Dennis Kucinich

Dennis J. Kucinich

Independent

Candidate, U.S. House Ohio District 7

Prior offices

Cleveland City Council

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Mayor of Cleveland

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Ohio State Senate

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U.S. House Ohio District 10

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Report an officeholder change

Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $384,502

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Case Western Reserve University, 1973

Graduate

Case Western Reserve University, 1974

Personal

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign YouTube

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Dennis J. Kucinich (independent) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Ohio's 7th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Kucinich (Democratic Party) was a member of the U.S. House, representing Ohio's 10th Congressional District.

Kucinich was the campaign manager for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s (D) 2024 presidential campaign. He resigned from the position on October 13, 2023.

Kucinich ran for election for Mayor of Cleveland in Ohio. He lost in the primary on September 14, 2021.

Kucinich was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and served from 1997 to 2013. Due to redistricting, Kucinich faced Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) and Graham Veysey (D) for the Democratic nomination in Ohio's 9th District. Kaptur defeated Kucinich in the primary. In 2018, Kucinich was a candidate for Governor of Ohio. He lost in the Democratic primary.

Before his election to the U.S. House, Kucinich was a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1995 to 1997 and Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, from 1977 to 1979. Kucinich also served on the Cleveland City Council from 1969 to 1973 and, later, from 1983 to 1985.

Biography

Kucinich was born on October 8, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a bachelor's and master's degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1973 and 1974, respectively. He worked in marketing and as a professor before his election to the U.S. House in 1996. While in the House, Kucinich ran for U.S. President in 2004 and 2008. As of August 2021, Kucinich was promoting his book, The Division of Light and Power, detailing his term as mayor in the 1970s. In 2023, Kucinich served as campaign manager for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s (D) 2024 presidential campaign from July to October 2023.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign, 2024

Key staff members

See also: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign, 2024

The table below shows a partial list of national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager, senior advisors, political directors, communications directors, field directors, and the national press secretary. They are presented alongside their positions in the campaign, their most recent positions prior to the campaign, and their Twitter handles. To recommend additions, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

See also: Presidential election campaign managers and key staffers, 2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign national staff, 2024
Staff	Position	Prior experience	Twitter handle
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy	Campaign manager	Co-campaign manager, 2024 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign	@amaryllisfox
Charles Eisenstein	Senior advisor	Author	@ceisenstein
Link Lauren	Senior advisor	TikTok influencer	@itslinklauren
John E. Sullivan	Campaign treasurer	Attorney	N/A
Del Bigtree	Communications director	Executive director, Informed Consent Action Network	@delbigtree
Stefanie Spear	Press secretary	Founder and CEO, Stellar Consulting	@StefanieSpear

Media

Interviews and profiles

• NBC News, "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. names Dennis Kucinich as 2024 campaign manager" (May 18, 2023)
• Cleveland.com, "Ex-Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich to manage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign" (May 18, 2023)

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2011-2012

Kucinich served on the following committees:

• Education and the Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
  • Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
• Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending Ranking Member

Issues

Endorsements

Carl Sciortino

See also: Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District special election, 2013

Kuchinich endorsed Carl Sciortino in the special election in Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District on October 9, 2013.

“The people of this district have a real opportunity to elect not just a worthy successor to Sen. (Edward) Markey but someone who’s been tested in the Massachusetts legislature on a wide range of social and economic issues, which resonate at a national level,” Kucinich said in his endorsement.

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Kucinich voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.

Political positions

Recent votes in Congress

The website OpenCongress tracks each representative's Congressional votes. Dennis Kucinich's most recent votes can be found here.

Public statement fact checking

The website PolitiFact fact checks statements made by and about each representative. Dennis Kucinich's profile can be found here.

