Supreme Court Ends GOP Primary Bid for Rep. Mike Carey Challenger

Ohio's 15th Congressional District Republican primary now clear for incumbent Carey after court rulings

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office space, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and deep shadows cast across the room, creating a sense of political uncertainty and isolation.The Supreme Court's decision to remove a longstanding Republican challenger from the primary ballot raises questions about the fairness of Ohio's electoral process.Columbus Today

Samuel Ronan, a longshot challenger in Ohio's 15th Congressional District Republican primary, has been removed from the race after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up his appeal. A federal judge and appeals court previously ruled that Ronan lied about being a Republican, allowing election officials to remove him from the ballot.

Why it matters

This decision clears the path for incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Carey, who is now unopposed in the primary. Ronan had alleged the Ohio GOP rigged the primary in Carey's favor, raising questions about the state's election rules and political speech restrictions.

The details

A federal judge in Columbus ruled on April 6 that Ronan lied about being a Republican, allowing the Franklin County Board of Elections to remove him from the race. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling, and Ronan then appealed to the Supreme Court, which declined to take up the case on April 9. As a result, Carey will now face either former state Rep. Adam Miller or political newcomer Don Leonard, who are squaring off in the Democratic primary, in the general election.

  • On April 6, a federal judge ruled that Ronan lied about being a Republican, allowing his removal from the ballot.
  • On April 9, the Supreme Court declined to take up Ronan's appeal.
  • Early and mail-in absentee voting for the May 5 primary has already begun.

The players

Samuel Ronan

A longshot challenger in Ohio's 15th Congressional District Republican primary who has never held political office, previously ran as a Democrat, and publicly urged Democrats to run in GOP primaries.

Rep. Mike Carey

The incumbent Republican representative for Ohio's 15th Congressional District, who is now unopposed in the primary after Ronan's removal from the ballot.

Adam Miller

A former state representative who is running in the Democratic primary for Ohio's 15th Congressional District.

Don Leonard

A political newcomer who is running in the Democratic primary for Ohio's 15th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“This also means that in the state of Ohio the defect standard is you MUST chill your political speech to conform with the 'status quo,' lest you be accused of being a liar and a cheat.”

— Samuel Ronan

What’s next

It is too late to redo the primary ballots for May 5, as early and mail-in absentee voting has already started. Votes for Ronan will not count.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions around election rules, political speech, and the ability of challengers to participate in primary races. The Supreme Court's decision to not take up Ronan's appeal leaves questions about the state's standards for determining party affiliation and the limits on political expression during the primary process.