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U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, faces a challenge for his congressional seat from Democrat Elizabeth Kirtley.
Rulli was first elected to the House seat in a special June 2024 election after Republican Bill Johnson resigned early to become Youngstown State University president. Rulli won the November 2024 election for a full two-year term and is seeking another two-year term in this election.
Kirtley, a freelance writer from New Philadelphia, had never run for elected office before being the unlikely winner of the Democratic primary for the seat in May ---- and admitted she was "in awe and shock" when told by a reporter she had won.
With congressional redistricting taking effect with this election, the 6th District will include most of Mahoning and Stark counties as well as all of Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison and Tuscarawas counties and portions of Wayne and Holmes counties.
The district favors Republicans 63.9% to 36.1% for Democrats based on partisan statewide voting results during the past decade.
Rulli said his biggest accomplishment during his time in Congress is getting appointed to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
"I am a member of the most powerful committee on Earth," Rulli said. "We are the purse strings."
During his time in Congress, the House passed two of Rulli's bills, which have stalled in the Senate.
One is to prohibit public schools from accepting funds or entering into contracts with the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party or individuals or entities tied to either, and the other would codify into law President Donald Trump's executive order to reestablish the National Coal Council to provide advice on the industry.
Rulli had three other bills voted out of committee that have not received consideration by the full House.
Rulli has also introduced several bills that have little to nothing to do with his congressional district.
None of those bills and resolutions have gotten out of committee, with nearly all of them not receiving a committee hearing.
But Rulli said he has legitimate reasons for introducing each bill and his primary focus is on helping the congressional district, particularly the Mahoning Valley.
Rulli said: "There's not a member of Congress that just does only things that address the area. I will give you everything I've ever had if you can show me one. There is none. So, of course, I'm going to do social things. I always put Youngstown first. But why would you ever do these cultural things? Every single member of Congress does that. That's why. I believe in them."
Rulli added: "I've introduced bills to do with Youngstown and bringing manufacturing here and creating union jobs because I'm the No. 1 creator of union jobs. All of these power plants are millions of hours of union jobs."
Kirtley said of Rulli: "He's not doing a good job for us whatsoever. He is more concerned about pleasing the president than actually pleasing his constituents."
But when asked about her priorities, Kirtley seemingly contradicted herself.
At first, she said she wanted to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and a moment later, she said: "It needs to be restructured."
When questioned, Kirtley said, "Let me rephrase. I want to abolish the way ICE is treating American citizens. I want to abolish their manner of practice."
She also seemingly didn't know that Tom Homan, the current ICE director whom she criticized, had the same job during the President Barack Obama administration. She had said the country needed to return to "that type of immigration enforcement" the nation had when Obama was president.
Kirtley proposed a subway system for Mahoning County, which she contends can receive money from corporations if people show interest in it.
Kirtley said she wants to regulate the cost of food.
Asked about her experience, Kirtley said she's been an advocate without citing examples.
"I bring knowledge of people," Kirtley said. "I like to find the common idea and go from there. If we can't get along we won't be the United States, we'll be the divided states."
Rulli said: "My opponent and I have such a contrast on almost every issue."
Rulli said in order to help stabilize the "extremely fragile" energy grid, the country needs to expand its coal production, develop more nuclear facilities and gas-generated power plants.
"If you want to throw solar and wind, I'm all in," he said. "All of the above. Without energy and power, we have nothing. We need coal more than anything. To build a gas-generated plant, the turbines alone are a five-year waiting period."
Including his time in the state Senate, Rulli has never been a member of the minority party.
That could happen if Democrats take control of the U.S. House after this election.
Rulli said: "I will work with the Democrats. I have no problem working with Democrats. I know how to work with Democrats. God forbid we lose that gavel, I will be positioned perfectly to work with them. Democrats are not evil and guess what? Trump isn't either. The Trump deranged syndrome is real."
Rulli said about 30 members of the House on both the Republican and Democratic sides are there "for every wrong reason on Earth. They're egomaniacs. They're so rambunctious and want to burn down everything because they're so full of themselves."
But Rulli said most members of Congress are problem solvers who make the government run.
Kirtley said: "A leader has to serve everyone in the district. My opponent has done very little to help us. I care about America. I care about our Constitution. I'm pro-First Amendment and pro-Second Amendment."