U.S. House, Ohio 6th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Ohio's 6th Congressional District?
Michael Rulli has the strongest record in Ohio's 6th Congressional District. Michael Rulli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Michael Rulli's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Elizabeth Kirtley (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Elizabeth Kirtley
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 45
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Michael Rulli
On the ballot as Michael A. Rulli
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Elizabeth Kirtley
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Michael Rulli
- Mark against2026-08-07
Filed a periodic transaction report on Aug. 7, 2026 that disclosed 22 stock trades past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline, some dating to late 2024, per The Vindicator and the Canton Repository.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20035147, The Vindicator, Aug. 12, 2026, Canton Repository, Aug. 25, 2026
- On the record2025-01
Hired Mike Peppel as communications director in January 2025; Peppel had settled an Ohio attorney general lawsuit in 2023 over a charity he ran, agreeing to a $25,000 civil penalty.
Source: The Vindicator, Jan. 16, 2025
- Credit2026
Voted Yea on passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act in 2026 when Speaker Johnson voted Nay; 20 House Republicans voted Yea.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 216, 2026
- Credit2026
Voted Yea on the ROTOR Act in 2026 when Speaker Johnson voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 72, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Rulli. His Aug. 7, 2026 periodic transaction report disclosed trades dating to 2024 and 2025, 22 of them past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline per The Vindicator and the Canton Repository. Score 1 under E16.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20035147, The Vindicator, Aug. 12, 2026, Canton Repository, Aug. 25, 2026, House Committee on Ethics site search for Rulli
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. Voted Yea on the 2026 ROTOR Act and on passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act when Speaker Johnson voted Nay; 77 and 20 House Republicans voted Yea, respectively.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 72, 2026, House Clerk Roll Call 216, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. Served on a local school board, in the Ohio Senate from 2019 to 2024 and in the U.S. House since June 2024. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Rulli, House Committee on Ethics site search for Rulli
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. Has held sworn state and federal office since 2019; took his House seat June 25, 2024, after the January 2021 electoral count. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Rulli
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Described by The Vindicator as a freelance writer. No public office or documented leadership role found.
Source: The Vindicator, April 25, 2026
Michael Rulli. In the U.S. House since June 2024, seeking a second full term, after five years in the Ohio Senate; director of operations of his family's grocery business.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Rulli, GovTrack, Michael Rulli
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Publishes an issues page on immigration enforcement, voting, news media, abortion, constitutional rights and health care, stated in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, The Vindicator, April 25, 2026
Michael Rulli. Sits on the Energy and Commerce and the Education and Workforce committees and publishes priority pages on spending, the economy, energy, health care and veterans.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Answered The Vindicator's primary candidate questions and publishes an issues page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: The Vindicator, April 25, 2026, Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Elizabeth Kirtley
Michael Rulli. Offers an email newsletter, publishes priority pages and answered The Vindicator's primary candidate questions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, The Vindicator, April 25, 2026, Ballotpedia, Michael Rulli
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Lives in New Philadelphia; all of Tuscarawas County is in the district. FEC by-state totals show all $500 of itemized individual contributions from Ohio. Length of residence not established.
Sources: The Vindicator, April 25, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Michael Rulli. Born in Mahoning County, lives in Salem and served the area in the Ohio Senate. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 57 percent of itemized individual contributions from Ohio.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Rulli, WYSU, May 5, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Elizabeth Kirtley. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Rulli. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. Missed 37 of 912 roll call votes, 4.1 percent, from June 2024 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. Lists district offices in Canfield and St. Clairsville and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Elizabeth Kirtley. No public record found.
Michael Rulli. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Ohio's 6th Congressional District?
Michael Rulli has the strongest record in Ohio's 6th Congressional District. Michael Rulli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Michael Rulli's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Elizabeth Kirtley (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Ohio's 6th Congressional District in 2026?
Elizabeth Kirtley (Democratic), Michael Rulli (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Elizabeth Kirtley a good candidate for Congress?
Elizabeth Kirtley has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Michael Rulli a good candidate for Congress?
Michael Rulli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Ohio race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Ohio 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.