Don Leonard, the Democratic nominee for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, is at the centre of a contentious campaign. In a March appearance on the Hilliard Beacon Podcast he said he would lie to voters about his socialist views if it helped him win, adding that even if he were a socialist he would still deceive the electorate. He also told listeners he is not a democratic socialist, while expressing admiration for Senator Bernie Sanders.
Leonard’s academic background includes a tenure as a professor at Ohio State University. In August 2025 he released a scholarly paper arguing that the United States is backsliding because of populist leaders and urging a social‑democratic movement, citing Karl Polanyi and proposing a New Deal‑style reform agenda.
His recent political activity aligns with progressive organisations. In December he contributed $100 to the Working Families Party and praised its proposal to tax billionaires to fund universal health care, affordable child care and family leave. The Working Families Party has previously endorsed progressive figures such as Representative Summer Lee and New York City Comptroller Zohran Mamdani; Lee delivered the party’s response to former President Donald Trump’s 2022 State of the Union, advocating Medicare for All and other progressive policies. Senator Sanders has described the Working Families Party as “the closest thing there is to a political party that believes in my vision of democratic socialism”.
Leonard has also called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In March he was arrested at a “No Kings” protest for alleged violations of a noise ordinance and obstruction of official business after refusing police instructions while speaking through a megaphone, according to local media reports.
Electoral data shows the district remains competitive. The House Majority PAC reported a poll in which Leonard trails Republican Representative Mike Carey by five points. Republicans hold a slight advantage in the district, and President Joe Biden won it by less than two points in the 2020 election.