Adam Mathews
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Juris Doctor
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Bachelors of Science, Mechanical Engineering
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Bachelors of Arts, Political Science
WORK & MILITARY
Heartbeat International, In-house Attorney
AFFILIATIONS
Knights of Columbus, Trustee, Grand Knight
Elizabeth's New Life Center, Board of Directors, Chair
Federalist Society, Board of Directors, Greater Cincinnati Chapter
Alliance Defending Freedom, Allied attorney
Mason City Schools, Substitute Teacher
Buckeye Firearms Association, Member
Republican Party of Warren County Ohio, Executive Board, Central Committee Treasurer
Saint Francis de Sales Church, Parish council, Secretary
NFIB, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2023-2026
Republican Precinct Chair, 2016-2026
Republican Party of Warren County Ohio Central Committee Treasurer, 2018-2024
Vice Mayor, City of Lebanon, 2021-2023
Lebanon City Council, 2019-2023
Governor's Office of Faith Based Community Initiatives, 2023-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2026
A
2024
A+
2025
92%, 91%†
2024
|A+
2025
|92%, 91%†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2024
D
2025-2026
0%, 15%†
2023
0%
2024
|D
2025-2026
|0%, 15%†
2023
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (7)
*National Rifle Association NRA-PVF
Ohio Right to Life PAC
Buckeye Firearms Association
Ohio Value Voters
Ohio Republican Party
OTHER (2)
Ohio Chamber of Commerce PAC
Agriculture for Good Government Political Action Committee AGGPAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Right to Life
Ohio Republican Party
Warren County Republican Party
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
Josh Williams (2026)
Keith Faber (2026)
Ohio Way PAC (2026)
National Federation of Independent Business (2025)
Robert McColley (2025)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (22)
National Federation of Independent Business (2026)
Ohio Land Title Association (2026)
Bill Seitz (2025)
David Thomas (2025)
Jim Thomas (2025)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (15)
Construction Employers Association of Cleveland (2026)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2026)
Organization for Healthcare Innovation in Ohio (2026)
United Assoc of Journeymen & Apprentices - Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry (2026)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (2026)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
My bill, House Bill 410, would have matched defunding Planned Parenthood in Ohio with the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
None. Miscarriage care and medical intervention to save the life of the mother are not elective abortions and should be fully protected.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
My HB72 specifically eliminates all state-funding of death.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
I submitted written testimony to the FDA on the dangers of abortion-inducing drugs, when the rules were open for public comment.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Raising the minimum wage past what the market can bear leads to increased unemployment and decreased opportunity for those trying to get job experience or move up in their careers from entry level positions.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
I co-sponsored legislation to increase enforcement against Medicaid fraud, which costs billions of taxpayer dollars. I voted for zero-based budgeting, which ensures that every government expenditure has to be defended and chosen, rather that allowed via inertia. We need to evaluate shared services and removing duplicative or ineffective government programs and positions. For example, my bill passed and allows voters to remove any village that is not providing basic services.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
This phrase is not in the Constitution, but describes a view of society and government with a clear division between religion and law. However, all people have a moral code, and most people have their sense of right and wrong informed and grounded in faith. Governmental leaders should be free to use their moral code to guide their representation. I have introduced Ohio's Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect religious practice and expression from government overreach.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is a strategic partner in the region against a continuous and growing threat of militant Islam.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the first right and responsibility to education their children, and the state should empower them to do so with quality schools and school choice.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
I co-sponsored and voted for legislation to ban puberty blockers and gender surgeries for minors in Ohio, as well as voted to override the Governor's veto on the same.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth. I believe in his One Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life and guide to us now. I believe we are created for a definite purpose, to know, love, and serve God. In response to the gift of life and grace, we are called to live a virtuous life, including the virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, as well as living in faith, hope, and charity.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I voted to out Issue 3 on the ballot, adding photo ID requirements for in-person voting to the Ohio Constitution.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
I co-sponsored and voted for legislation to ban boys from playing in girls' sports in Ohio, as well as voted to override the Governor's veto on the same.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power. I have introduced legislation to enable more nuclear power to be built in Ohio.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Last term, CPAC ranked me as the 6th most conservative member of the Ohio House.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
First and foremost, the criminal justice system exists to protect society from those committing crimes by removing the threat they may present. After that goal is accomplished, others such as rehabilitation and re-entry can be achieved.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment enshrines our right to self-defense, and we must always protect an individual American citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. Red flag laws, magazine bans, and excessive regulations on how to maintain weapons hinders these rights. Restrictions on citizens should only come after convictions or with other similarly strong due process protections.
