Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio-12)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 16, 1962
RESIDENCE: Zanesville, Ohio
OCCUPATION: Lawmaker
EDUCATION: Attended Muskingum College and Ohio State University
FAMILY: One son
Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) is returning to Congress after winning his rematch against Democratic opponent Danny O’Connor. Balderson first defeated O’Connor by fewer than 2,000 votes in August in a race that attracted national attention. President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE had won the district by 11 points in 2016 and Republicans had held the seat for more than three decades, but Balderson found himself in a hotly contested special election fight to replace former Rep. Pat TiberiPatrick (Pat) Joseph TiberiOhio New Members 2019 Many authors of GOP tax law will not be returning to Congress GOP Rep. Balderson holds onto seat in Ohio MORE, who resigned in January to head the Ohio Business Roundtable.
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Balderson has long been involved in local politics prior to his House election. He served one term in the Ohio House of Representatives before being elected to the state Senate in 2011.
Before running for public office, the southeast Ohio native owned a farm in Adamsville, Ohio, and worked for his family’s car dealership.
Rep.-elect Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio-16)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 18, 1984
RESIDENCE: Rocky River, Ohio
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., Ohio State University; M.B.A., Stanford University
FAMILY: Wife, Elizabeth; one son
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Anthony Gonzalez was a star on the gridiron, rising to fame as a wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes before going on to play for five years on the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Now he’s heading to Washington after winning the open-seat race for Ohio’s 16th Congressional District. Gonzalez defeated Democrat Susan Moran Palmer to replace Rep. Jim RenacciJames (Jim) B. RenacciOhio is suddenly a 2020 battleground Democrats fear Ohio slipping further away in 2020 Medicare for All won’t deliver what Democrats promise MORE (R), who held the seat since 2011. Renacci ran instead for Senate.
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In his campaign, Gonzalez focused on ways to improve the economy in the manufacturing-heavy northeast Ohio district. He defeated two other candidates in the GOP primary before going on to victory in the general.
The son of Cuban exiles, Gonzalez retired from the NFL in 2012 and got a business degree from Stanford University. He went on to work as an executive at education technology company Chalk Schools.
Gonzalez had the support of prominent Republicans, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyHouse Republicans hopeful about bipartisan path forward on police reform legislation Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names McConnell: States should make decision on Confederate statues MORE (Calif.), as well as former teammate Peyton Manning.