# Ohio's 3rd congressional district

Ohio's 3rd congressional district is located entirely in Franklin County and includes most of the city of Columbus. The current district lines were drawn in 2022, following the redistricting based on the 2020 census. It is currently represented by Democrat Joyce Beatty.
It was one of several districts challenged in a 2018 lawsuit seeking to overturn Ohio's congressional map due to alleged unconstitutional gerrymandering. According to the lawsuit, the 3rd was "shaped like a snowflake" that was designed to "fracture" Columbus. The plaintiffs focused on the 3rd in part because the 2013-2023 version of the district was barely contiguous. In some portions, it was almost, but not quite, split in two by the neighboring 12th and 15th districts which split the rest of Columbus between them.
The 2013-2023 map, drawn in private by Republican lawmakers in a Columbus hotel room, drew most of the heavily Democratic portions of Columbus into the 3rd, with much of the rest of Columbus split into the more Republican 12th and 15th districts. An alternative plan was to split Columbus between four districts, creating 13 safe Republican seats. In May 2019, the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati deemed the map unconstitutional, as intentionally drawn to keep Republicans in power and disenfranchise Democratic voters. The U.S. Supreme Court discarded the district court ruling in October 2019.
In 2018, Ohio voters approved a ballot measure known as Issue 1, which grants the minority party oversight on redistricting, requiring 50 percent minority party approval for district maps. The process would only take place after the 2020 census and presidential election.
For most of the time from 1887 to 2003, the 3rd was a Dayton-based district; much of that territory is now the 10th district.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 65% - 34% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 66% - 34% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 67% - 28% |
| 2016 | Senate | Strickland 57% - 39% |
| 2018 | Senate | Brown 74% - 26% |
| 2018 | Governor | Cordray 69% - 29% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Dettelbach 67% - 33% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 71% - 27% |
| 2022 | Senate | Ryan 72% - 28% |
| 2022 | Governor | Whaley 63% - 37% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Clark 64% - 35% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Schertzer 66% - 34% |
| 2022 | Auditor | Sappington 66% - 34% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Crossman 65% - 35% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 70% - 29% |
| 2024 | Senate | Brown 71% - 26% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:
Franklin County (20)
    Bexley, Blendon Township, Columbus (part; also 4th, 12th, and 15th; shared with Delaware and Fairfield counties), Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Jefferson Township, Marble Cliff, Mifflin Township, Minerva Park, New Albany (part; also 12th; shared with Licking County), Perry Township, Plain Township, Riverlea, Reynoldsburg (part; also 12th; shared with Licking County), Sharon Township, Truro Township, Upper Arlington, Westerville (part; also 4th; shared with Delaware County), Whitehall, Worthington

