Out-of-state residents and sitting Columbus city councilmembers are flooding the race for the council’s open District 7 seat with campaign funds to two of the candidates.
Tiara Ross, a Columbus assistant city attorney, received over $60,000 from donations and in-kind contributions from her boss City Attorney Zach Klein, Council President Shannon Hardin and councilmembers Rob Dorans and Emmanuel Remy. The four large dollar donors are buoying her campaign following reports she drove on a suspended license and owed $3,800 in unpaid parking tickets earlier in the campaign.
Jesse Vogel, an immigration lawyer, received thousands of campaign funds from out-of-state residents both before 2025 and this year until mid-April. In 2025 alone, Vogel had the most individual donors — over 500 — and got the most donors from Columbus.
Kate Curry-Da-Souza, a neighborhood advocate for former Near East Side Commissioner, raised far less than her rivals. The $8,200 she brought in was mostly from Columbus residents.
Ross also brought in almost all of her donations from Columbus or other cities in Ohio.
The three are in a tight race for the seat which covers downtown Columbus and the nearest surrounding neighborhoods like Franklinton and Olde Towne East. The primary on May 6 will whittle the race to two candidates who will face off in November for the seat.
Ross's report shows large amounts of cash flowing from elected officials.
Ross's campaign told WOSU in a statement they are proud of the "approximately 80% of the contributions to Tiara Ross’ campaign are from individual donors that are everyday people right here in Central Ohio."
While Ross did raise $73,000 of the $154,000 in total contributions from individual donors, that doesn't include that she got over $7,000 in direct donations from Klein's campaign committee. She also got $60,000 from in-kind contributions from Remy, Dorans and Hardin.
Those contributions included help paying for consulting services, campaign mailers and software and media buys.
Ross's team declined an interview with WOSU, unlike her two rivals. Her team did say more about her report more in the statement.
"That grassroots support speaks volumes about the kind of leader Tiara is: someone who’s rooted in the community and fighting for real change. She’s earned the support of current city leaders—because they’ve worked with her, trust her judgment, and know she’ll be ready to lead on day one. Her campaign is grounded in the belief that the people who live in our community should be the ones shaping its future—and that’s who she’s committed to serving every day," the statement said.
Vogel and Curry-Da-Souza criticized Ross's campaign finances.
"What we're doing is trying to garner support of individuals who are excited about the potential of our campaign collective to make collective change rather than from a handful of politicians who are working to maintain the status quo," Vogel said.
Curry-Sa-Souza said she wants to make sure she is looking for funding from people who are actually making great sacrifice to give to a her campaign, rather than large donors.
"I think it's unfortunate that we have what many perceive as the tipping of the scales from individuals trying to pick their own coworker versus listening to the public and listening to what our community desires to have," Curry-Da-Souza said.
Ross was also cut large checks for $5,000 each from the Laborers' International Union of North America and members of the Scantland family who previously owned CoverMyMeds and own Orange Barrel Media in Columbus.
Vogel says out-of-state fundraising haul comes from people he's known throughout his life
Vogel's own report is getting criticism from his rivals. His report is dotted with contributions from numerous other states including California, New York, Texas, Maryland and Washington D.C.
WOSU estimated about half of his 500 contributions from 2025 came from out-of-state. But less than half of the money total of $137,000 from both this year and last year came from outside of Ohio.
Vogel and Ross are the only two who raised money last year for the race. Vogel brought in $71,000 last year and $66,000 this year. Last year's haul was also dotted with out-of-state funds.
Vogel correctly pointed out to WOSU that out of the three candidates, he received the most contributions from the city of Columbus as well as the most contributions total.
"The fact that, you know, my elementary school teacher is willing to throw in $50 or my former legal aid colleague who still has student debt and who's just had her first kid, is willing to pitch in to support this just means the world to me," Vogel said.
Vogel said the money coming from outside Ohio is from family and other people he's met around the country. He said some were once Ohio residents or attended Ohio State University with him and others he met during his time outside of Ohio.
"I think it comes down to just, there's a lot of individuals who are excited about supporting me because they see the power of what we're doing," Vogel said. "They're watching as we're knocking thousands of doors and talking to voters who are scared about whether or not government can protect them in this time, that's pretty scary." Vogel said.
Curry-Da-Souza said she is focused on getting the support of Columbus residents.
"That means that where I'm looking for support is coming from our community here in Columbus, not looking for outside influence on my funding," Curry-Da-Souza said.
Ross did not comment on Vogel's report.
Some prominent names on Vogel's contributions list include Ohio Governor candidate Amy Acton, Columbus City Schools Board of Education member Sarah Ingles, Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio and former U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper.
Curry-Da-Souza hopes to stay afloat in primary with heavy spending
Curry-Da-Souza's campaign haul was far less than her opponents, but she is still happy about what those donors mean to her campaign.
"(Some are) making adjustments to their monthly budget because they're on a fixed income in order to give to my campaign because they feel so passionately about having accountable and independent representation on city council and so that looks different," Curry-Da-Souza said.
Curry-Da-Souza said she is worried about what all the money flowing to her rivals means to the race at large. She said it is unfortunate that she is being outspent by other candidates and some view that as okay.
"It's one person, one vote, and you shouldn't be having it where people are being outspent simply by the richer candidates, right?" Curry-Da-Souza said. "Because that takes away the democracy that we all firmly believe in."
Curry-Da-Souza brought in about 100 donors mostly from Columbus and Central Ohio. The most recognizable name was former Columbus mayoral candidate Joe Motil, who contributed $50.
