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Perhaps no candidate in the 2026 Northeastern Ohio election cycle made the strides that former Euclid City Council member Maria Jukic did from her pre-primary decision to enter the 14th District congressional race until now, days before the Nov. 3 election.
Jukic walloped two Democratic challengers -- including the more well-known former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill -- in the May primary. Jukic collected 50.7% (25,119 votes) to O'Neill's 35.8% (17,726). Carl Metzer was a distant third with 13.4% (6,651).
Jukic's "reward" is a general election showdown against Republican incumbent Dave Joyce of Bainbridge Township, who is running for his eighth two-year term in Congress.
That will be a difficult task, given Joyce's history in the 14th, his popularity, considerable campaign funds and name recognition.
Joyce is coming off a GOP primary rout of former Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko. Joyce won that race with 70.3% (49,119 votes) to Frenchko's 29.7% (20,744).
Like a lot of Republicans these days, Joyce has had to deal with a growing dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump, even in his own comfortably red district. But he didn't try to distance himself from the administration during an endorsement interview with the Tribune Chronicle editorial board.
In fact, he praised Trump's decision to go to war against Iran, saying the president did what some of his predecessors couldn't or wouldn't do.
"I appreciate the fact that President Trump finally took the task of Iran," Joyce said. "They’ve been the state sponsor of terror for 47 years. Too many of our kids came home disfigured or in body bags around the world because of their playing in different hot spots and creating tension throughout the world. And I just think that somebody needed to stand up and do it."
But the veteran representative isn't enamored with the way the administration has conducted the war -- especially in explaining the endeavor at home.
"I just wish he’d be more straight with the American people on what the timeline is and what we’re doing and lay out a plan," Joyce said.
Ending the war also is important to Jukic, who seems to have done considerable homework on various issues between the days leading up to the primary and now. In April, she didn't hesitate to tell us that she needed more information about some subjects in order to offer informed answers.
This time, she didn't hold back.
Jukic hopes the war's end will lower oil prices and eventually bring cost-of-living relief to Americans, especially in the 14th District. She feels Congress today as a whole is less concerned about the lives of everyday people than any time in recent memory.
She criticized Joyce for siding with Trump "90-plus%" on policies that she said have hurt everyday Americans.
"I think we need to reorient our priorities," Jukic said. "So, is the priority that people have an opportunity to work and to contribute to society and to take care of their families and to live a good life and to aspire to a better life ... and a life of dignity?
"Or is it more important for the tech bros and the tech companies and the billionaires to create robots that do all the jobs for people, to make all the decisions for people, to reorganize banking for people."
Jukic, who spent 24 years working for the Cleveland Clinic, said she decided to enter the congressional race after the shooting death of Renee Good during a confrontation with border patrol agents in Minnesota in January.
Joyce, a former prosecutor, has ascended to the House Appropriations Committee during his 14 years in Washington. His spot on that critical committee -- which is responsible for directing trillions of dollars to various districts across the country -- cannot be understated.
Joyce's important role is among the reasons we're endorsing him for another two-year term. Also among them is his district's recent foray into Mahoning County.
"It’s been a great opportunity [and] an honor of a lifetime to represent this area now for the last 14 years and, you know, really starting to get into the Valley itself now that I’ve got parts of Mahoning County and all of Trumbull," Joyce said. "But the beauty of it is I just think this area is so ripe for growth.
"We’ve got the housing stock, we’ve got the manufacturing ability, we’ve got the wherewithal with energy, and you need an airport, and that’s an important part of it.
"I think all those things combined together make it one of the best places as we restore manufacturing for it to move into the Mahoning Valley, and I’m honored to keep fighting for it."
Joyce also mentioned 12 bills he helped get out of committee and passed over to the Senate. He said if he wins on Nov. 3, his goal will be to help get those measures through the Senate and into law.
Joyce said those bills include $25 million in projects directly related to the Mahoning Valley.
SCRIPTURE
And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror's] unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:4 AMP