Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey’s constituents are speaking out against Congress’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and education. 

More than a dozen people recently protested outside Carey’s Columbus office as part of the Center for Popular Democracy’s national “Care Over Cruelty” August Recess Month of Action. 

The event was also hosted by Progress Grove City, Parents United for Public Schools, and the Ohio Organizing Campaign.

“We’re here today to demand that Rep. Carey chose priorities that put people first,” said Kate Terenzi with the Center for Popular Democracy. 

“Health care, education, and food must come before tax cuts for billionaires, ICE, data centers, and another endless war. We need care over cruelty.” 

More than 100,000 Ohioans — including more than 50,000 children — have lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” made the largest cuts to food stamps in the history of the program. 

Carey voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and represents Ohio’s 15th Congressional district.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act offers momentous tax relief that will help workers, families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses live the American Dream,” Carey said in May 2025.

Carey’s office did not respond to a request for comment by the Ohio Capital Journal. 

Medicaid work requirements part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cause 356,000 Ohioans to lose their healthcare coverage and about 113,000 Ohioans have already lost their coverage after tax credits expired. 

In Ohio’s 15th district, 220,200 residents rely on Medicaid, 12% of households receive SNAP, an estimated 33,000 people could lose health coverage by 2034, and $40.4 million in special education funding is at risk, according to event organizers. 

“We are calling on him to restore funding to the critical services like Medicaid, SNAP, fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and end all funding to ICE, war, and his support to data centers,” Terenzi said. 

Ohio’s 15th district includes Madison county and parts of Franklin, Fayette, Clark, Shelby, and Miami counties. 

Susan Cavendish, a mom of four, shared how her children rely on services and therapies through Medicaid through public schools and publicly funded childcare. 

“My five-year-old son is autistic. There was a time when he was considered nonverbal … but in large part, due to the services and support he has received, he has made progress that at one time seemed unobtainable,” she said. 

“The slashing of public assistance and access to these critical services robs the opportunities, the skills, and the voices of the marginalized and underprivileged.”

As a mom of a daughter with special needs, Michelle Bolzenius has learned how to advocate for her daughter. 

“Public schools are asked to educate every child who comes through their doors,” she said. 

“That promise matters tremendously to families of children with disabilities. But we cannot expect schools to fulfill that responsibility without giving them the resources to do so.”

Cavendish’s family has seen cuts to their SNAP benefits. 

“It has become increasingly difficult to make up the differences and make sure my children are getting the nutrition they need,” she said. 

“When you cut SNAP, people do not suddenly need less food. Children do not suddenly become less hungry. The grocery bill does not suddenly become smaller as a suffering economy and rising food costs run rampant.”

Jen Belt, an organizer with Protect Grove City, had a question for Carey: At what cost?

“We hear about jobs,” she said. “We hear about economic development, we hear about winning the race for artificial intelligence, and yes, economic growth matters, jobs matter, investment matters, but Congressman Carey, our people matter too.” 

Mid-term election

Carey will face Democratic candidate Don Leonard in the November election.

Leonard defeated former Ohio state rep. Adam Miller in the Democratic primary with nearly 53% of the votes. Miller lost to Carey in the 2024 election. 

Leonard, who previously taught regional and city planning at Ohio State University, was arrested during a March “No Kings” protest and was charged with obstructing official business.

“I’m a Medicaid kid,” Leonard said in an email.

“Those programs gave me a shot at the American Dream. Why would he take that same opportunity away from kids today?”

Carey first won his congressional seat in a 2021 special election and won the 2022 and 2024 elections. 

The Cook Political Report rates Ohio’s 15th Congressional District as “Likely Republican.” 

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.

This story is republished from the Ohio Capital Journal under a Creative Commons license. View the original article.