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Year(s) | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1813 |||||
| Duncan McArthur (Chillicothe) | Federalist | March 4, 1813 – April 5, 1813 | 13th | Elected in 1812. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 5, 1813 – May 4, 1813 | 13th | |
| William Creighton Jr. (Chillicothe) | Democratic-Republican | May 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817 | 13th 14th | Elected May 10, 1813 to finish McArthur's term and seated June 15, 1813. Re-elected in 1814. Retired. |
| Levi Barber (Point Harmar) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819 | 15th | Elected in 1816. Lost re-election. |
| Henry Brush (Chillicothe) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821 | 16th | Elected in 1818. Lost re-election. |
| Levi Barber (Point Harmar) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 | 17th | Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 7th district and lost re-election. |
| William McLean (Piqua) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Retired. |
| William McLean (Piqua) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 | 18th 19th 20th | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Retired. |
| Joseph Halsey Crane (Dayton) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1837 | 21st 22nd 23rd 24th | Elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1832. Re-elected in 1834. [data missing] |
| Patrick Gaines Goode (Sidney) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | 25th 26th 27th | Elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. [data missing] |
| Robert C. Schenck (Dayton) | Whig | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1851 | 28th 29th 30th 31st | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. [data missing] |
| Hiram Bell (Greenville) | Whig | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | Elected in 1850. [data missing] |
| Lewis D. Campbell (Hamilton) | Whig | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Lost contested election. |
| Lewis D. Campbell (Hamilton) | Opposition | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Lost contested election. |
| Lewis D. Campbell (Hamilton) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – May 25, 1858 | 35th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Lost contested election. |
| Clement Vallandigham (Dayton) | Democratic | May 25, 1858 – March 3, 1863 | 35th 36th 37th | Won contested election. Re-elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. [data missing] |
| Robert C. Schenck (Dayton) | Republican | March 4, 1863 – January 5, 1871 | 38th 39th 40th 41st | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Resigned to become Minister to Great Britain. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 5, 1871 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | |
| Lewis D. Campbell (Hamilton) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. [data missing] |
| John Quincy Smith (Oakland) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. [data missing] |
| John S. Savage (Wilmington) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected in 1874. [data missing] |
| Mills Gardner (Washington Court House) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected in 1876. [data missing] |
| John A. McMahon (Dayton) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1878. [data missing] |
| Henry Lee Morey (Hamilton) | Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. [data missing] |
| Robert Maynard Murray (Piqua) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. [data missing] |
| James E. Campbell (Hamilton) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1884. Redistricted to the 7th district. |
| Elihu S. Williams (Troy) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data missing] |
| George W. Houk (Dayton) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – February 9, 1894 | 52nd 53rd | Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 9, 1894 – May 21, 1894 | 53rd | |
| Paul J. Sorg (Middletown) | Democratic | May 21, 1894 – March 3, 1897 | 53rd 54th | Elected to finish Houk's term. Re-elected in 1894. [data missing] |
| John Lewis Brenner (Dayton) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1901 | 55th 56th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. [data missing] |
| Robert M. Nevin (Dayton) | Republican | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1907 | 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. [data missing] |
| J. Eugene Harding (Excello) | Republican | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | 60th | Elected in 1906. [data missing] |
| James M. Cox (Dayton) | Democratic | March 4, 1909 – January 12, 1913 | 61st 62nd | Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Resigned when elected Governor of Ohio. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 12, 1913 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | |
| Warren Gard (Hamilton) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1921 | 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Retired. |
| Roy G. Fitzgerald (Dayton) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1931 | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Lost re-election. |
| Byron B. Harlan (Dayton) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1939 | 72nd 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Lost re-election. |
| Harry N. Routzohn (Dayton) | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 | 76th | Elected in 1938. Lost re-election. |
| Greg J. Holbrock (Hamilton) | Democratic | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | 77th | Elected in 1940. Lost re-election. |
| Harry P. Jeffrey (Dayton) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 | 78th | Elected in 1942. Lost re-election. |
| Edward J. Gardner (Hamilton) | Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | 79th | Elected in 1944. Lost re-election. |
| Raymond H. Burke (Hamilton) | Republican | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | 80th | Elected in 1946. Lost re-election. |
| Edward G. Breen (Dayton) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – October 1, 1951 | 81st 82nd | Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Resigned due to ill health. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 1, 1951 – November 6, 1951 | 82nd | |
| Paul F. Schenck (Dayton) | Republican | November 6, 1951 – January 3, 1965 | 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected to finish Breen's term. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Lost re-election. |
| Rodney M. Love (Dayton) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | 89th | Elected in 1964. Lost re-election. |
| Charles W. Whalen Jr. (Dayton) | Republican | January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1979 | 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired. |
| Tony P. Hall (Dayton) | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – September 9, 2002 | 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Resigned when appointed Ambassador to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 9, 2002 – January 3, 2003 | 107th | |
| Mike Turner (Dayton) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 10th district. |
| Joyce Beatty (Columbus) | Democratic | January 3, 2013 – present | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Recent election results

