Republican Niki Frenchko, who pulled nominating petitions for the 14th Congressional District seat as well as Trumbull County commissioner and county auditor, had paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission for a potential U.S. House bid.

The “statement of organization” form for a possible congressional run by Frenchko was filed Friday by Sarah Johnston, who is listed as the campaign treasurer and custodian of records for Frenchko’s committee, Frenchko for Ohio. Frenchko said Johnston is a Washington, D.C., based treasurer hired for her committee.

The statement with the FEC also includes an inactive website — FrenchkoforOhio.com — and First Resource Bank as the campaign’s depository bank.

Frenchko, a former county commissioner, said Monday she hasn’t yet decided what seat to seek. But she has seemingly been leaning toward a challenge to U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, a seven-term congressman with more than $3 million in his campaign fund.

Feb. 4 is the filing deadline for the May 5 primary.

Frenchko said Monday: “Over the past few months, I have received countless calls encouraging me to run for office again because our current elected officials choose not to listen to our concerns. We need leaders who will stand with President (Donald) Trump, fighting for secure borders, a more affordable economy, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. Stay tuned for my decision.”

Frenchko, who was elected in 2020 as a county commissioner, pulled nominating petitions in the 2024 Republican primary for both county commissioner seats on the ballot. She chose to seek reelection, losing the primary by 18.6% to Rick Hernandez, who went on to win the general election.

Joyce hasn’t filed yet for reelection, though he is definitely going to seek another two-year term.

Mark Zetzer of Russell, who withdrew from the 2024 Republican primary for the 14th Congressional District seat, filed to challenge Joyce in this year’s GOP primary.

Zetzer was among three Republicans to file against Joyce in the 2024 primary, but withdrew saying he wanted to let the two others challenge Joyce. Joyce got 76.7% of the vote in the Republican primary and then 63.4% in the general election.

Zetzer also ran as a Republican in 2014 in the Cleveland-based 11th Congressional District. He lost that election by 59% to Democrat Marcia Fudge. He also came in last place in 2013 in the Shaker Heights City Council election.

Democrat Bill O’Neill of Shaker Heights, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice and 11th District Court of Appeals judge, is running for the congressional seat — a position he lost in 2008 and 2010.

The 14th District’s lines are slightly changing with this year’s election because of statewide redistricting.

It is adding Canfield, Jackson, Milton, Berlin, Ellsworth, Craig Beach and a portion of Austintown in Mahoning County while changing what portion of Portage County it represents.

The district still includes all of Trumbull, Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties.

Trumbull is the district’s second most-populous county behind Lake while Mahoning, with its few communities, is the district’s least-populous county.

The district favors Republicans by 17% based on partisan statewide voting results between 2016 and 2024.

COUNTY CANDIDATES

Bazetta Township Trustee Michael J. Hovis, a Republican, filed for county commissioner.

Incumbent Commissioner Denny Malloy, a Republican serving his first term, said he is running for reelection.

Along with Frenchko, other Republicans who have taken out nominating petitions for county commissioner are Hubbard trustee Jason Tedrow and Jason Miner, Warren Township’s assistant fiscal officer.

Niles City Council President Doug Sollitto is running as a Democrat for county commissioner.

Frenchko also pulled petitions for county auditor.

County Auditor Martha Yoder, a Republican, will run for her second four-year term.

Other Republicans who’ve declared their candidacy for auditor are Stacy A. Marling, Bazetta fiscal officer and Mahoning County chief deputy auditor, and Mike Loychik, a former two-term state representative.

Also, Edward Stredney, a Niles at-large councilman, is running as a Democrat for county auditor.