Jerrad Christian

Jerrad Christian says the discovery that he was going to become a father changed his plans to move across the country.¹ He stayed, took a factory janitor's job and spent the next four years saving, studying and attending technical school before becoming a software engineer.¹

He grew up in rural Ohio in a household where, he recalls, his mother sometimes worried about having enough food.¹ He joined the Navy in 2002, working first as an aircraft carrier flight deck fueler and later in meteorology and oceanography.¹² After leaving the service, he taught children outdoor education and used GI Bill assistance to attend Ohio University.¹

Christian connects his Navy weather work with his support for reducing dependence on oil.¹ His current platform supports renewable energy, nuclear power, grid improvements and efficiency measures that help households lower their bills.³ He also favors expanding rural internet access and tightening requirements for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells.³

His domestic proposals include universal health coverage, a higher minimum wage and stronger collective bargaining rights.³ On housing, he supports allowing more duplexes and smaller apartment buildings, helping first buyers and limiting the influence of large institutional purchasers.³ He is the Democratic challenger to Republican Representative Troy Balderson in November.⁴