David Fournier

Democratic nominee for the open Ohio House District 44 — the one competitive statehouse seat in the Toledo area.

Key facts

• An attorney from Whitehouse, in the Lucas County exurbs; running his first campaign for the Ohio House.
• HD-44 is open — Republican Josh Williams vacated it to run for OH-9. Fournier faces Republican Edward Schimmel.
• The district's mix of Democratic Toledo and redder Wood/Ottawa exurbs makes it the county's lone swing seat.

Connections

• The Democratic bid to hold competitive ground in an otherwise safe-Democratic county. Part of Toledo 2026 Elections.

Sources

• Lucas County, Ohio elections, 2026 (candidate roster) — Ballotpedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Lucas County BOE ballot lookup (authoritative once certified) — Lucas County Board of Elections (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals — Ballotpedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Kaptur set for rematch with Merrin — Roll Call (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Democratic attorney joins race for Ohio House District 44 — Toledo Blade (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Paula Hicks-Hudson — Ballotpedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• Earned-income levy for Maumee schools on November ballot — Toledo Blade (retrieved 2026-07-06)
• TPS approves Transformation 2.0 plan, schools to close — 13abc (retrieved 2026-07-06)