Phil Heimlich to challenge Ohio's Rep. Warren Davidson for Congress; attacks Trump

Former Cincinnati City Councilman Phil Heimlich announced Thursday he will challenge U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson in a Republican Primary.

Heimlich doesn't know whether he'll live in Davidson's district as the boundaries of the 8th Congressional District remain up in the air. He will challenge Davidson no matter where the boundaries end up, Heimlich told The Enquirer. The U.S. Constitution requires only that U.S. House candidates live in the state they'd represent. 

"It doesn’t change plans in either case," said Heimlich, who also served as a Hamilton County Commissioner. "We need to protect our Democracy. Congressman Davidson essentially sided with the insurrection to overturn the election." 

Heimlich, in his announcement, appealed to Republicans who don't support former President Donald Trump. He attacked Trump's false claim the 2020 election was stolen and Davidson's support of Trump.

"I'm running for Congress because our state and our country needs a Republican Party that supports free and fair elections and upholds the rule of law," Heimlich said in a statement. "Congressman Davidson, like so many others in my party, has exchanged his conscience and integrity for loyalty to Donald Trump."

A message to Davidson's campaign manager was not immediately returned. 

Based on the latest maps proposed by the Ohio legislature, Davidson, a Republican from Troy, would represent a swath of western Ohio counties including a chunk of western Hamilton County all the way to the Ohio River. His district's southern border currently extends to Butler County's line with Hamilton County.

Heimlich lives in Symmes Township in Hamilton County, which even under the latest maps, would be in Rep. Steve Chabot's 1st Congressional District. 

Heimlich doesn't see that as an issue.

"The issue is, are we going to preserve our democracy?" Heimlich said. 

When asked whether he thinks there are enough disillusioned Republicans in the 8th Congressional District, Heimlich said he didn't want to get into strategy. 

Trump won the 8th Congressional District in 2020 with 67% of the vote. Davidson won with 69%.