Elections

2024

See also: Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2024

Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Incumbent Max Miller, Matthew Diemer, and Dennis J. Kucinich are running in the general election for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Max Miller (R)
		Matthew Diemer (D)
		Dennis J. Kucinich (Independent)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Matthew Diemer defeated Doug Bugie in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Diemer	82.5	20,533
		Doug Bugie	17.5	4,343

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	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 24,876
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Incumbent Max Miller advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Max Miller	100.0	61,452

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 61,452
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

===2021===

See also: Mayoral election in Cleveland, Ohio (2021)

General election

General election for Mayor of Cleveland

Justin Bibb defeated Kevin Kelley in the general election for Mayor of Cleveland on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Bibb (Nonpartisan)	63.0	36,880
		Kevin Kelley (Nonpartisan)	37.0	21,696

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,576
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Cleveland

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Cleveland on September 14, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Bibb (Nonpartisan)	27.2	10,901
✔		Kevin Kelley (Nonpartisan)	19.2	7,702
		Dennis J. Kucinich (Nonpartisan)	16.5	6,595
		Zack Reed (Nonpartisan)	12.1	4,840
		Basheer Jones (Nonpartisan)	12.0	4,801
		Sandra Williams (Nonpartisan)	11.4	4,572
		Ross DiBello (Nonpartisan)	1.6	639

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,050
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Landry Simmons Jr. (Nonpartisan)

2018

See also: Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

See also: Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Ohio on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Michael DeWine (R)	50.4	2,231,917
		Richard Cordray (D)	46.7	2,067,847
		Travis Irvine (L)	1.8	79,985
		Constance Gadell-Newton (G)	1.1	49,475
		Renea Turner (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	185
		Richard Duncan (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	132
		Rebecca Ayres (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	41

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,429,582 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Collin Hill (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cordray	62.2	428,159
		Dennis J. Kucinich	23.0	158,284
		Joseph Schiavoni	9.2	63,131
		William O'Neill	3.3	22,667
		Paul Ray	1.4	9,536
		Larry Ealy	1.0	7,011

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 688,788
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Connie Pillich (D)
• Jonathan Heavey (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Ohio

Richard Michael DeWine defeated Mary Taylor in the Republican primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Michael DeWine	59.8	499,639
		Mary Taylor	40.2	335,328

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 834,967
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jim Renacci (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Ohio

Constance Gadell-Newton advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Constance Gadell-Newton	100.0	3,031

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 3,031
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2012

See also: Ohio's 9th Congressional District elections, 2012

Due to redistricting, Kucinich ran in the 2012 election for Ohio's 9th Congressional District. Kucinich lost to fellow incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur in the Democratic Party primary on March 6, 2012.

U.S. House, Ohio's 9th Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Marcy Kaptur Incumbent	56.2%	42,902
Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent	40%	30,564
Graham Vesysey	3.8%	2,900
Total Votes		76,366

Previous elections

To view the full congressional electoral history for Dennis Kucinich, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Peter J. Corrigan and Jeff Goggins in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 53.1% 101,343      Republican Peter J. Corrigan 43.9% 83,809      Libertarian Jeff Goggins 3.1% 5,874 Total Votes 191,026 2008 On November 4, 2008, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Jim Trakas and Paul Conroy in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 57% 157,268      Republican Jim Trakas 39.1% 107,918      Libertarian Paul Conroy 3.9% 10,623 Total Votes 275,809 2006 On November 7, 2006, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Michael D. Dovilla in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 66.4% 138,393      Republican Michael D. Dovilla 33.6% 69,996 Total Votes 208,389 2004 On November 2, 2004, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Edward Fitzpatrick Herman and Barbara Anne Ferris in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 60% 172,406      Republican Michael D. Dovilla 33.6% 96,463      Independent Barbara Anne Ferris 6.4% 18,343 Total Votes 287,212 2002 On November 5, 2002, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Jon A. Heben and Judy Locy in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 74.1% 129,997      Republican Jon A. Heben 23.8% 41,778      Independent Judy Locy 2.1% 3,761 Total Votes 175,536 2000 On November 7, 2000, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Bill Smith and Ron Petrie in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 75% 167,063      Republican Bill Smith 22% 48,930      Libertarian Ron Petrie 3% 6,762 Total Votes 222,755 1998 On November 3, 1998, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Joe Slovenec in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 1998 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 66.8% 110,552      Republican Joe Slovenec 33.2% 55,015 Total Votes 165,567 1996 On November 5, 1996, Kucinich won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Martin R. Hoke and Robert B. Iverson in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Congressional District 10 Election, 1996 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich Incumbent 49.1% 110,723      Republican Martin R. Hoke 46.3% 104,546      Independent Robert B. Iverson 4.6% 10,415 Total Votes 225,684

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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2021

