Mark Zetzer, who withdrew from the 2024 Republican primary for the 14th Congressional District seat and is living “alone in a shack down by the river,” said he is giving strong consideration to challenging U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, a fellow Republican, next year.

Zetzer, of Russell, said he is forming an exploratory committee to possibly challenge Joyce, of Bainbridge, a seven-term House member, in the 2026 Republican primary.

The 14th District includes all of Trumbull, Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties and all but two communities in Portage County. Trumbull is the district’s second most-populous county behind Lake.

Zetzer said: “Joyce is voting with Republicans so far this term, but I’m watching him,” and “Joyce’s America First test votes could be coming soon.”

Zetzer said if Joyce follows President Donald Trump’s “lead to slash federal taxes, spending and regulations, (he) will gain support. But if (he tries) to appease district elites who are invested in the federal gravy train, then (Elon) Musk and Trump might go RINO (Republican in Name Only) hunting in Ohio 14. If so, I want to be ready to declare my candidacy early and run a serious campaign.”

Zetzer was among three Republicans to file against Joyce in the 2024 primary, but withdrew saying he wanted to let the two others challenge Joyce, who got 76.7% of the vote in the Republican primary and then 63.4% in the general election.

Zetzer also ran as a Republican in 2014 in the Cleveland-based 11th Congressional District. He received 20.5% of the vote, losing by 59% to Democrat Marcia Fudge. He also came in last place in 2013 in the Shaker Heights City Council election.

Zetzer said: “Unlike Trump, however, I am not a successful man. I struggled for the American Dream and then lost my career, marriage and house. I now live alone in a shack down by the river. I think the reason that a nobody like me received so much political flak is that I must have been over the target.”

Democrat Bill O’Neill, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice and 11th District Court of Appeals judge, said he will run next year for the 14th Congressional District seat.

The congressional district had a 10% Republican advantage based on votes in partisan statewide elections in the 10 years prior to the 2024 election. Joyce has far exceeded that percentage when he’s run. He won by 26.8% in last year’s general election.