The following chart shows historic election results. Bold type indicates victor. Italic type indicates incumbent.
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Other |
| 1920 | William G. Pickrel: 59,214 | Roy G. Fitzgerald: 59,214 | Clarence M. Gauger: 6,441 |
| 1922 | Warren Gard: 46,127 | Roy G. Fitzgerald: 52,111 | Joseph Woodward (S): 2,280 |
| 1924 | John P. Rogers: 43,426 | Roy G. Fitzgerald: 73,513 | Joseph Woodward (S): 1,021 |
| 1926 | T. A. McCann: 33,253 | Roy G. Fitzgerald | |
| 1928 | Frank L. Humphrey: 55,767 | Roy G. Fitzgerald: 101,050 | |
| 1930 | Byron B. Harlan: 62,107 | Roy G. Fitzgerald: 60,249 | |
| 1932 | Byron B. Harlan: 85,069 | Edith McClure Patterson: 66,107 | Jere F. Mincher (S): 4,178 |
| 1934 | Byron B. Harlan: 67,695 | Howard F. Heald: 56,480 | Jere F. Mincher (S): 1,293 Walter Jones (C): 724 |
| 1936 | Byron B. Harlan: 101,115 | Robert N. Brumbaugh: 70,023 | Leonidas E. Speer: 9,886 |
| 1938 | Byron B. Harlan: 58,139 | Harry N. Routzohn: 73,534 | |
| 1940 | Greg J. Holbrock: 103,291 | Harry N. Routzohn: 93,002 | |
| 1942 | Greg J. Holbrock: 48,338 | Harry P. Jeffrey: 51,477 | |
| 1944 | Edward J. Gardner: 104,247 | Harry P. Jeffrey: 94,064 | |
| 1946 | Edward J. Gardner: 65,749 | Raymond H. Burke: 71,171 | |
| 1948 | Edward G. Breen: 110,204 | Raymond H. Burke: 79,162 | |
| 1950 | Edward G. Breen: 92,840 | Paul F. Schenck: 77,634 | |
| 1951* | | Paul F. Schenck | |
| 1952 | Thomas B. Talbot: 107,551 | Paul F. Schenck*: 112,325 | |
| 1954 | Thomas B. Talbot: 74,585 | Paul F. Schenck: 82,701 | |
| 1956 | R. William Patterson: 93,782 | Paul F. Schenck: 135,152 | |
| 1958 | Thomas B. Talbot: 93,401 | Paul F. Schenck: 102,806 | |
| 1960 | R. William Patterson: 102,237 | Paul F. Schenck: 167,117 | |
| 1962 | Martin A. Evers: 85,573 | Paul F. Schenck: 113,584 | |
| 1964 | Rodney M. Love: 129,469 | Paul F. Schenck: 119,400 | |
| 1966 | Rodney M. Love: 53,658 | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 62,471 | |
| 1968 | Paul Tipps: 32,012 | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 114,549 | |
| 1970 | Dempsey A. Kerr: 26,735 | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 86,973 | Russell G. Butcke (AI): 3,545 |
| 1972 | John W. Lelak Jr.: 34,819 | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 111,253 | |
| 1974 | | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 82,159 | |
| 1976 | Leonard E. Stubbs Jr.: 33,873 | Charles W. Whalen, Jr.: 100,871 | Wilmer M. Hurst: 5,758 John R. Austin: 4,872 |
| 1978 | Tony P. Hall: 62,849 | Dudley P. Kircher: 51,833 | Alfred R. Deptula: 2,122 |
| 1980 | Tony P. Hall: 95,558 | Albert H. Sealy: 66,698 | Richard L. Righter: 2,903 Robert E. Tharpe: 1,710 |
| 1982 | Tony P. Hall: 119,926 | | Kathryn E. Brown (L): 16,828 |
| 1984 | Tony P. Hall: 151,398 | | |
| 1986 | Tony P. Hall: 98,311 | Ron Crutcher: 35,167 | |
| 1988 | Tony P. Hall: 141,953 | Ron Crutcher: 42,664 | |
| 1990 | Tony P. Hall: 116,797 | | |
| 1992 | Tony P. Hall: 146,072 | Peter W. Davis: 98,733 | |
| 1994 | Tony P. Hall: 105,342 | David A. Westbrock: 72,314 | |
| 1996 | Tony P. Hall: 144,583 | David A. Westbrock: 75,732 | Dorothy H. Mackey (N): 13,905 |
| 1998 | Tony P. Hall: 114,198 | John S. Shondel: 50,544 | |
| 2000 | Tony P. Hall: 177,731 | | Regina Burch (N): 36,516 |
| 2002 | Rick Carne: 78,307 | Mike Turner: 111,630 | Ronald Williamitis: 14 |
| 2004 | Jane Mitakides: 116,082 | Mike Turner: 192,150 | |
| 2006 | Rick Chema: 86,389 | Mike Turner: 121,885 | |
| 2008 | Jane Mitakides: 115,976 | Mike Turner: 200,204 | |
| 2010 | Joe Roberts : 71,455 | Mike Turner: 152,629 | |
| 2012 | Joyce Beatty : 201,921 | Chris Long : 77,903 | Richard Ehrbar III (L) : 9,462 Jeff Brown (WI) : 264 Bob Fitrakis (G) : 6,388 |
| 2014 | Joyce Beatty : 91,769 | John Adams: 51,475 | Ralph A. Applegate: 17 |
| 2016 | Joyce Beatty : 199,791 | John Adams: 91,560 | |
| 2018 | Joyce Beatty : 181,575 | Kim Burgess: 65,040 | Millie Millam: 62 |
| 2020 | Joyce Beatty : 227,420 | Mark Richardson: 93,569 | |
| 2022 | Joyce Beatty: 182,324 | Lee Stahley: 76,455 | |
| 2024 | Joyce Beatty: 243,991 | Michael Young: 97,389 | |

