Kishman Seeks Second Term in Ohio House 50th
Republican incumbent Matthew W. Kishman faces Democrat Rylan Z. Finzer in the November 3, 2026 race for Ohio's 50th House District.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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State Representative Matthew W. Kishman, a Republican from Minerva, is seeking re-election to the Ohio House 50th District. He faces Democrat Rylan Z. Finzer, a senior living activities assistant from Massillon, in the election on November 3, 2026.
Why it matters
The race will determine who represents nine Stark County townships in the state House for the next term. Kishman was first elected in 2024, and the outcome will shape the district's voice in Columbus for Ohio residents across the state.
Kishman, 42, and Finzer, 32, are the two candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot, with polls closing at 7:30 p.m. The two-year House term paid about $63,000 in 2025, and polling and fundraising data for the race were not reported.
The players
Matthew W. Kishman
Kishman is a Republican State Representative from Minerva who manages Kishman's IGA Markets and was first elected to the Ohio House in 2024.
Rylan Z. Finzer
Finzer is a Democrat from Massillon who works as a senior living activities assistant and previously ran unsuccessfully for local and state office.
The details
Kishman, who manages Kishman's IGA Markets, was elected to the Ohio House in 2024 and is running for a second term. Finzer previously lost bids for the Perry Township Board of Trustees and the Ohio House 6th District seat.
Timeline
- 2024: Kishman elected to his first term in the Ohio House.
- 2025: The two-year House term paid about $63,000.
- November 3, 2026: Election between Kishman and Finzer; polls close at 7:30 p.m.
Political Context
This race is a re-election test for Kishman, who won the 50th District seat in 2024 and now faces his first challenge as incumbent. Finzer's prior unsuccessful bids for local and state office frame the contest as a challenger seeking to win a seat for the first time.
Voters in the nine Stark County townships in the 50th District will choose their state representative on November 3, 2026. The winner will hold a two-year House term that paid about $63,000 in 2025.
The takeaway
The November 3, 2026 contest will decide whether Kishman keeps the Ohio House 50th District seat he won in 2024 or whether Finzer wins office. Voters in the district's nine Stark County townships will make that choice at the polls.
What happens next
The general election for the Ohio House 50th District takes place on November 3, 2026, with polls closing at 7:30 p.m.
Further reading
For more on how state House seats are contested, see Elections coverage across Ohio.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Canton Repository.
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