Vanessa Enoch seeks Ohio 8th District seat

Vanessa Enoch, a Democrat, is running for Ohio's 8th Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Enoch faces Republican Warren Davidson, according to BallotReady election data. She has been certified for the ballot. Enoch has been the Democratic nominee for the 8th District in multiple election cycles, according to WVXU.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic
Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio 8th Congressional District
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, The Ohio State University (1992); master of business administration in information technology, Xavier University (1999); doctorate in public policy and social change, Union Institute & University (2017)

Experience and public service

Enoch's professional background spans journalism, business and higher education, according to her BallotReady profile and campaign materials.

Her journalism work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, focusing on criminal justice, government accountability and community impact, Enoch said in her WVXU candidate response. She has served as chief executive officer at Cultural Impact LLC since 1999 and at Vision Works Inc. since 2003, according to BallotReady. She worked as a senior IT project manager at Paul May & Associates from 2013 to 2014.

In higher education, Enoch served as dean of students and department chair at American National University from 2005 to 2013 and as assistant professor at American InterContinental University from 2004 to 2012, according to BallotReady. Earlier in her career, she worked as a customer service coordinator and training manager at GE Capital from 1999 to 2001.

Enoch describes herself as a community builder leading initiatives that address food insecurity, workforce readiness and sustainable development, according to her WVXU candidate response.

On the issues

Healthcare: Enoch said on her campaign website that no one should have to choose between medical care and basic living expenses. She said she would work to ensure every American has access to low-cost, quality healthcare, including prescription drugs. She supports empowering Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices, capping out-of-pocket costs and funding community clinics.

Education: Enoch said on her campaign website she opposes diverting public education funding to private schools. "We cannot afford to leave the majority of our nation's children behind for the sake of individuals who can choose to access choice private educational opportunities," Enoch said. She said she would promote quality public education, vocational training and higher education.

Gun policy: Enoch said on her campaign website that she supports the Second Amendment and responsible gun ownership. She also said she supports safe storage practices, stronger enforcement against illegal gun trafficking and thorough background checks. She backs Ethan's Law, which promotes safe firearm storage to help prevent accidental shootings, youth suicides and unauthorized access to guns by children.

Jobs and the economy: Enoch said on her campaign website that the district needs employment opportunities in high-demand fields and access to training and education for workers. She supports raising wages, ensuring predictable hours, investing in apprenticeship and training programs, expanding child care and transportation options, and supporting small businesses and innovation.

Criminal justice: Enoch said on her campaign website her priority would be eliminating the profit motive in mass incarceration. She said taxes continue to rise to cover the cost of incarcerating low-level drug offenders while government bureaucrats, attorneys and private prison owners get richer.