State Rep. Gary Click (R–Vickery) has drawn a Republican primary challenger from the right, setting up a contested race in Ohio House District 88.
Eric Watson of Tiffin is circulating campaign materials positioning himself as a more hard-line conservative alternative to the three-term incumbent, who is up for re-election in 2026.
Watson’s flyer frames his campaign as a “Battle for Truth & Freedom” and prominently cites Ephesians 6:11. His platform includes opposing what he calls “unchecked data centers” on farmland, “defending conservative Christian values,” rejecting digital IDs, ending property taxes, and “removing toxins from food.” The materials list a Truth Social address and his handle, @Watson4StateRep.
Public information about Watson remains limited. A Facebook page for his campaign identifies him as a former Republican Party committee member and notes that he attended the 2020 Congressional “Election Integrity” hearing. No campaign finance filings or detailed biographical information have yet appeared in state records.
Watson’s challenge drew early attention when former U.S. Senate candidate Mark Pukita, a favorite among Ohio’s far-right activist networks, weighed in on Facebook — writing, “I understand Gary Click really has his panties in a wad because he’s got a primary challenger, Eric Watson.” Click replied directly in the comments: “You’re funny, Markie. Not concerned at all.”
Click, a Baptist preacher and conservative lawmaker first elected in 2020, represents a reliably Republican district covering Seneca and Sandusky counties. He is known for making transgender issues a central theme of his public messaging and legislative actions, sponsoring House Bill 68, the “SAFE Act,” which bans gender-affirming care for minors and restricts transgender participation in women’s sports. He currently chairs the House Community Revitalization Committee and also sits on the Education, Children & Human Services, and Ways & Means committees.
With District 88 generally considered to be in GOP hands, the primary is typically the most consequential phase of the race.
Watson’s challenge signals dissatisfaction within segments of the party’s further-right base despite Click’s conservative record. Formal filing deadlines and early fundraising disclosures will shape how competitive the contest becomes in the coming months.
