Air Force Veteran Aims to Flip Ohio's First District Red

Eric Conroy hopes to unseat Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman to prevent Trump's impeachment

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Eric Conroy, an Air Force veteran and former intelligence officer, is running to flip Ohio's first congressional district from Democratic to Republican control. Conroy, who is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), believes flipping this swing district is crucial to preventing the impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Conroy has accused the incumbent, Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), of being a 'leftist' who does not represent the district's moderate views.

Why it matters

The Ohio first congressional district is seen as a key battleground that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Conroy's campaign is part of a broader Republican effort to regain control of the House and protect Trump from potential impeachment proceedings.

The details

Conroy, who was born and raised in Cincinnati, is positioning himself as a moderate alternative to the incumbent Landsman. He has accused Landsman of voting with the Biden administration nearly 98% of the time, aligning more with progressive Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi. Conroy believes he has the fundraising and organizational strength to pull off the upset victory.

  • Conroy announced his campaign in early 2026.
  • The Ohio first congressional district was recently redistricted to be slightly more favorable to Republicans.

The players

Eric Conroy

An Air Force veteran and former intelligence officer who is running to represent Ohio's first congressional district.

Rep. Greg Landsman

The incumbent Democratic congressman representing Ohio's first district, who Conroy has accused of being a 'leftist' who does not represent the district's moderate views.

Sen. Bernie Moreno

The Republican senator from Ohio who has endorsed Conroy's campaign.

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What they’re saying

“We are the highest fundraising team in this race and we have the team and credentials to pull this off.”

— Eric Conroy, Congressional Candidate (Breitbart News)

“Sen. Moreno is probably the biggest, most exciting name in Ohio Republican politics.”

— Eric Conroy, Congressional Candidate (Breitbart News)

What’s next

Conroy's campaign will focus on mobilizing Republican voters in the district and contrasting his moderate positions with Landsman's more progressive voting record.

The takeaway

Conroy's campaign is part of a broader Republican strategy to regain control of the House of Representatives and protect former President Trump from potential impeachment proceedings. The Ohio first congressional district has been identified as a key battleground that could determine the balance of power in Congress.