The gap between his words and his votes is the whole story.
What He Says
"Many are struggling to budget for their next meal. Their pain isn't a political opportunity. It's real."
— Troy Balderson, August 2022
What He Did
Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting SNAP food assistance so severely that Ohio must find $310 million annually to keep feeding 1.4 million residents.
What He Says
"We need to get back to normal. Ohio families are paying more for gas, groceries, and virtually everything else."
— Campaign website, 2024
What He Did
Voted to gut Medicaid — the program that 3 million Ohioans depend on for basic healthcare — to fund tax cuts that disproportionately benefit high-income earners.
What He Says
"I am fighting alongside the Trump Administration to shine a light on common sense."
— Campaign website, 2026
What He Did
Voted to let the FBI search Americans' phone calls, texts, and emails without a warrant — 3.4 million warrantless searches in a single year — with no reform.
Five votes that show who he really works for.
Drug-testing Medicaid recipients (2010)
As a state legislator, he proposed random drug tests for Ohioans receiving Medicaid — a policy proven to cost states more than it saves while deterring eligible families from seeking help they need. It's not about saving money. It's about punishing people for being poor.
Voting to gut Medicaid & SNAP (2025)
He voted for $990 billion in Medicaid cuts — putting a hospital in his own district at risk of closing. Coshocton Regional Medical Center is the only source of acute care in its area. If it goes, his constituents drive to the next county for emergencies.
Voting for warrantless surveillance (2026)
He voted to renew the government's power to search Americans' communications without a warrant, without a judge, without your knowledge. Even fellow Ohio Republicans pushed back. Balderson didn't.
Voting against marriage equality (2022)
47 House Republicans voted to protect the marriages of their constituents. Balderson wasn't one of them.
Refusing to investigate January 6 (2021)
He acknowledged the attack was wrong. Then he voted against investigating it — twice. He said the right words and cast the wrong votes.
The people he's supposed to serve.
Ohio's 12th Congressional District stretches from Newark and Zanesville to Athens and deep into Appalachian Ohio. These are the communities bearing the consequences of Balderson's votes.
OH-12 By The Numbers
Medicaid statewide
SNAP benefits
at risk of closing
first election (2018)
Balderson won his first election by 0.8% — just 1,680 votes. He serves at the pleasure of the people of this district. His votes should reflect their interests. They don't.
Sources
- truthabouttroy.com — Complete voting record with sources
- troybaldersonforcongress.com — FISA 702 warrantless surveillance
- troybaldersonohio.com — Medicaid, SNAP, and hospital closures
- votetroybalderson.com — Marriage equality and January 6
- Congress.gov — Troy Balderson legislative profile
- GovTrack — Troy Balderson voting record