Tracey Tackett, assistant mayor of Springfield, announced that she has qualified for Ohio’s general election ballot, officially providing voters in the state’s 4th Congressional District with an independent option this year.
In a statement emailed July 6, the campaign said election officials had certified Tackett’s petitions following what it called a “90-day grassroots effort” to collect enough signatures. During that effort, the campaign said volunteers amassed more than 4,000 signatures from voters throughout the district. Tackett’s campaign previously told Independent Political Report that she needed 2,836 valid signatures to qualify, but had set a goal of submitting at least 5,000.
“Today’s certification is a victory for every voter who believes our democracy is stronger when people have more choices,” Tackett said in the statement. “This campaign proved that ordinary citizens, working together, can accomplish extraordinary things.”
Tackett is seeking the congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican who was first elected to Congress in 2006 and is seeking another term. The district covers much of the north-central and western part of the state and has been reliably GOP for several decades.
Tackett herself also has electoral experience, having been elected to the nonpartisan Springfield City Commission in 2023 upon defeating a longtime incumbent. She was later selected by her fellow members to serve as the town’s assistant mayor through 2028.
Tackett said that, as an independent candidate seeking a spot on the ballot, she had to “first earn the opportunity to compete,” in contrast to major party candidates, who she said are placed on the ballot through their party organizations. “I believe voters—not political parties—should determine who represents them,” she added.
To that end, Tackett said her campaign engaged in “thousands of conversations” with voters in the effort to qualify, which she viewed as evidence of both voter interest in her independent bid and a show of active volunteer support. She further praised her volunteers for staffing community events on behalf of the campaign, canvassing turf, and otherwise helping with petitioning.
“This milestone belongs to every volunteer who sacrificed evenings, weekends, and time with their families to help build this campaign,” Tackett said. “It belongs to every voter who signed a petition because they believe in giving our communities another voice.”
Tackett said that her campaign is centered on a platform of strengthening local communities, returning greater resources to municipal governments, and introducing “practical, bipartisan solutions to Congress.” She also said it has but a single principle, “People Over Politics,” and that she looks forward to continuing to engage voters.
“With ballot access secured, we’re ready to take that message to every corner of Ohio’s Fourth District,” Tackett said.
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