Dennis J. Kucinich did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Kucinich's campaign website stated the following:

“	Justice Cleveland, year after year, tops the lists for crime and lack of public safety when compared to hundreds of cities across the country. It's time to enforce the laws of the city and to fundamentally reform the practices of law to ensure safe streets and civil rights work hand in hand. Utilities Public power and other city utilities are a fundamental part of Dennis' belief in ownership of public utilities and fair pricing of communal resources. It's time for Cleveland's public utilities to be run efficiently and effectively. Ensuring that power and water is a basic human right in a modern society. Economy Cleveland has a chance for an economic boom not seen in years. With the city slated to receive $511 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan over the next two years, it will take proven leadership and vision to properly allocate these funds to bring Cleveland not only back from the damages caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic but into an age of equal & equitable economic growth. Health Cleveland residents have some of the worst health outcomes in not just Ohio, but the entire country. The next mayor must make it a priority to deliver better adult and child health outcomes for the citizens of Cleveland. This will be done by establishing health practices and standards that will ensure a healthier city and citizens. Education Cleveland's educational budget is one of the highest in the state. Yet, its student's educational outcomes have decreased over the years. It is vital to properly allocate these funds to fundamentally meet the educational needs of our children in schools. While also stressing the importance of teachers having the right to policy making power over how the School Boards are run. Housing Cleveland's current housing stock must be protected and residents allowed to have affordable housing available. We must also endeavor to protect the rights of renters and tenants in our city. It's vital to capitalize and expand on the renewed interest in Cleveland and work to continue bringing in people to not just visit this city but to build lives in this city. Green City Cleveland is known as the Green City on a Blue Lake and also known as The Forest City. It is our fundamental duty to ensure our city is a leader in environmentally friendly practices. This involves properly running our recycling program, instituting more green landscapes, community gardens, and pollen corridors. These initiatives will regenerate our city and make an eco urban center for all to live and grow. Transit Cleveland needs to be transformed into a walkable and bicyclist friendly city. However, we must also ensure that those who rely on public transit must have access to frequent and reliable transportation that is safe, clean, and affordable. Our public buses and rails must be modern and environmentally friendly to ensure a public transportation system that is to the benefit of all.	”
—Dennis Kucinich's campaign website (2021)

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys

Dennis J. Kucinich participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 8, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Dennis J. Kucinich's responses follow below.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“

1) Creating jobs and stimulating economic development are critical and focusing on our crumbling infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, will be a first step in creating jobs and improving Ohio's business climate. 2) Providing affordable health care for all (including mental and dental health care, and addiction treatment). 3) Equality and justice issues, including education, criminal justice and prison reform, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial and economic justice.

”

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“

Having co-authored H.R. 676 (the Medicare for All bill) while in Congress, healthcare - including prescription, mental, and dental coverage for all, has been something I have been working toward for many years. When we are able to provide care for those in need, it will be transformative to our society in so many areas - addiction, criminal justice, education, school safety, jobs. We will work with all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to provide every Ohioan with access to affordable, basic medical, mental health, dental, and prescription drug care. We will advocate for a new emphasis on regenerative health care, disease prevention, diet and complementary therapies. We will address drug addiction as a health crisis, rather than a criminal justice matter. We will increase access to health care by reversing the trend of closing community hospitals, reopening closed hospitals, and building new health facilities in rural areas. Our plan will reduce the health care burden on business and industry. It will save businesses and families money, create a healthier workforce, and protect families from economic ruin when illness strikes. My running mate and I are the only candidates in the Ohio governor's race standing with the #VoteForOurLives movement and demanding that we take bold action to #BanAssaultWeapons. We are encouraging all Ohioans to lobby their local city council to introduce and pass a model resolution we have drafted that demands that the state legislature outlaw the sale of semi-automatic rifles. I have been a long-time advocate for peace, and we must reclaim our sense of peace in our public spaces and schools. Upon election, I will reorganize the Ohio Department of Health into a Department of Health and Non-Violence. We must recognize that domestic violence, spousal abuse, violence in the schools, gang violence, gun violence, racial violence, violence against LGBTQ+ persons and police and community clashes over misuse of power reflect a society that is afflicted with deep conflicts that take a great toll on individuals, families and society. While in Congress, I proposed a bill, H.R. 808, to create a U.S. Department of Peace and Non-Violence to promote peace-keeping and conflict-resolution approaches to head off wars and other military entanglements and to bring a new perspective to addressing violence domestically. Ohio's water is a critical and limited resource, and must be protected. That's why I have proposed a ban on fracking and dumping fracked waste, as well as measures to rapidly address algal blooms in our lakes. The highest priority of the state must be to protect fresh water supplies from any type of contamination. This is an economic, social and human health imperative.It is vital for Ohio to protect our water supplies to maintain our state as a desirable place to live, to raise a family, to do business, to grow food and to enjoy the outdoors. measures to rapidly address algal blooms in our lakes. The highest priority of the state must be to protect fresh water supplies from any type of contamination. This is an economic, social and human health imperative.

