U.S. House

Voters will see ballot issues and levies, as well as state legislative and congressional primary elections on the May 5 ballot.

Don Leonard, who is running for Ohio's 15th Congressional District as a Democrat, was cited for violating the city's noise ordinance. He was charged with obstructing official business when he refused to comply with an order from police to step toward their vehicles.

Republican staff and multiple U.S. House Democratic congressmembers questioned Les Wexner on Feb. 18, 2026 regarding his relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. A video was released on YouTube the following day.

House Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia of California and four other representatives say Les Wexner often answered their questions by saying he doesn't remember. Garcia said Wexner wasn't pleading the 5th Amendment to avoid incriminating himself.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty is not the only politician to receive money from Leslie Wexner and his wife, Abigail, over the years. Their influence touches political races from Columbus City Council to the U.S. presidency.

The U.S. House Oversight Committee will depose Ohio billionaire Les Wexner next week in Ohio, rather than in Washington D.C. as ordered by a congressional subpoena issued in January.

E. Gordon Gee went to bat for Les Wexner, who he calls a friend and a wonderful philanthropist. Gee's time as president overlapped with Wexner's time as chair of the Ohio State University's Board of Trustees.

A subpoena issued to Les Wexner sets his deposition date for Feb. 18. Wexner's legal representative said in a statement the Ohio billionaire will cooperate fully with any governmental inquiry into Epstein.

Mike Carey, Troy Balderson, Jim Jordan and Dave Taylor have continually ignored or declined interview requests. A prominent political scientist and Democrat Joyce Beatty say it's likely intentional as the government shutdown nears one month.

Labor groups for construction workers, nurses, and public school and local government employees say the budget law will only benefit the rich while hurting working families and potentially closing rural hospitals.