Democrat Bill O’Neill, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice and 11th District Court of Appeals judge, filed his nominating petitions for the 14th Congressional District — a position he has lost twice.

O’Neill, of Chagrin Falls, joins Republican Mark Zetzer of Russell as the only candidates for the congressional district to file so far.

But U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge and a seven-term incumbent, plans to file for reelection. Joyce has more than $3 million in his campaign fund.

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.

Those wanting to run in the May 5 partisan political party deadline must file by Feb. 4 while those who seek the positions as independents have until May 4, the day before the primary, to submit nominating petitions.

O’Neill said: “Name recognition is not going to be a problem for either of us (referring to Joyce). This election is going to be about the affordability of health care. I strongly support Medicare for all and my opponent opposes it. Time for the people to have a choice.”

O’Neill has lost more general elections than he’s won, but has emerged as the Democratic candidate eight times: in three Ohio Supreme Court races, three for seats on the Warren-based 11th District Court of Appeals, and twice for the 14th Congressional District. The only Democratic primary he’s ever lost was for governor in 2018.

O’Neill lost the 1992 general election for a seat on the 11th District Court of Appeals, but then won races for the appeals district in 1996 and 2002. The appeals district’s boundaries are virtually identical to the current 14th Congressional District.

O’Neill then lost the 2004 and 2006 general elections for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court, the 2008 and 2010 general elections for the 14th Congressional District before winning a 2012 Ohio Supreme Court race.

O’Neill resigned from the Ohio Supreme Court about a year before his term was to expire to run for governor. He lost the 2018 Democratic primary to Richard Cordray.

Like his 2012 Ohio Supreme Court race, O’Neill said he won’t raise any money for his congressional bid.