Ohio 3rd District Voter Guide: Beatty and Dulaney on Health Care and Jobs
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in Ohio's 3rd Congressional District: Democratic U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Columbus, in Congress since 2013, and Republican Cleophus Dulaney, a Columbus business owner. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care and jobs.
The district lies entirely within Franklin County and takes in much of Columbus, along with Bexley, Whitehall and part of Reynoldsburg, according to Wikipedia. Beatty won re-election in 2024 with about 71 percent of the vote. The Franklin County Board of Elections' official candidate list shows only Beatty and Dulaney on the ballot for the seat.
Why Health Care and Jobs Are Issues in Ohio's 3rd District
The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Democratic in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Wikipedia's ratings table lists Inside Elections at Solid Democratic (as of Oct. 31, 2025) and Sabato's Crystal Ball at Safe Democratic (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 Beatty "supports protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, plus a Medicare-type public option for people who want it," along with "federal investment in medical research and new treatments." It says Dulaney "would lower prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate directly" and "wants to take on pharmaceutical middlemen that drive up costs."
On jobs, the video says Beatty "backs a $15 federal minimum wage and stronger collective bargaining rights," and that Dulaney "supports infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy jobs," along with apprenticeships, "less unnecessary red tape, and affordable capital to help small businesses grow and hire."
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, Incumbent)
Beatty has represented the 3rd District since 2013.
On health care, Beatty's House website says: "I will continue to work to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, while moving toward a 'Medicare-For-All-Who-Want-It' program which would give Americans the option to access a Medicare-type system in lieu of private insurance." It says she will keep "supporting federal investment in groundbreaking medical research, life-saving therapies, and innovative technologies," and lists her as a member of the Medicare for All Caucus. A stroke survivor, she co-chairs the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, according to her office.
On jobs, Beatty's website says she will "advocate for legislation that stimulates economic growth while ensuring that all workers' rights, including the right to unionize, are protected and celebrated." It says she supports the Raise the Wage Act "to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour" and lists her as a sponsor of the PRO Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act "to strengthen collective bargaining rights."
Cleophus Dulaney (Republican)
Dulaney, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, is a Columbus business owner and single father raising three daughters, according to his campaign. He ran against Beatty as a Republican in 2020, WSYX reported.
In February 2024, Dulaney was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and other offenses connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, WCMH and WSYX reported, citing federal court records. The case was later dismissed; he was not convicted.
On health care, Dulaney's campaign site says: "In Congress, I will push to lower prescription drug prices by letting Medicare negotiate directly and by taking on the pharmaceutical middlemen that drive up costs." He adds: "No family in central Ohio should have to choose between paying for medicine and paying for heat." In an Oct. 16 post on his campaign site, he said that if elected he "would not allow for a foreigner to take over our health care" jobs that American citizens could fill.
On jobs, Dulaney's site says: "I will support investment in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy jobs—so we are building things here again, with Ohio workers, in Ohio communities." He says he will "back apprenticeship and training programs so a four-year degree is one option, not the only ticket to a decent life," and will champion small businesses "by cutting red tape that doesn't make us safer and expanding access to affordable capital so they can grow and hire." His campaign also lists affordable housing, property tax relief and home improvement grants as priorities.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Joyce Beatty: @RepBeatty on X. Cleophus Dulaney: votedulaney.org.
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: Rep. Beatty, health care: https://beatty.house.gov/issues/healthcare ; Rep. Beatty, jobs and the economy: https://beatty.house.gov/issues/jobs-and-the-economy ; Dulaney for Congress: https://www.votedulaney.org/ ; Dulaney for Congress, news: https://www.votedulaney.org/news ; WSYX (Feb. 23, 2024): https://cwcolumbus.com/news/local/former-columbus-congressional-candidate-cleophus-dulaney-charged-capitol-riot ; WCMH (Feb. 23, 2024): https://news.yahoo.com/former-congressional-candidate-columbus-arrested-212717860.html ; 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 ; Franklin County Board of Elections: https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/ ; Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.voteohio.gov/
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