Chris Redfern
Democratic candidate for Governor in Ohio
Ohio Democratic Governor nominee?
$46.9K
MAY 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Ohio Democratic Governor nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0.3%chance to win
$46.9KMAY 12, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age62 years old (Oct 1, 1964)
GenderMale
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LocationOhio
BackgroundPolitician
EducationBowling Green State University — B.A., Political Science (1988)
Notable personal detailsChris Redfern is an American politician and businessman who served in the Ohio House of Representatives and as chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. He represented northwest Ohio in the Ohio House (1999–2009 and 2013–2015) and previously served as Ottawa County commissioner (1993–1999). He was Minority Leader of the Ohio House (2003–2006) and chaired the Ohio Democratic Party (2005–2014). He has also operated the Red Fern Inn and Rocky Point Winery in Marblehead, Ohio.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports protecting state funding for public schools and core services and has criticized large income-tax cuts or phase-outs that primarily benefit wealthy Ohioans; has called for using state funding to address public needs rather than enacting deep tax reductions.
Healthcare
Supports expanding public healthcare access and backed Medicaid expansion and state funding for public-health responses; has pushed for experienced public-health leadership and emergency funding for water- and algal-bloom-related public-health threats.
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Climate & Energy
Supports state action to address water-quality and algal-bloom problems in Lake Erie, has called for emergency and long-term state funding for research and mitigation, and has supported energy-efficiency investments in public facilities. Positions emphasize public-health protections, funding for studies and mitigation, and targeted clean-energy/efficiency savings rather than calls to phase out fossil fuels.
Latest News
Chris Redfern is in the news mainly because Ohio is shaping up to be a more competitive battleground in the 2026 elections, with Democrats seen as having better chances in the governor’s and Senate races. Recent coverage also points to Ohio’s confirmed primary field and key election deadlines, which set the stage for those contests. Broader reporting on state races and redistricting adds context, but there is no clear sign of a specific new development involving Redfern himself in the summaries provided.
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New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising