsements
- The American Federation of Government Employees
- End Citizens United
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Voter
Background and Bio
Don Leonard earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Ph.D. in government from Cornell University. He served in the U.S. Peace Corps in South America and later worked on World Bank and USAID international development projects before joining the faculty at The Ohio State University as a professor of city and regional planning, a position he held for a decade before stepping down to run for Congress. He lives in Columbus and has a young daughter.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Economy and Taxes: Leonard’s campaign website highlights his opposition to trade deals, government bailouts, and tax breaks that primarily benefit corporations and billionaires. According to his campaign, he supports economic policies such as affordable housing, increased wages, affordable child care, paid family leave, and support for those caring for an aging parent or a disabled loved one.
- Data Centers: Campaign materials have expressed concern for rapid data center development, particularly the impact of fossil fuels, and he has called for regulations and data center development that protect clean water, strengthen the electric grid, create good local jobs, and focus on local control.
- Healthcare: Campaign materials express Leonard’s support for policies that promote quality, affordable health insurance, as well as policies that support in-home caregiving support for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. According to his campaign, he supports universal healthcare and protecting reproductive healthcare and has expressed opposition to federal cuts to Medicaid.
Endorsements
- The American Federation of Government Employees
- End Citizens United
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Voter
Last Updated:2026-09-24
