# Damon Lynch IV Community organizer and nonprofit executive — leads a Black-therapist network serving Black communities — running in the 2026 Democratic primary for [[OH-01-2026]] against two-term incumbent [[Greg Landsman]]. Son and grandson of Cincinnati civil-rights pastors/activists. Central State University (Political Science). East Price Hill base. Platform: **economic development, mental health access, education**. Describes his campaign as fighting the **"War in Ohio."** Lynch represents organized progressive / racial-justice dissent against Landsman's bipartisan posture in a post-redistricting Trump-leaning district. No public primary polling surfaced as of 2026-04-23; Landsman heavily favored on cash and name ID. ## 2026 cycle - **Primary date**: **2026-05-05** — same day as the competitive GOP primary (Conroy vs. Adams et al.) - **Landsman's Q1 2026**: Record **$1.6M raised / $2.8M COH** — but with **85.1% out-of-state donors** (NRCC is already using this in attacks) - **Rating**: Cook Toss Up (April 7, 2026) post-redistricting - **If Lynch pulls 30%+** in the primary, it's a warning sign for Landsman's general-election coalition — grassroots / racial-justice base dissatisfaction in Cincinnati proper as the district's Democratic core absorbs the redrawn exurban-Hamilton + Clinton County turf ## Background - Cincinnati, Ohio - Father and grandfather were civil-rights pastors / activists in Cincinnati (NEEDS VERIFICATION of specific generational lineage details) - Central State University BS, Political Science - Nonprofit executive leading a Black-therapist network for Black communities — mental health / community care lane - East Price Hill resident - First federal-office run ## Ideological positioning - Progressive Democrat; racial-justice / mental-health / community-care lane - Explicit contrast with Landsman's bipartisan-problem-solver brand - "War in Ohio" framing references the post-redistricting political environment + gun violence + Black community economic conditions ## Related - [[OH-01-2026]] — 2026 race file - [[Greg Landsman]] — incumbent primary opponent - [[Eric Conroy]] — Trump-endorsed R primary front-runner in the other primary ## Sources - [Ballotpedia — OH-01 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio's_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2026)