Beatty takes on Stahley in 3rd congressional district race

In the race for the 3rd Congressional district, a relative political newcomer will take on a longtime incumbent who commands a high level of name recognition across central Ohio.

In the deeply blue district, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, has won the past five elections since voters first sent her to Capitol Hill in 2012. But Beatty's challenger, Republican Lee Stahley, an instructing licensed optician for the Ohio State University College of Optometry who has served on Whitehall City Council and is a member of the Franklin County GOP central committee, hopes to unseat her.

Both ran uncontested in the May primary.

The Dispatch recently reached out to both candidates to learn more about their platforms and plans if elected.

Beatty responded to written questions through a campaign spokeswoman. After initially agreeing to answer questions when reached last week by The Dispatch, Stahley and his campaign had not responded Monday afternoon by the newspaper's deadline.

The incumbent

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus

Background:

Beatty has represented Ohio's 3rd Congressional district, one of the state's few districts once gerrymandered to favor Democrats, since she was first elected to the open seat in 2012. Before that, she was a senior vice president at Ohio State University and spent five terms in the Ohio House, where she was the first woman to lead her party caucus.

Beatty is a member of both the Committee on Financial Services and also the Joint Economic Committee, and she chairs the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee. Beatty chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, and is a member and co-chair of dozens of other caucuses and task forces.

Why Beatty says she's running for re-election and what she homes to accomplish in another term:

If reelected, Beatty said she would spend her two-year term working to codify Roe v. Wade to reinstate abortion rights. Amid concerns over how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could affect other constitutional rights, Beaty joined all other Democrats in Ohio's congressional delegation — and four Republicans — in voting in July for a legislative measure that would enshrine federal protections for same-sex marriage and interracial marriage.

Also on Beatty's agenda is to work to protect Social Security and Medicare, pass universal pre-K that would make all Ohio children eligible for public preschool, restore monthly payments through the expanded Child Care Tax Credit, and protect voting rights and election reforms.

"I am running for reelection because I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish, but know there is much more to be done," Beatty said.

What does Beatty believe is her biggest accomplishment from her past term?

Beatty pointed to the Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which she helped to pass in the House, as her biggest accomplishment of her past term. Signed into law in November 2021 by President Joe Biden, the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is intended to provide investments in roads, bridges, railways and pipelines while expanding access to clean drinking water and high-speed internet.

In Greater Columbus, Beatty recently joined the Coalition to End Tobacco Targeting in August to ask city government to pass legislation that would end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco products. She also vowed action on police reform at the federal level in September after 20-year-old Donovan Lewis was fatally shot by a Columbus police officer.

The challenger

Lee Stahley, R-Columbus

Background:

Stahley is listed as an optometric technician at Ohio State University, where, according to the biography on his official campaign website, he teaches students in the doctoral program.

A 2011 graduate of Whitehall Yearling High School, Stahley is also a former councilman in Whitehall. After being appointed to the council in January 2016 to fill an unexpired term, Stahley was unseated in the 2017 election after receiving 39% of the vote, according to ThisWeekNews.

Why Stahley says he's running for this office

According to Stahley's campaign website, his mission if elected is "to restore the citizens of this district their voice back into the U.S. House of Representatives."

His missions reads: "For too long we have allowed individuals to claim to be our representative, while not having the best interest of their constituents in mind. We have allowed individuals to represent us who only want clout, or to advance their careers, or to push their own agendas."

What does Stahley hope to accomplish if elected?

According to his campaign website, Stahley is running on a platform that includes reforming the health insurance industry to offer higher-quality, more-affordable health care; and regulating the ability of tech companies and social media platforms to moderate what is published on their websites.

What other issues does Stahley think are important?

Stahley is anti-abortion, but states on his website that the decision should be between a patient and a doctor, and that he believes the practice should be a last resort for mothers whose lives are at risk.

His website also mentions his support for the LGBTQ community and his opposition to critical race theory, an issue he still believes should be left to local school districts, not the federal government to decide. Stahley also stipulates his belief in strong national security through securing borders and taking tough action on China.

Alexander Amicucci is listed as an independent write-in candidate for the congressional seat.

elagatta@dispatch.com

@EricLagatta