Leonard Lies. Dishonest Democrat for Congress.

Leonard has repeatedly argued that government programs are essential to achieving the American Dream and blamed limited-government policies for today’s affordability crisis.

February 2026: Leonard argued that government programs and safety nets are essential to achieving the American Dream, citing public assistance, military service, and the GI Bill. LEONARD: “We have to acknowledge the role that safety nets and government play in helping us fulfill our potential and live out our American Dreams.” (United SHE Stands Podcast, February 3, 2026 – 2:57 mark).

March 2026: Leonard has also blamed Reagan-era limited-government philosophy for today’s affordability crisis and said Americans had been “brainwashed” into believing government was the problem. LEONARD: “Ronald Reagan started going in and brainwashing the American people to believe that government’s the problem, not the solution.” (Facebook, Grove City Area Progresss, March 20, 2026 – 25:05 mark).

Fact Check: A governing philosophy that treats more government as the solution to affordability would expand spending, taxes, and regulation—raising costs while reducing individual responsibility and economic freedom.

Don Leonard says he is not a socialist but his track record proves otherwise, Leonard has repeatedly questioned free-market capitalism, advocated greater government intervention in the economy, and aligned himself with progressive and social-democratic movements.

December 2018: Leonard questioned “just how free” markets should be and argued government should protect Americans from the downsides of global capitalism. Leonard also argued that the government should regulate competition to “prevent excessive profit” and provide services that private markets cannot. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, December 25, 2018)

January 2019: Leonard called economic inequality “embarrassing” and questioned how much wages should be allowed to vary between workers.  (Don Leonard, The Level Field, January 7, 2019)

August 2025: Leonard blamed the bipartisan embrace of neoliberal economic policies for America’s political crisis and advocated movement toward a “new social-democratic order.” (IDS Bulletin, August 2025)

December 2025: Leonard donated $100 to the Working Families Party PAC, which Bernie Sanders has called the party closest to his vision of democratic socialism and has repeatedly shared posts from the organization via Facebook. (Federal Election Commission, Contribution Database)

January 2026: Leonard said he “really admire[s]” Bernie Sanders and believes Sanders “gets a lot of stuff right,” reinforcing Leonard’s broader support for progressive economic policies and greater government involvement in the economy. (The Culture Codex Podcast, January 6, 2026 – 40:23 mark)

March 2026: Leonard denied being a Democratic Socialist but openly suggested he would conceal that ideology if necessary to win votes, saying, “Even if I were, I’d lie to the people of my district in order to get their votes.” (Hilliard Beacon Podcast, March 6, 2026 – 50:54 mark)

Fact Check:  An agenda that replaces free enterprise with greater government control would discourage investment, limit economic freedom, and leave taxpayers and businesses facing higher costs and more regulation.

Leonard has frequently demanded substantial tax hikes on the wealthy and businesses, while simultaneously attacking policies that lowered the tax burden on income, property, and sales.

January 2019: Leonard claimed that diminished tax revenues from property and sales were undermining public services and social safety nets. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, January 3, 2019)

September 2019: Leonard pushed for highly progressive tax structures, complaining that the system has struggled to recover from Reagan-era tax relief for top earners. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, September 2, 2019)

February 2026: Leonard condemned cuts to the top income tax bracket, insisting that the wealthiest citizens "owe us back taxes." (United SHE Stands Podcast, February 3, 2026 – 21:03 mark)

March 2026: Leonard advocated for a drastic surge in corporate taxes, speaking highly of the 55% rates seen during the 1960s. (Facebook, Grove City Area Progress, March 20, 2026 – 17:09 mark)

Fact Check:  A tax-and-spend agenda that raises costs on businesses and reverses income, property, and sales tax relief would discourage investment, threaten jobs, and leave working families paying more.

Leonard has championed the implementation of a government-funded universal basic income, advocating for a government-funded annual income for every American .

