Tony Turner, an Air Force veteran and Democrat, officially entered the race this week, setting his sights on unseating Mike Turner, the 11-term congressman who filed his reelection paperwork earlier this month. Though unrelated, Tony Turner’s bid underscores growing Democratic energy around challenging one of Ohio’s most entrenched GOP incumbents.
Adding to the field, nurse practitioner and Air Force veteran Kristina Knickerbocker, 34, of Yellow Springs, announced her campaign Tuesday. Knickerbocker said she is running to bring “fresh perspectives” to Congress and to advocate for affordable health care, veterans’ services, and working families in the Dayton region.
Knickerbocker and Tony Turner will compete in the May 5 Democratic primary, which already includes Manuel Foggie, a Cincinnati resident who filed his petition in December. Despite living outside the district, Foggie remains officially in the race for the Democratic nomination.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Mike Turner in the Nov. 3 general election. Turner, a strong advocate for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and a key voice on national security issues, has represented the Dayton-area district since 2003. He currently serves as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
Ohio’s 10th Congressional District covers all of Montgomery and Greene counties and, following last year’s redistricting, now includes northeast Butler County, encompassing the city of Middletown. The district, anchored by Dayton and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, has leaned Republican in recent elections, but Democrats hope a competitive primary could signal renewed momentum heading into November.
With veterans, seasoned politicians, and first-time candidates now in the mix, the 2026 race is shaping up as a defining test of voter sentiment in southwest Ohio.