Ohio congressional candidate convicted of false voter registration
A Democratic candidate for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District was previously convicted of false voter registration.
Brian Kenderes pleaded guilty to the felony charge in 2024 and was sentenced to probation and jail time.
Kenderes is one of four Democrats running for the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Dave Taylor.
A Democrat running for a local Congressional seat was previously convicted of false voter registration.
Brian Kenderes, 42, filed petitions in Clermont County to run for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District against Republican Rep. Dave Taylor, according to the county's Board of Elections. Kenderes is one of four Democrats running for the seat.
Kenderes lives in Cuyahoga County in Northeast Ohio, according to his filing information. Ohio's 2nd Congressional District stretches across the southern part of the state, from Clermont County to the West Virginia border.
Under the Constitution, U.S. representatives do not need to live in the district they represent, they only need to live in the same state.
Kenderes has run in 2 other Ohio congressional districts
In 2024, Kenderes was the only Democrat to run for Ohio's 14th Congressional District, near Cleveland, but lost to Republican incumbent Rep. David Joyce. That same year, he was convicted of false voter registration for registering to vote using an address where he did not live.
Kenderes pleaded guilty to the felony charge, according to court records, and was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in jail, to be served just days after the November election. Criminal records do not bar people from running for Congress.
Kenderes also ran as a write-in candidate in 2022 for Ohio's 7th District, which is near Akron, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Kenderes had previous offenses
The Enquirer sent messages to Kenderes' social media accounts but did not receive a reply. According to his LinkedIn account, Kenderes works as a soccer coach and is dedicated to "serving with sincerity, wisdom and accuracy."
In 2008, Kenderes was found guilty of having physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated in Cuyahoga County. In 2022, he was convicted of using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Both offenses are misdemeanors.
Clermont County's Board of Elections will certify filed petitions Feb. 11.
Who's running for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District?
Democratic
Todd Wilson.
Brian Kenderes.
Jen Mazzuckelli.
Andrew Gage.
Republican