September 2019: Leonard characterized universal basic income as a "radical solution" but insisted that a monthly government payout of $1,000 was the best way to secure a living wage for Americans while avoiding a minimum wage hike. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, September 2, 2019, LINK)

Fact Check:  A government-funded universal basic income would create a massive permanent entitlement, requiring higher taxes or additional debt to provide taxpayer-funded payments regardless of employment or financial need.

Leonard has advocated replacing or expanding beyond private insurance through a government-run health care option available to every American.

August 2025: Leonard criticized America’s “embrace of private health care” as part of a broader weakening of the social safety net. (IDS Bulletin, August 2025)

February 2026: Leonard said he “absolutely” supported a single-payer system and specifically proposed expanding Medicaid to provide universal coverage. (United SHE Stands Podcast, February 3, 2026 – 13:00 mark)

Fact Check: A government-run health care system risks importing problems seen in Canada—including long waits for primary care, diagnostic tests, and surgery—while increasing taxpayer costs and leaving patients with fewer choices. 

Leonard has dramatically pivoted from defending Chinese economic interests and praising globalism to attacking free trade on the campaign trail.

June 2019: Despite admitting to China's theft of intellectual property and currency manipulation, Leonard excused these actions as standard for developing nations, even comparing them to past American practices. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, June 3, 2019)

August 2019: Leonard asserted that the domestic economy had "benefited greatly" from international trade, specifically highlighting partnerships with China and Mexico.

He has also dismissed aggressive stances against China as shortsighted, suggesting the Xi regime needed "room to maneuver" while proposing government aid for those negatively impacted.  (Facebook, Don Leonard, August 24, 2019)

April 2026: Leonard attacked bipartisan support for trade deals, claiming they fostered a "rigged economy" that prioritizes corporate interests over the American worker. (Columbus Dispatch, April 26, 2026)

Fact Check:  A trade policy driven by political convenience rather than principle would create uncertainty for American workers and businesses while weakening efforts to confront China’s unfair economic practices and protect U.S. jobs.

Leonard has shown a willingness to support initiatives similar to the Green New Deal, asserting that federal authorities must take a lead role in steering technological and economic advancement.

September 2019: Leonard described the Green New Deal as a visionary framework for a bold, eco-friendly industrial strategy, though he conceded it was a fairly extreme measure. (Don Leonard, The Level Field, September 2, 2019)

Fact Check - A Green New Deal-style agenda would expand federal control over the economy, allow Washington bureaucrats to pick winners and losers, and risk higher energy costs, lost jobs, and burdensome regulations for families and businesses.

Leonard has championed a legal route for millions of illegal immigrants to obtain citizenship, while consistently downplaying the severity of immigration law violations and demanding the total dissolution of ICE.

December 2025: Leonard disparaged immigration agents as "masked goons" and accused them of carrying out the "abduction" of individuals. (Facebook, Don Leonard for Ohio, December 20, 2025)

December 2025: Leonard claimed that residing in the country without proper documents was merely a civil infraction, comparing it to receiving a "parking ticket" rather than a criminal act. (Facebook, Don Leonard for Ohio, December 24, 2025)

February 2026: Leonard suggested granting legal status and a citizenship pathway to undocumented individuals who are employed and pay taxes while also asserting that ICE is "corrupted and rotted out" and the agency should be scrapped and entirely redesigned. . (United SHE Stands Podcast, February 3, 2026 – 25:58 mark & 31:57 mark )

March 2026: Leonard lobbied for an immediate track to residency for over 15 million people, while likening large-scale enforcement and deportation efforts to concentration camps. (Facebook, Grove City Area Progress, March 20, 2026 – 5:08 mark)

Fact Check: An immigration agenda that grants citizenship to millions of people here illegally, minimizes violations of immigration law, and dismantles ICE would weaken enforcement, reward unlawful entry, and make it harder to secure the border. 

Leonard has actively lobbied for more stringent firearm regulations, including severe limitations on the accessibility of high-capacity magazines.

