Larry Kidd Files to Challenge Incumbent Jason Stephens in District 93

Larry Kidd has formally filed to run in the Republican primary for Ohio House District 93, setting up a May 5, 2026 contest with incumbent Rep. Jason Stephens. Kidd, a Jackson-area resident who describes himself as a Southern Ohio native, opened his campaign arguing "our current representation has grown stale" and pledged to bring "unabashed, commonsense, conservative values to the Statehouse."

Kidd’s campaign identifies District 93 as covering Lawrence, Jackson, and Gallia counties and centers his pitch on job creation and small-business growth. The campaign says Kidd grew his current business from two employees to 400 and that his company now works across Ohio to connect workers with jobs. Kidd’s biography lists an MBA from National University, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Miami University (Oxford).

On economic claims, the campaign highlights a self-described "Record of Results" that includes leadership on JobsOhio initiatives and a program Kidd calls "10 in 10", "an initiative designed to create 10,000 jobs in 10 years", and asserts he "helped support JobsOhio efforts tied to 30,000+ jobs per year and major investment." Those claims are presented on his campaign site as examples of his private-sector experience translating into regional economic development.

Kidd’s political résumé includes service as former vice chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party and roles in national delegations: he served as an honorary delegate in 2016 and 2020 and as an alternate delegate in 2024. His 2024 campaign for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District is part of his recent record; campaign material and a press release say he "finished first among them in Jackson and Gallia counties and second in Lawrence" in that 11-candidate primary. Kidd has invoked established conservative figures in his outreach, saying, "Rep. Brad Wenstrup brought strong conservative values to this district, and I was proud to be one of his biggest supporters," and "I also worked closely with Rep. Bill Johnson and have learned a lot from his leadership."

Local endorsements reported by the candidate on Ivoterguide include Diane Carnes, former Ross County Republican Party chairwoman; Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Frazier; Jackson County Coroner Alice Frazier; and Keith Craft, Scioto County Republican Party vice chair. Kidd’s campaign and candidate profiles list involvement with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Holzer Health Systems, the Appalachia Partnership Board, American Staffing Association, Ohio Commodores, and Jackson County Economic Development, as well as prior roles with JobsOhio and Rio Grande Community College.

On social issues, a campaign press release characterizes Kidd as "pro-life and pro-gun." At the same time, Ivoterguide questionnaire entries show he left several abortion-policy questions marked "Did not answer," including whether Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers should receive taxpayer funds and whether chemical-abortion drugs should meet in-person-consultation safety standards.

Ivoterguide also lists a formatted "SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS, CONSERVATIVE" section that shows a "GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (28)" column with names including Brad Wenstrup, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Matt Dolan, and Nikki Haley (each annotated 2023), and a "RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)" entry showing WinRed (2023). No campaign finance dollar amounts or state or federal filing details are included in the materials provided.

Kidd’s filing formalizes a primary that will determine whether the three-county 93rd stays with Stephens or moves to a candidate framing his bid around business growth, JobsOhio-era claims, and a conservative policy platform. Voters in Lawrence, Jackson, and Gallia counties will decide the direction of local representation on May 5, 2026.