Elizabeth Kirtley

Elizabeth Kirtley writes horror, fantasy and poetry, working as a freelance writer in New Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband, Rodger.¹ Her mother was a parochial school principal and her father was a program director at HARCATUS, the community action agency.¹

She graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1991 and Kent State University in 1996.¹ Her jobs have included teaching preschool, serving as communications vice president for a web company in Buffalo, and nine years at Job & Family Services.¹ She says seeing poverty through that work helped persuade her to enter politics.¹

Her 2026 congressional bid is her first campaign for public office.¹ On primary night, she attended a rival candidate's watch party in Sugarcreek, expecting to congratulate him and ask for a job; instead, she won the Democratic nomination herself.¹

Kirtley supports universal health care and federal protection of abortion rights.² She says the abortion decision belongs with a woman, her doctor and her God.² She also supports the Equal Rights Amendment.¹ She also calls for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that due process and constitutional freedoms must be protected.² Her site proposes legislation reserving the label "news" for outlets providing factual information.² Her November opponent is Republican incumbent Michael Rulli.³