”

Campaign website

“	The Economy Rebuilding Ohio I have been calling for the renewal of America’s infrastructure for decades. America has been relying on an infrastructure built during the 1930s under the Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. That was the New Deal and it was good. It’s time in Ohio for a Real Deal. As Governor of Ohio I will lead the way. We will work with business, industry, labor, city leaders and community organizations to repair, rebuild and renew Ohio’s infrastructure. We will put Ohioans back to work rebuilding Ohio. We will create good paying, Davis-Bacon jobs for skilled trades. We will renew and rebuild our roads, our bridges, our water systems, our sewer systems, our parks, our recreation areas. Jobs, good wages, economic progress, business investment, Ohio will be the place to visit, to locate to, to live and to do business. Rebuilding Ohio and creating jobs means: Power to We the People. Ohio Broadband We have growing broadband monopolies which threaten the economic growth of our state and widens the digital divide. Ohio will answer the call of the 21st century. I will soon announce a plan, working with digital, utility and consumer advocates to establish a not-for-profit public utility in Ohio, a new broadband service which will dramatically reduce the cost of broadband, provide a powerful high-speed platform for business growth while establishing net neutrality. Ohio Broadband means: Power to We the People. Ohio Business Ohio will invest in infrastructure, health care, education, broadband and other areas to enable Ohio businesses to thrive. I want to create a high profit, high wage, socially productive and economically dynamic state with the help of Ohio’s business leaders and I will call on them to participate in this effort. We can no longer look to yesterday’s ideological battles as guides to our future. We must all be open to creating new alliances, new partnership, new forums, and new possibilities. I will seek out the advice of Ohio’s business leaders and America’s visionaries and leading innovators. Growing Ohio’s economy means: Power to We the People. Ohio, High Skill, High Wage and Profitable Ohio recently increased its minimum wage to $8.30. My goal will be to see the minimum wage in Ohio increased 50% to $12.50, by the end of my first term. Ohio must strive to have a high skill, high wage and profitable economy. Higher wages mean: Power to We the People. Ohio's Farmers Agriculture is the foundation of a healthy economy. Farmers are the backbone of human health and our environmental stewards. We will engage farmers in an inclusive opportunity to increase their bottom line. Ohio’s farmers will have a friend in the Governor’s office. In the coming weeks. I will announce an unprecedented plan to bring together farmers, scientists and our university talent to will enable Ohio’s farmers to profit from ecologically-friendly farming so that they can grow wholesome, nutritious, healthy food which will strengthen Ohio’s position as a leading agricultural export state. Regenerative agriculture is the path to carbon sequestration and restoration of our global climate. Regenerative agricultural practices will mean that farmers can reduce expenditures on agricultural input, help boost soil health, reduce exposure to chemicals, limit damaging nutrient runoff into the lake, improving our ability to provide clean drinking water. Ohio’s farmers will be compensated for being on the front lines of climate mitigation. We will also explore removing barriers to growing industrial hemp. Prosperous farmers mean: Power to We the People. Ohio Consumer Protection In 1972, I was instrumental in creating the Cleveland Office of Consumer Affairs, which still exists today. While the federal Administration moves to gut consumer protection, we will restore it in Ohio. Under my leadership the state will create the Ohio Office of Consumer Protection, an accessible, transparent and statutorily independent “one stop shop” to protect the financial interests of Ohio consumers and legitimate businesses alike. Ohio Consumer Protection means: Power to We the People. Health Care Ohio Health Care. In this campaign I will convene all parties to bring forward a comprehensive plan, to provide every Ohioan with access to affordable, low-cost, basic medical, mental health, dental, and prescription drug care, with a new emphasis on regenerative health care, disease prevention, diet and complementary therapies. We must address drug addiction as a health crisis, rather than simply a criminal justice matter. My plan will reduce the health care burden of business and industry. It will save businesses money, create a healthier work force and protect families from economic ruin when illness strikes. We will reverse the process of closing of community hospitals, reopen closed hospitals and build new health facilities in rural areas. Health Care for All means: Power to We the People. Education and the Arts Ohio Student Loans The default rate for students ten years ago was about 40%. Then students were borrowing only one-third of what they are borrowing today, when the default rate approaches 50%. Perhaps as many as 800,000 young Ohioans are facing default on their student loans. Ohio is one of the most