Republican state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley spent the second half of 2025 building their campaign accounts for reelection bids in November.

State Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, who will run unopposed unless an independent files, raised the second most and spent the most money during the second half of 2025 among the Valley’s legislators.

Santucci raised $139,890.60 in the second half of 2025 with $62,315.67 coming from PACs. The largest PAC contribution of $16,615.67 came from GOPAC of Arlington, Virginia, which trains and coaches who they consider to be state and local Republican leaders.

Santucci also received $16,615.67 from Regina M. Mitchell, co-owner of Warren Fabricating and Machining Corp.

Santucci spent $243,382.89 — more than he received in contributions — during the second half of the year. The largest expense was $200,000 to the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee (OHROC), which is the House Republican campaign arm. He was the only legislator representing the Valley to spend more than he received during the second half of 2025.

But because Santucci had a large carryover, he reported $116,197.42 in his campaign fund as of Dec. 31.

Santucci’s 64th House District includes portions of Trumbull County.

State Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, raised $211,520 between July 1 and Dec. 31, the most among any state legislator representing the Valley and spent $19,393.31 during those six months.

He received $72,965 from political action committees as well as $10,000 contributions from both Wilheim Ronald of Cincinnati, president of the Long Care Division of the Communicare Family of Companies, and Thomas Ivany of Canfield, CEO of On Demand Occupational Medicine.

Cutrona had $275,319.63 in his fund as of Dec. 31, which includes carryover from previous campaigns.

Cutrona represents the 33rd Ohio Senate District, which includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.

Democrat Michael L. Kripchak of Youngstown filed to challenge Cutrona in the general election. Kripchak filed a designation of treasurer on Jan. 13 with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.

State Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Canfield, raised $78,915.34 during the second half of 2025 with $42,075 coming from PACs.

Fischer spent $41,945.22 during the final six months of last year, giving $25,000 to OHROC.

Fischer had $100,576.97 in his campaign fund as of Dec. 31.

Wayne J. Penny of Canfield filed as a Democrat to challenge Fischer in the November general election.

Fischer represents the 59th House District that includes parts of Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

State Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, reported raising $62,104.92 in the second half of 2025 with $38,500 coming from PACs.

Thomas spent $41,727 between July 1 and Dec. 31 with $25,000 going to OHROC.

With carryover, Thomas had $58,483.81 in his campaign fund as of Dec. 31.

Thomas represents the 65th House District, which includes parts of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.

Democrat Lorna J. Westlake of Austinburg filed to challenge Thomas in the general election.

State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, reported raising $21,425 in the second half of 2025 with $12,500 coming from PACs.

She spent $4,799.52 in the final six months of the year.

McNally represents the 58th House District, which includes portions of Mahoning County.

McNally isn’t running for another term in the House, filing as the lone Democrat for the open Mahoning County commissioner seat.

On Jan. 31, McNally terminated her Ohio House campaign fund and transferred the $36,295.81 she had in it to her county commissioner campaign.

Three Democrats – John Boccieri of Poland, Basia Adamczak of Youngstown and Jordan Pegues of Austintown – filed by Wednesday’s deadline to succeed McNally. Heather Fronk of Poland filed as a Republican.

None of them reported raising any money for their campaigns as of Dec. 31 though Boccieri and Adamczak have since filed declarations of treasurer.

State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, reported raising $58,900 in the second half of 2025 with $20,550 coming from PACs.

She received $16,600 from Brian Colleran of Chagrin Falls, owner of Foundation Health Solutions, and $15,000 from Patrick Preston of Newbury, owner of Preston Superstore car dealership.

O’Brien spent $33,365.78 in the second half of the year with $10,000 going to the Ohio Republican Senate Campaign Committee, the Republican Senate’s fundraising committee, and $15,000 to the campaign of Republican Frank Hoagland, a former state senator who is running for an Ohio House seat.

O’Brien represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and most of Geauga County.

O’Brien’s term ends Dec. 31, 2028. She cannot run for reelection in 2028 under the state’s term-limits law.