FOSTORIA — Brian A. Shaver, the president of Fostoria City Council, won a four-way Democratic primary Tuesday for Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, earning the right to challenge 10-term Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Latta in November.

Shaver received 11,848 votes, or 28.68% of the 41,318 Democratic ballots cast across the district, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State.

Martin M. Heberling III finished second with 10,662 votes (25.80%), followed by Daniel John Burket with 10,089 votes (24.42%) and Scott E. Tabor with 8,719 votes (21.10%).

“I’m truly humbled and honored to be the Democratic nominee for Ohio’s 5th District. Thank you to every voter who put their trust in me,” Shaver said in a post-election statement. “There’s real work ahead as we move toward victory over Bob Latta on November 3. Let’s come together to bring new leadership to D.C. and ensure the people of this district have a representative who works for them.”

Who is Brian Shaver?

Shaver, 48, teaches social studies at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School and lives on a small family farm in Fostoria with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Genevieve, according to his campaign website. He has served on Fostoria City Council since 2019 and is the council’s current president.

During the primary, Shaver campaigned on congressional accountability, campaign finance reform, term limits and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress.

“I have to leave my personal views and religious views at the schoolhouse door,” Shaver told Richland Source in an April interview. “That positions me really well to serve all the people of this district.”

Shaver also argued the redrawn district gives Democrats their best opening in decades. “This is probably the best positioning for a Democrat to win the congressional district in about 70 years,” he said.

The road to November

Latta, of Bowling Green, has represented the 5th District since 2007 and is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was unopposed in the Republican primary after challengers Erica Kelley and Robert Owsiak Jr. did not appear on the ballot, according to Ballotpedia.

The 5th District covers all or part of nine northern Ohio counties — Crawford, Hancock, Huron, Lorain, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot — and includes Fostoria, Tiffin, Findlay, Bowling Green, Norwalk and Elyria. The Cook Political Report rates the district solidly Republican.

Independent candidate Dalton Franklin will also appear on the November 3 general election ballot, per Ballotpedia.

In 2024, Latta defeated Democrat Keith Mundy with about 67% of the vote.