expensive states from where a student can receive a college education. Ohio currently ranks the 16th highest in college student loan debt. We will develop an innovative program to help young Ohioans get out from under the mountain of debt in which many are buried. Protecting the financial future of young Ohioans means: Power to We the people. Ohio Elementary and Secondary Education Public education is in a state of continual financial crisis. The state legislature has not kept its responsibility to establish and to finance a thorough and efficient system of public education, mandated by the DeRolph court decision. Worse, Ohio public schools lose more than a billion dollars a year to charters run by for-profit operators, without local taxpayers having any say. This has resulted in cutbacks in teachers, staff, athletic programs, arts, drama, band and other important school programs. It is time for a new direction in public education where we preserve public educational funds and we enable communities to vote whether they want local tax dollars to go to charter schools that partner with our public schools. We also need to understand the underlying dissatisfaction with public schools and address these issues to restore public confidence in public education. We must determine the best practices of charters which can be applied to public education. I will soon announce a state-wide initiative, working with teachers, parents, students and educational advocates, to protect public educational funding. Saving public education means: Power to We the People. Ohio Arts Ohio is already blessed with tremendous institutions in the arts, poetry, literature, music, dance, dramatics, appreciation of diverse cultures, computer graphics and motion pictures. I intend to bring forward initiatives to enable the artists of this state to thrive, to make Ohio a center for creativity in the arts, a center for film production, a place of fun, festival and celebration. Supporting Ohio Arts means: Power to We the People. Peaceful Ohio Communities I will endeavor to bring a healing hand to this state so that we can address violence and its causes. Two months before 911, I brought to Congress landmark legislation which would teach respect and mutuality in our schools to strengthen our children to have the fortitude to successfully integrate nonviolent responses into their daily lives. Violence is not inevitable. It is a learned response. We have the economic, academic, social, medical and spiritual resources in this state to begin the transformation to a healthy, peaceful society. I will enlist the help of ministers, social workers, medical personnel and the media in beginning a dynamic, comprehensive approach to violence. Peaceful Ohio communities means: Power to We the People. Criminal Justice Ohio Criminal Justice We must break the prison-industrial complex and stop the waste of hundreds of millions of dollars to warehouse low-level violators. The wasting of taxpayers’ money for the incarceration of non-violent offenders must stop. We should be filling up our schools, not our jails. A renewed emphasis on rehabilitation and restitution is mandatory. We must offer non-violent offenders reasonable and appropriate opportunities to rejoin society, to find jobs, get an education and become full, productive citizens with the right to vote. Those who have paid their debt to society should not have to continue to pay over and over. Successful rehabilitation means: Power to We the People. Ohio Drug Policies The Cleveland VA Hospital has developed an innovative protocol for dealing with the opioid epidemic, which emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. We can learn from this program and Ohio must fund broader long-term treatment and insist that insurance companies do the same. Bringing people back from the edge of destruction from dangerous drugs means: Power to We the People. Medical Marijuana Ohio will protect its constitutional right to dispense medical marijuana. We will broaden the conversation towards decriminalization, legalization and licensing to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in increased revenues to the state, to help pay for our expanded health programs. With the help of our congressional delegation we will make necessary changes in federal policy. New drug policies mean: Power to We the People. Energy and Water Clean Ohio Water, Air and Land As governor, I will make it a priority to safeguard the purity of our water, our lakes, our rivers and streams. I will incentivize non-polluting industries, and work to have the highest air quality standards of any state. I will soon announce a program to protect the land and the water from the exploitation of fracking. Protecting the Environment means: Power to We the People. Our Lake Erie The greatest threats to Lake Erie are agricultural runoff, algae blooms, the threat of bulk removal of water and the urgent need to assure the isolation from the biosphere of nuclear waste on US and Canadian shores. Lake Erie is part of a chain of lakes constituting the largest supply of fresh water in the world. In concert with environmentalists, conservationists, and those who fish and use the lake for recreation, I will present my plan to deal with protecting and conserving