--- title: "Brown vs. Kirchner: 2026 Ohio’s 11th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-oh-11" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Ohio’s 11th District race: Shontel Brown (D) vs. Mike Kirchner (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 Incumbent Democratic Representative Shontel Brown faces Republican nominee Mike Kirchner in Ohio's 11th Congressional District following mid-decade redistricting in 2025. The election hinges on Brown's progressive legislative record and local constituent delivery in a heavily Democratic district centered around Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. ## Candidates - **Shontel Brown** (Democrat, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://shontelbrown.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) - **Mike Kirchner** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://mikekirchner.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Kirchner) ## Issues ### Gun policy and violence Salience: high **Shontel Brown:** Supports strict federal gun control measures Brown views gun violence as a major public health crisis impacting Northeast Ohio communities. She advocates for universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, repeal of legal immunity for gun manufacturers, and targeted community investment. - Supports universal background checks for all gun purchases and closing the Charleston Loophole. - Advocates repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to hold gun manufacturers liable. - Supports banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, 3D-printed plastic guns, and auto-conversion kits. - Proposes banning gun purchases by individuals convicted of domestic violence or hate crimes. > “In Congress, I will fight to require universal background checks for gun sales, mandate waiting periods for gun purchases, and ban assault weapons that have no place on American streets.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “In addition, I will work to hold gun manufacturers accountable for the harm their products cause and to ban high-capacity magazines that are often used in mass shootings.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “if you have been convicted of a hate crime or domestic violence, you should never be allowed to purchase a gun.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Healthcare Salience: high **Shontel Brown:** Supports universal coverage and lower drug costs Brown supports establishing a high-quality public option to lower healthcare costs and achieve universal coverage while pledging to vote for Medicare for All if brought to the floor. She focuses on authorizing Medicare drug price negotiations, expanding maternal Medicaid coverage, and addressing racial disparities in health outcomes. - Supports a public option while expressing support for Medicare for All on the House floor. - Advocates authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and eliminating drug company tax breaks. - Supports extending post-partum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year to combat maternal and infant mortality. - Authored local legislation declaring racism a public health crisis in Cuyahoga County. > “I will work with the Biden-Harris Administration to pass a high-quality public option that will lower costs, drive down prescription drug costs, and expand coverage to achieve universal health care.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “I would vote for Medicare for All if it came to the House floor.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “We should extend Medicaid coverage – which covers nearly half of all births – from 60 days to one year for new moms.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Economy and labor Salience: high **Shontel Brown:** Supports union protections and expanded safety net Brown prioritizes economic protections for working families, union empowerment, and poverty reduction. She supports the PRO Act, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 indexed to inflation, protecting SNAP benefits, and making the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent. - Introduced the Hunger Free Future Act to protect SNAP funding against proposed federal cuts. - Co-led and passed the Social Security Fairness Act to restore benefits for public workers and retirees. - Supports the PRO Act to strengthen labor union rights and worker bargaining power. - Advocates a $15 federal minimum wage indexed to inflation. - Supports making the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent and expanding paid family/medical leave. > “Shontel Brown introduced the Hunger Free Future Act to protect SNAP and stop harmful cuts that would hurt families, seniors, and children.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Campaign site](https://shontelbrown.com) > “Of course, this includes fighting to pass the PRO Act, which strengths unions and empowers workers.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “And like Secretary-designate Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, I support a path to a $15 minimum wage that indexes to inflation so it has built-in increases.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Criminal justice and public safety Salience: medium **Shontel Brown:** Supports police accountability and justice reform Brown advocates for comprehensive criminal justice reform, law enforcement misconduct accountability, and non-police emergency response options. She supports ending cash bail, eliminating private federal prisons, and funding crisis intervention programs. - Supports the George Floyd Justice for Policing Act to improve law enforcement accountability and transparency. - Champions the CAHOOTS Act to provide 911 crisis intervention alternatives to law enforcement dispatch. - Advocates banning cash bail nationwide and eliminating private federal prisons. > “I will be proud to support the George Floyd Justice for Policing Act, which increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct, improves data-collection and transparency, and eliminates discriminatory policing practices.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “I believe Ohio should follow Illinois’ lead and ban cash bail.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Infrastructure and climate Salience: medium **Shontel Brown:** Supports clean energy transition and infrastructure investment Brown supports aggressive federal climate initiatives aligned with Green New Deal goals while touting federal investments brought to Northeast Ohio. She emphasizes infrastructure modernization, replacing lead water pipes, expanding broadband, and lowering utility costs. - Supports Green New Deal principles aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and carbon-free power by 2035. - Supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade Cuyahoga County roads and replace Cleveland lead pipes. - Advocates universal high-speed broadband internet access across Northeast Ohio. - Supports the Low-Income Sewer and Water Assistance Program Act (LISWAP) to lower consumer water bills. > “I support the principles laid out in the Green New Deal and I am committed to aggressive action on climate change with net-zero emissions by 2050 and a carbon-free power sector by 2035.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) > “Shontel Brown helped pass the infrastructure law -- upgrading Cuyahoga County’s roads, replacing Cleveland’s lead pipes and creating thousands of jobs.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Campaign site](https://shontelbrown.com) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Democracy and voting rights Salience: medium **Shontel Brown:** Supports federal voting access protections Brown advocates for federal legislation to expand voting rights, reform campaign finance laws, and curb gerrymandering. She opposed House Republican election legislation, including voting against the SAVE Act. - Champions the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. - Supports overturning Citizens United and banning former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. - Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship for voting registration. > “In Congress, I will champion the For The People Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which will expand voting rights, limit gerrymandering, create new ethics rules, and reduce the role of money in politics.” > — Shontel Brown, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Shontel_Brown) **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ### Immigration and border enforcement Salience: medium **Shontel Brown:** Opposes strict Republican border enforcement bills Brown's legislative record shows consistent opposition to Republican border security and immigration enforcement legislation in the House, including votes against expanded mandatory detention and border enforcement mandates. - Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5). - Voted Nay on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2). - Voted Nay on the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 (H.R. 875). **Mike Kirchner:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/oh-11-house-election-winner) — OH-11 House Election Winner: Democrats 98.4%, Republicans 1.2% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-OH11-26) — OH-11 House winner?: Shontel Brown 98.7%, Mike Kirchner 3.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-oh-11)