Ohio 14th District Voter Guide: Joyce and Jukic on Health Care, Jobs and Wages
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in Ohio's 14th Congressional District: Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of Bainbridge Township, who has held the seat since 2013, and Democrat Maria Jukic of Euclid, an attorney and former Euclid City Council member. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care, jobs and wages.
The district covers all or part of Geauga, Lake, Trumbull, Portage, Mahoning and Ashtabula counties, stretching along Lake Erie and the Pennsylvania border, WOIO 19 News reported. Joyce won re-election in 2024 with 63.4 percent of the vote.
Both candidates came through contested primaries in May. Joyce defeated former Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko with 70.3 percent of the Republican vote, the Tribune Chronicle reported. Jukic won the Democratic primary with 50.8 percent over former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill and restaurateur Carl Setzer, according to the official results as compiled by Wikipedia.
Why Health Care, Jobs and Wages Are Issues in Ohio's 14th District
The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Republican in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Wikipedia's ratings table lists Inside Elections at Solid Republican (as of Oct. 31, 2025) and Sabato's Crystal Ball at Safe Republican (as of April 10, 2025). The Digital Free Press found no public polling of the race as of Oct. 28.
On health care, the TDFP video says Joyce "supports a market-based patient-centered system with choices made by patients and doctors," and has backed legislation to address nursing shortages and to temporarily extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. It says Jukic "supports universal health coverage, expanded Medicare and lower prescription drug costs," and wants to "reduce medical debt and break up monopolies that limit access and keep prices high."
On jobs and wages, the video says Joyce "wants less red tape, fiscally responsible policies to reduce inflation and stronger opportunities for small businesses," and supports "job training that gives workers career-ready skills." It says Jukic "wants a higher federal minimum wage and stronger overtime protections," along with expanded retraining for workers displaced by artificial intelligence and workforce transition funds from companies investing in automation.
Dave Joyce (Republican, Incumbent)
Joyce, 69, earned his bachelor's and law degrees at the University of Dayton and worked as a public defender before he was elected Geauga County prosecutor in 1988, WOIO reported. In Congress he serves on the House Appropriations Committee and has chaired its Financial Services and General Government subcommittee.
On health care, Joyce's House website says: "Every American, regardless of age or whether they have a pre-existing condition, should have access to quality, affordable healthcare." It adds that "the best way to achieve that is to provide Americans with a patient-centered healthcare system in which patients and doctors can make decisions without interference from the federal government."
On Jan. 8, 2026, Joyce was one of 17 Republicans who joined Democrats to pass a three-year extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which passed the House 230-196, the American Hospital Association reported. In a statement, Joyce said a clean extension "is not the solution to a deeply flawed system," but that he "supported this legislation to make clear that Congress cannot ignore the consequences of the credits' expiration and to force a real conversation about responsible, short-term relief paired with meaningful reforms." In May 2025, Joyce introduced the bipartisan Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would renew federal nursing education programs; his office said, "As the husband of a nurse, their dedication continues to inspire" his work on the issue.
On jobs, Joyce's House website says his focus is "reducing inflation by supporting fiscally responsible policies, cutting red tape, spurring economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and supporting jobs-training programs to give workers career-ready skills." Asked by The News-Herald about his priorities, Joyce listed "building our economy, cutting taxes and putting more money in the pockets of working families" and "promoting the skilled trades," and said he is "consistently rated one of the most bipartisan members of Congress."
Maria Jukic (Democrat)
Jukic, 57, served on Euclid City Council from 2020 to 2023 and worked 24 years in health care administration at Cleveland Clinic, she told The News-Herald. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame, a law degree from Cleveland State University and a master's degree from John Carroll University.
On health care, Jukic listed her plans to The News-Herald as: "Lower the Medicare Eligibility Age," "Break Up Healthcare Monopolies," "Take on Pharmaceutical Pricing," "Expand Access in Healthcare Deserts," "Address the Medical Debt Crisis" and "The Long Road: Universal Coverage."
On wages, Jukic's campaign site calls for her to "raise the federal minimum wage and protect overtime pay, so the workers falling furthest behind finally get a raise that outpaces inflation." On artificial intelligence and jobs, she told The News-Herald she would back "expanded job retraining programs, portable benefits that follow workers between jobs, and requirements that companies investing in AI automation contribute to workforce transition funds." She also lists expanding the Child Tax Credit, capping child care costs and making "utilities and data centers pay their fair share."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Dave Joyce: @RepDaveJoyce on X (official); his campaign lists @DaveJoyceOH14. Maria Jukic: mariajukicforcongress.com and facebook.com/mariajukicforcongress.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Ohio voters can check their registration and district at voteohio.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: WOIO 19 News (Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/10/27/republican-incumbent-dave-joyce-faces-democrat-maria-jukic-ohios-14th-congressional-race/ ; The News-Herald, Dave Joyce candidate questionnaire (Oct. 9, 2026): https://www.news-herald.com/2026/10/09/dave-joyce-candidate-for-district-14-u-s-house-of-representatives-november-2026/ ; The News-Herald, Maria Jukic candidate questionnaire (Oct. 9, 2026): https://www.news-herald.com/2026/10/09/maria-jukic-candidate-for-district-14-u-s-house-of-representatives-november-2026/ ; Tribune Chronicle: https://www.tribtoday.com/opinion/editorials/2026/10/retain-dave-joyce-in-14th-district/ ; Cook Political Report, House ratings (Oct. 23, 2026): https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in Ohio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Ohio ; Rep. Joyce, health care: https://joyce.house.gov/resources/health-care ; Rep. Joyce, statement on ACA tax credits (Jan. 8, 2026): https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-releases-statement-on-vote-to-extend-aca-advanced-premium-tax-credits ; Rep. Joyce, economy and jobs: https://joyce.house.gov/resources/economy-and-jobs ; American Hospital Association (Jan. 9, 2026): https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2026-01-09-house-passes-bill-extending-enhanced-premium-tax-credits ; Rep. Joyce, nursing workforce bill (May 27, 2025): https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-introduces-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-improve-nursing-education-workforce-development-programs ; Maria Jukic for Congress, cost of living: https://www.mariajukicforcongress.com/cost-of-living/ ; Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.voteohio.gov/
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