Former two-time candidate for U.S. Congress Brandon Lape announced on Monday that he is exploring a run for Ohio House District 98 in 2024. State Representative Darrell Kick (R-Loudonville), who is currently in that seat, will not be able to run again because of term limits which, in theory, would create an open seat, but new districts will have to be drawn again.
Lape, from Loudonville, ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Ohio’s 7th Congressional District against Incumbent Bob Gibbs (R-OH-07) and Democrat Quentin Potter in the November 2020 General Election. He lost to Gibbs and gained 3.3 percent of the vote.
After redistricting, Lape ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Ohio’s 12th Congressional District against Incumbent Troy Balderson (R-OH-12) in the May 2022 Republican primary. He lost to Balderson and gained 17.7 percent of the vote.
The 98th district currently consists of Holmes, Coshocton, and the Eastern Half of Knox Counties. The western half of Knox County is part of District 61 represented by State Representative Beth Lear (R-Galena).
According to Lape, he will use the exploration period to gather future volunteer support, visit with Republican Affiliate leaders and members at local events, and raise campaign funds. The official launch date for his campaign is dependent on this exploration.
Lape is the second local candidate to launch an exploratory campaign for this district. Longtime Ohio conservative Republican leader Scott Pullins announced last week that he is also exploring a run for Ohio House District 98 in 2024.
According to Lape, he “understands there is another local candidate exploring a run and looks forward to yet another competitive campaign cycle.”
Lape claims that his “years of experience listening to constituents, garnering support, and campaigning has yielded results that show he has what it takes to win.”
Lape’s career experience includes working for over ten years in Information Technology starting out in a retail sales position at a cellular store, then moving into healthcare, and eventually moving into manufacturing.
He attended the University of Akron-Wayne College and the University of Phoenix.
Lape claims that his background will help “understand and troubleshoot the future technological and logistical issues Ohio will face as it grows into a technological and industrial powerhouse.”
Lape told The Ohio Star that state lawmakers must make Ohio self-sufficient so it’s protected regardless of what the Federal Government does.
“We must work to make Ohio so self-sufficient that it doesn’t matter what the Federal Government does; Ohioans will stand strong and protected,” Lape told The Star.
According to Lape, he is a supporter of smaller Government, less spending, and protecting every citizen’s rights.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Brandon Lape” by Brandon Lape for Congress. Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by General Ization. CC BY 3.0.
