John Boccieri (OH-16)

John is a native Ohioan who will be a voice of change in Washington.  He will fight for working families, veterans, livable and fair wages and free and fair trade.

After playing a season with a semi-professional baseball league and working as an aide to then state Representative Rich Cordray, John enlisted in the US Air Force.  Now Major in the Air Force Reserve, John has honorably served our country in more than 40 countries. An aircraft commander aboard the C-130 Hercules, he recently deployed in four rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.  He has served in the US military for the past 14 years. 

John was elected to the Ohio State Legislature in 2000 where he served three terms and was elected assistant minority whip.  In 2006, he was elected to the state senate.   In the legislature, John is known as an advocate for working families.  He fought to lower property taxes and for Ohio's steel industry jobs.  He sponsored a bill to assist grandparents raising their grandchildren and helped give seniors better access to prescription drugs. 

John received the Merle Shoemaker award for integrity in office by Ohio Democrats and was recognized as the Legislator of the Year by the AMVETS and East Central Ohio Education Association in 2004. He also received the 2006 Legislator of the Year award from the Ohio League of Sportsman for state conservation efforts.

John earned an academic and athletic scholarship to St. Bonaventure University in New York and while on active duty stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, he earned master’s degrees in public administration and business from Webster University in St. Louis.  John and his wife Stacey Kennedy Boccieri live in Alliance. They have four children.

John is challenging Republican state senator, Kirk Schuring, for the seat vacated by Republican Congressman Ralph Regula.  This race has been targeted by the DCCC’s Red to Blue program as it has long been controlled by Republicans.  The Washington Post's “The Fix” has rated this race in their top 10 to watch and the Rothenberg Political report says it is too close to call.   John currently enjoys a fundraising advantage over his opponent but needs your help today. 

It is Democrats like John who will help launch a greater majority in Congress that President Obama will need.  You can help him campaign by contributing now. If you live near John and would like to help you can also sign up to volunteer and we will help connect with his campaign. The stakes are too high, the time is short – get involved today.