Ohio Democratic Governor nominee?
$46.9K
MAY 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age61 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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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.
News
Chris Redfern is in the news as an Ohio candidate in the 2026 election cycle, with his race part of the state’s confirmed primary lineup. Recent coverage has focused on the broader Ohio primary calendar and the competitive statewide contests, including the attorney general race. He is also being mentioned in reporting about a proposed Ohio bill that would replace party primaries with a top-two system for statewide and legislative races, though the bill is still just a proposal.
Who qualified for the 2026 Ohio primary election? See names, key dates
two primary bill: what Senate Bill 382 would change
Voter registration deadline nears for the May primary, early voting to start April 7: What to know
Campaign support money grows along with profile of state attorneys general
Endorsements
Endorsers of Chris Redfern for Ohio Democratic Governor nominee?
Erie County Democratic Party
Political organization
Erie County Democratic Party endorsed Chris Redfern for Democratic State Central Committee Man in the 2nd Senate District.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising