In the waning days of the primary campaign, two Democrat candidates are barnstorming much of the 7th Congressional District in hopes of garnering their political party's nomination on May 8.
Democrats Ken Harbaugh and Patrick Pikus both said they're getting out to multiple public events, practically daily, to make last-minute pushes for votes with the election looming.
"Now's the busy time with a lot of late nights," Pikus said.
Harbaugh said he's putting a lot of extra miles on his vehicle getting from campaign event to event, adding that his voice is "starting to go."
Pikus, a businessman from Canton making a first-time run for public office, said affordable health care and job creation are the two main topics he's been discussing with voters. If elected, he wants to attract renewable jobs to the state, and said partnering with universities for wind, solar and battery power opportunities is the way to go.
He acknowledged challenges such as reducing copay amounts, deductibles and prescription drugs costs, but said better oversight of accounting and prescription prices could help out working families.
"We don't want to shift costs to them," he said.
Probably the biggest challenge of the campaign so far has been battling negative campaign tactics, said Pikus, who cited a recent mailer calling him "too liberal" for Ohio.
The literature from the Ohio GOP, as well as Facebook advertisements from U.S. Rep. Gibbs, R-Lakeview, attack Pikus, who along with Harbaugh, is vying to unseat Gibbs. The mailing connects Pikus to "big government" and "big labor."
Pikus said the advertisement highlights outdated pictures of him.
"Politics can be muddy, but you never expect it to happen to you," he said.
Harbaugh: Opioid pressing issue
Harbaugh, a former U.S. Navy intelligence pilot and also first-time candidate for office, called the state's opioid epidemic the most pressing issue of the campaign, and said it's the topic he's been queried about the most by voters.
"It's the arterial wound of this district and an ongoing injury to communities," said Harbaugh, of Avon, who said improving response times and immediate care for opioid patients is paramount.
Better treatment options and education on the crisis are also needed, according to Harbaugh. He said, if elected, he would work toward legislation to better fight the problem, which is frequently being brought to him by parents and grandparents on the campaign trail.
As far as campaigning goes, Harbaugh said the toughest hurdle has been addressing people who are fed up with the country's political system.
"I'm realizing they're just an inch away from giving up on the process," he said. "But I'm out trying to inspire people and tell my story so we can right the ship."
The 7th Congressional District is comprised of Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes and Knox counties, and includes portions of Huron, Lorain, Medina, Richland, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
Steven Grazier is a reporter at The Independent in Massillon.