U.S. House, Ohio - 16th District
Northeast -- Canton
Race Forecast: Leans Democratic
2008: Kirk Schuring (R) vs. John Boccieri (D)
2006: Rep.
The race to succeed Regula, who’s leaving open his Canton-based district after 18 terms, pits a pair of state senators, Democrat John Boccieri and Republican Kirk Schuring, who are in a tight race. Boccieri’s background includes service in the Air Force Reserve, piloting C-130 military transport aircraft in Afghanistan and Iraq. Schuring is emphasizing his lifelong ties to the district and a pragmatic political philosophy. Democrats have attacked Schuring for voting for pay raises for Ohio legislators, though Republicans point out that he’s declined to accept the raises.
Race Information
- Incumbent: John Boccieri, D
- First Elected: 2008 (1st term)
- Last Elected: (%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Leans Democratic
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
Settled in the northeast quadrant of Ohio, the 16th features a contrast between rural areas, which make up roughly one-quarter of the district’s land, and urban Canton. The left-leaning and blue-collar city is known in historical circles as William McKinley’s home base; McKinley ran much of his 1896 presidential campaign from a front porch on North Market Street.
Canton, with a manufacturing and steel-producing history, has retained a high-skill manufacturing base despite previous industry employment declines. To overcome manufacturing job losses, the city has supported a transition to retail and service-based employment, resulting in more than 1,000 new jobs. Major employers include Aultman Hospital, Timken, which manufactures bearings, and vacuum cleaner maker Hoover.
Canton is a working-class city that votes solidly Democratic. In 2004, presidential candidate John Kerry defeated George W. Bush by a better than 2-1 ratio in the city, which also has a black population that exceeds 20 percent.
As Canton’s population continues its nearly 60-year decline — it now accounts for just one-fifth of Stark County’s population — the city’s Democratic base has become less important to the 16th’s overall political picture. Massillon and Alliance, the county’s next-most-populous cities, however, also lean Democratic.
As a whole, the 16th leans Republican primarily because of rural conservative areas west of Stark County, although northern Stark County is upper-middle-class and GOP-leaning as well. Wayne County is a top state producer of oats, hay and dairy products. The 16th also takes in most of Ashland County, which also leans conservative. While Canton’s political role has dimmed, the GOP margin in the 16th is not overwhelming. Bush only won 54 percent of the district’s vote in 2004.
Major Industry
Steel, manufacturing, health care
Cities
Canton, 80,806; Massillon, 31,325; Medina, 25,139; Wooster, 24,811
Notable
The Professional Football Hall of Fame and William McKinley’s burial site are in Canton; Jacob Coxey, whose “army” of unemployed men marched to Washington, D.C., after the Panic of 1893, was from Massillon.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 630,730
- Under 18: 26%
- Over 65: 14%
- Married: 58.8%
- Non-Hispanic White: 92%
- Black: 5%
- Hispanic: 1%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 1.8%
- Language other than English: 5.1%
- Median Household Income: 41,801
- Owner Occupied Housing: 74%
- Income above $200k: 1.6
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 54.7%
- Blue Collar: 31.1%
- Services: 14.2%
- Bachelor's Degree: 19%
- Graduate Education: 6.2%
- Civilian Veterans: 63,721
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | John Boccieri (D) | 160,894 | 55.3% |
| Kirk Schuring (R) | 130,270 | 44.7% | ||
| 2006 | general | Ralph Regula (R) | 137,167 | 58.3% |
| Thomas Shaw (D) | 97,955 | 41.7% | ||
| 2004 | general | Ralph Regula (R) | 202,544 | 66.6% |
| Jeff Seemann (D) | 101,817 | 33.4% | ||
| 2002 | general | Ralph Regula (R) | 129,734 | 68.9% |
| Jim Rice (D) | 58,644 | 31.1% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 46% | George W. Bush: 54% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 44% | George W. Bush: 56% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILLER, MATT (R) | November 30, 2008 | $121,074.00 | $122,889.00 | $119,985.00 | $2,584.00 | ||
| SCHURING, KIRK (R) | November 24, 2008 | $1,225,958.00 | $1,197,624.00 | $58,250.00 | $982,161.00 | $28,330.00 | $69,704.00 |
| REGULA, RALPH (R) | September 30, 2008 | $102,398.00 | $100,346.00 | $65,373.00 | $108,588.00 | ||
| LAUVER, NED W (D) | January 31, 2007 | ||||||
| TODD, MICHAEL (D) | March 31, 2007 | $25.00 | $6,850.00 | ||||
| BOCCIERI, JOHN A (D) | November 24, 2008 | $1,789,593.00 | $1,693,074.00 | $162,799.00 | $880,394.00 | $96,519.00 | |
| SCHIFFER, PAUL R (R) | February 13, 2008 | $13,400.00 | $10,054.00 | $6,900.00 | $3,345.00 | $6,500.00 | |