the natural resource of Lake Erie. Protecting our source of drinking water means: Power to We the People. Our Clean Energy The State of Ohio will seek a new partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and our colleges and universities to create an Ohio technology incubator for the development of new energy sources and applications which will enable Ohio to take the lead in cutting edge energy technology, while furthering the emerging wind and solar industries. Clean energy means: Power to We the People. Transportation Ohio Public Transportation Public transit systems are struggling with increased fares, and cuts in service. The transit-dependent population will have a friend in the governor’s office. We will work with local communities to help stabilize public transportation budgets and ensure fares are affordable, service and route miles guaranteed, for those who rely on public transportation to get to school, work, shopping or health care. Supporting public transportation means: Power to We the People. Ohio High Speed Rail I intend to begin the most ambitious transportation network building program anywhere. It is long past time for Ohio to set a course for high speed rail which connects our cities, moves commerce, encourages tourism, saves energy, creates jobs and enables us to connect with other states. High speed rail means: Power to We the People. Ohio's Airports and Harbors Major airlines have handicapped our state’s economy by limiting routes and schedules. I intend to use the power of the governor’s office to help cities negotiate a new deal with the airlines, as a matter of top priority for Ohio businesses. Ohio will once again become a prime destination, not a stopover. Our harbors and ports are vital to Ohio commerce. There are nine ports on Lake Erie and 16 terminals along the Ohio River. Ohio is the 4th largest maritime state by tonnage moved. We will invest in our ports and harbors, rebuild them and expand their operations. Fully utilized airports and harbors means: Power to We the People. Local Government Ohio's Local Governments State government has deprived cities of anticipated revenue causing cutbacks in public health and safety. As a former councilman and Mayor, I understand the revenue needs of local communities. I intend to reverse the policy and restore the relationship between local communities and state government. Stronger local governments mean: Power to We the People. Protecting Public Ownership in Ohio As local communities have become financially stressed, they have turned to privatizing public facilities and services. I intend to put an end to privatization of public services in Ohio. Just as I saved the people of Cleveland hundreds of millions of dollars when I put my career on the line to save Muny Light years ago, so too, will we save Ohio cities and taxpayers billions through stemming and reversing the tide of privatization. Public ownership means: Power to We the People. Political Reforms Ohio Workers' Rights We must establish once and for all, as a moral and political imperative, the rights of workers. The right to join a union. The right to organize. The right to strike. The right to decent wages and benefits. The right to a safe workplace. The right to participate in the political process. The right to a secure retirement. I have upheld these rights for generations of workers. Under my leadership no outside interest would dare bring forth the contemptuously named Right-to-Work laws which aim at destroying workers organizations. It was not predatory monopolies which made America great, but the control of those forces and collective bargaining. Skilled labor can out-perform slave labor and Ohio will become a showplace to do it. Ohio workers’ rights means: Power to We the People. Public Financing of Ohio's Elections Our government is held captive by special interest groups and dark money which buys public policy with campaign contributions. I intend to lead the way to public financing of state elections. We will enable public officials to reclaim their civic souls and truly represent the people who elected them. Public financing of Ohio Elections means: Power to We the People. Ending Gerrymandering of Public Elections If anyone knows the injustice of the current redistricting system, it is the people of the former 10th congressional district, which I was proud to represent for 16 years, until internal democratic party politics sliced it up into four pieces. Today state politicians once again would deny the people any voice in the mapping of congressional districts. As Governor I will assure that redistricting is fair and equitable to all, without regard to political party. Gerrymandering robs the people of their votes, their rights, and their power. Ending Gerrymandering means: Power to We the People. Volunteer Ohio We will establish an Ohio Helps program where people from all walks of life will be able to use their skills to volunteer, to serve, to enrich their lives in giving to others, to lend a helping hand in a friendly, Ohio way. Ohio Helps will tap the extraordinary human resources of this state to match those citizens who are ready to give of themselves with those in need. Encouraging Volunteerism means: Power to We the People.	”
—Kucinich for Ohio