August 2019: Leonard disparaged the simple process of acquiring high-capacity magazines and declared that implementing aggressive gun control measures was his “dream.” (Facebook, Don Leonard, August 4, 2019,)

Fact Check:  Stricter gun laws would restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners and erode Second Amendment protections.

ISRAEL

Leonard has demanded that the U.S. curtail military assistance to Israel, while vowing to reject any backing from AIPAC and pushing for a total overhaul of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

December 2025: Leonard’s campaign promoted materials for refugees and immigrants that featured CAIR-Ohio, an organization with a controversial track record and reported ties to Islamic Extremists.. (Facebook, Don Leonard for Ohio, December 18, 2025)

March 2026: Leonard supported a freeze on offensive weapons shipments to Israel, citing what he characterized as “genocidal operations in Gaza” and violence by West Bank settlers.

He also called on American leadership to “fundamentally rethink” its strategic ties with Israel, conditioned on the establishment of a two-state solution (Hilliard Beacon Podcast, March 6, 2026 – 10:45 mark & 15:55 mark)

U.S. MILITARY ACTION

Leonard has consistently fought against U.S. military involvement abroad, dismissing past conflicts in the Middle East as failed and expensive attempts at forced regime change.

April 2026: Leonard argued against intervening in Iran and Venezuela, labeling the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as “pointless adventures in regime change” while demanding that those funds be diverted to domestic social programs. (Columbus Dispatch, April 26, 2026)

Fact Check: A foreign policy that retreats from global leadership would weaken America’s ability to deter threats, abandon key allies, and embolden hostile regimes and terrorist organizations around the world.

Leonard has asserted that while addressing veterans’ mental health and preventing suicide are noteworthy goals, they must not be the primary platform focus for the Democratic Party. 

March 2026: Leonard claimed that the electorate was disinterested in his challenger’s key platform regarding veteran suicide and mental wellness, insisting that the party prioritize economic relief and state intervention. (Hilliard Beacon Podcast, March 6, 2026 – 32:40 mark)

Fact Check: Preventing veteran suicide and ensuring those who served receive timely mental healthcare should be a core national priority - not dismissed as secondary to the party’s political messaging. 

Don Leonard has dismissed the necessity of congressional term limits, casting doubt on their effectiveness and claiming there is no clear proof they enhance the democratic process.

March 2026: Leonard admitted to being “ambivalent about term limits,” despite giving lip service to the idea that he does not want to be a lifelong politician. (Facebook, Grove City Area Progress, March 20, 2026 – 14:52 mark)

Fact Check: Congressional term limits help prevent career politicians from accumulating too much power, reduces advantages of entrenched incumbency and ensures voters regularly receive fresh leadership and new ideas. 

Don Leonard has signaled his willingness to radicalize the nation's highest court by expanding the number of justices and challenging the judiciary's power to check unconstitutional legislation.

April 2026: Leonard called the Supreme Court "fundamentally undemocratic" and suggested that the current judicial review process must be re-evaluated. He further argued that a "reckoning is deserved" because a seat was "stolen" by Republicans, claiming he finds arguments for court-packing to be compelling. (YouTube, The Rooster, April 7, 2026 – 7:12 mark)

Fact Check: Expanding the Supreme Court and making this change would remove a critical constitutional check that protects Americans rights it would all create a virtually endless partisan arms race over the court’s size

Leonard has championed the use of public funds for political campaigns, claiming that government financing is the only way to diminish financial influence and allow politicians to prioritize their legislative duties.

March 2026: Leonard asserted that state-funded elections might be required to reach "true democracy" and even advocated for a constitutional amendment to mandate taxpayer-supported campaigns. (Hilliard Beacon Podcast, March 6, 2026 – 22:25 mark)

Fact Check: Publicly funded elections would create another government expense and force taxpayers to subsidize candidates and political messages they may not agree with.