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State Representative, 68th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Ohio laws and the state budget in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Part of Licking County: Newark, Pataskala, Granville, Hebron and Etna, Granville, Harrison, Jersey, Newark, St. Albans and most of Union townships. Licking County's sample ballots print the Democratic candidate's name as "Mason Blakenship"; the board's candidate filing record and his campaign spell it "Blankenship".

Mason Blankenship

Democratic

Pataskala

The gist

  • Pledges legislation to protect unions and combat wage theft.
  • Opposes using public funds for EdChoice private school vouchers.
  • Supports SB 78, the Ohio Health Care Plan bill.
  • Supports protecting Medicaid expansion and mental health funding.
  • Opposes data centers that raise health or utility costs.
  • Opposes SB 1, the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.
  • Opposes HB 754's fetal death register requirements.
More about Mason
View sources (2)
  1. Pledges legislation to protect unions and combat wage theft.

    Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “I will introduce legislation to protect unions, combat wage theft, ensure fair pay and job security for Ohio workers.”
  2. Opposes using public funds for EdChoice private school vouchers.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “Ohio’s voucher program raises serious constitutional concerns about whether we are meeting our obligation to maintain a strong, fully funded public school system.”
  3. Supports SB 78, the Ohio Health Care Plan bill.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “I support SB-78 because I believe healthcare is a human right, not another chance for profit.”
  4. Supports protecting Medicaid expansion and mental health funding.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “We must start with protecting and strengthening Medicaid expansion”
  5. Opposes data centers that raise health or utility costs.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “We do not want data centers IF they are going to destroy our health, increase our electric bills, and hurt our infrastructure.”
  6. Opposes SB 1, the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “SB-1 fundamentally shifts control of our universities away from educators and into the hands of politicians.”
  7. Opposes HB 754's fetal death register requirements.

    Issues | Mason Blankenship Official Website

    Campaign website · Mason Blankenship campaign · blankenship4abetterohio.com

    “I oppose this bill because it expands government control into deeply personal medical decisions.”
Photo of Thad Claggett
Thad ClaggettOfficial portrait — Ohio House

Thad Claggett

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; civil engineer and president, Claggett & Sons, Inc. · Newark

The gist

  • Pledges to vote against tax increases.
  • Opposes abortion; supports Ohio's heartbeat law.
  • Supports state, local and parental control of education.
  • Voted for the 2025 property tax relief bills.In office
  • Voted for the Medicaid fraud prevention package (SB 315).In office
  • Voted for tougher Move Over Law penalties (HB 132).In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Thad
View sources (5)
  1. Pledges to vote against tax increases.

    Claggett for Ohio

    Campaign website · Claggett for Ohio · claggettforohio.com

    “He can be trusted to vote against tax increases in the state legislature.”
  2. Opposes abortion; supports Ohio's heartbeat law.

    Claggett for Ohio

    Campaign website · Claggett for Ohio · claggettforohio.com

    “Thad Claggett supports the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. … He can be trusted to support the Heartbeat law against liberal lawsuits.”
  3. Supports state, local and parental control of education.

    About Thad — Claggett for Ohio

    Campaign website · Claggett for Ohio · claggettforohio.com

    “Support state, local, and parental control of education”
  4. Voted for the 2025 property tax relief bills.

    Rep. Claggett Votes to Concur on Slate of Property Tax Reform Bills

    Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Nov 19, 2025 · ohiohouse.gov

    “voted to concur on Senate amendments to House Bills 129, 309, 186, and 335”
  5. Voted for the Medicaid fraud prevention package (SB 315).

    Rep. Claggett Votes in Support of Medicaid Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act

    Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Jun 15, 2026 · ohiohouse.gov

    “I was pleased to vote for SB 315, and crack down on those who abuse our Medicaid system and defraud Ohio taxpayers”
  6. Voted for tougher Move Over Law penalties (HB 132).

    Rep. Claggett Votes in Support of Philip Wigal's Law

    Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Oct 30, 2025 · ohiohouse.gov

    “voted in support of legislation strengthening Ohio’s Move Over Law”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.