2012

On his 2012 campaign website, Kucinich outlined his policy platform and campaign themes. The following are selections from his platform:

• Jobs and the Economy: "We have a critical opportunity to create jobs and restore our crumbling infrastructure in the creation of a new WPA - rebuilding America's roads, bridges, water systems, sewer systems, mass transit systems, hospitals, universities, libraries and more with an eco-sustainable focus. In the WGA, Works Green Administration, government will become an engine for sustainability and environmental restoration. We can create millions of new jobs incentivizing the designing, engineering, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of millions of wind and solar micro-technologies and insulation in tens of millions of American homes, businesses and industries, reducing our utility bills, our environmental impact and our reliance on carbon and nuclear-based energy."

• War or Peace: "Dennis led the effort in challenging the Bush Administration's march toward war in Iraq and its policy of invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. He organized a strongly bipartisan effort to try to stop the unconstitutional, unwanted, expensive war of choice in Libya. Of all the Democratic and Republican attempts to end the war, Dennis’ amendment got the most votes, coming within a handful of votes from passing."

• Campaign Finance Reform: "The great challenge before us today is whether we can maintain a government of the people, by the people and for the people, or whether we will timidly accept the economic, social, and political consequences of a government of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations... To save our democracy, we must turn to the document that established it. Let us renew the Constitution by amending it, requiring public financing to redeem from the perishable fires of corporate control an imperishable government of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Dennis J. Kucinich campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Ohio District 7	Candidacy Declared general	$206,694	$93,163
Grand total			$206,694	$93,163
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Kucinich paid his congressional staff a total of $1,179,923 in 2011. Overall, Ohio ranked 30th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.

Net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Kucinich's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $251,005 to $518,000. That averages to $384,502, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2011 of $5,107,874. His average calculated net worth increased by 1047.66% from 2010.

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Kucinich's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $4,007 to $63,000. This averages out to $33,503.50 which was lower than the average net worth of Democrats in 2010 of $4,465,875.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kucinich ranked 72nd in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.

2011

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kucinich was tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives ranking 43rd in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.

Voting with party

Dennis J. Kucinich voted with the Democratic Party 89.4 percent of the time, which ranked 150 among the 192 House Democratic members as of November 2011.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Kucinich was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946. Kucinich was the oldest of seven children. He attended Catholic school for his primary and secondary education. He attended Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 1973 with a B.A. in Speech Communication and in 1974 with an M.A. in the same field. In 1977, Kucinich was elected mayor of Cleveland and served until 1979. He served as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1995-1996 and as a member of the US House from 1997 until 2013.

Kucinich has been married three times and is currently married to Elizabeth Kucinich. Prior to his present marriage, he was also married to Helen Kucinich and Sandra Lee McCarthy. He has one daughter, Jacqueline Kucinich. Jaqueline was born to Kucinich and Sandra Lee McCarthy.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Martin R. Hoke	U.S. House of Representatives - Ohio, District 10 1997–2013	Succeeded by Mike Tuner (R)
Preceded by '	Ohio State Senate 1994-1996	Succeeded by '
Preceded by '	Cleveland City Council 1970-1975, 1981-1982	Succeeded by '
Preceded by '	Mayor, City of Cleveland 1977-1979	Succeeded by '

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Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Sherrod Brown (D)

J.D. Vance (R)

Representatives

District 1

Greg Landsman (D)

District 2

Brad Wenstrup (R)

District 3

Joyce Beatty (D)

District 4

Jim Jordan (R)

District 5

Bob Latta (R)

District 6

Vacant

District 7

Max Miller (R)

District 8

Warren Davidson (R)

District 9

Marcy Kaptur (D)

District 10

Michael Turner (R)

District 11

Shontel Brown (D)

District 12

Troy Balderson (R)

District 13

Emilia Sykes (D)

District 14

David Joyce (R)

District 15

Mike Carey (R)

Republican Party (10)

Democratic Party (6)

Vacancies (1)