### 1951 special election

*In 1951, after Breen's resignation for ill health, Schenck was elected in a special election to complete Breen's term.

### 2002

In 2002, when then-U.S. Rep. Tony P. Hall decided to accept an appointment as a U.N. ambassador, Richard Alan Carne took his place as the Democratic nominee for the congressional seat. Carne lost the race to former Dayton mayor Michael R. Turner.

### 2006 election

On August 13, 2006, Democratic candidate Stephanie Studebaker— who was the party's nominee to run against the incumbent Republican— was arrested, alongside her husband, on charges of domestic violence. Two days later, she withdrew from the race, leaving the Ohio Democratic Party without a candidate in the district. A special primary election to select a new Democratic candidate was held on 15 September 2006. Richard Chema won that election with nearly 75% of the vote, but lost to Republican Michael R. Turner in the general election.

### 2010

Ohio's 3rd Congressional District election (2010) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Turner* | 152,629 | 68.11 |
| | Democratic | Joe Roberts | 71,455 | 31.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 224,084 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty | 201,897 | 68.3 |
| | Republican | Chris Long | 77,901 | 26.3 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Ehrbar | 9,462 | 3.2 |
| | Green | Bob Fitrakis | 6,387 | 2.2 |
| | Independent | Jeff Brown (write-in) | 5 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 295,652 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2014

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 91,769 | 64.1 |
| | Republican | John Adams | 51,475 | 35.9 |
| | Independent | Ralph A. Applegate (write-in) | 17 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,261 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 199,791 | 68.6 |
| | Republican | John Adams | 91,560 | 31.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 291,351 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 181,575 | 73.6 |
| | Republican | Jim Burgess | 65,040 | 26.4 |
| | Independent | Millie Milam (write-in) | 62 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 246,677 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 227,420 | 70.8 |
| | Republican | Mark Richardson | 93,569 | 29.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 103 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 321,092 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 182,324 | 70.5 |
| | Republican | Lee Stahley | 76,455 | 29.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 18 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 258,797 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2024) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joyce Beatty (incumbent) | 243,991 | 71.5 |
| | Republican | Michael Young | 97,389 | 28.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 341,380 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |