In the hotly contested 2008 race, former state senator Steve Stivers lost the 15th district to Mary Jo Kilroy by only about 2,300 votes. Stivers says he expects another close race next year, but this time the two major issues will be jobs and the economy.
"We need to have a debate about how we get the economy going again. I also think that the overspending that this Congress has been doing is mortgaging my daughter's future and our kids future and our grandkids future," says Stivers.
Stivers has spent the last year starting a business consulting firm, and dedicating more and more time to his Congressional bid. As of September 30th, Stivers had raised just over $400,000 dollars for his campaign.
Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy has raised more than $750,000 dollars for her re-election bid. Kilroy says she's been working hard over the past year to bring federal dollars into the 15th.
"I've been very successful in bringing grants and commitments for new projects and programs to our community, with respect to infrastructure projects, research and development at Ohio State and the cancer hospital, and Children's Hospital," says Kilroy. Ohio's 15th Congressional District is comprised of all of Madison and Union counties, as well as part of Franklin County.