Troy Balderson

Troy Balderson
Born	William Troy Balderson 16 1, 1962
Birthplace	Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative for Ohio's 12th congressional district
Education	Muskingum University (attended) Ohio State University (attended)
Children	1
Website	[https://balderson.house.gov/ Official site]

William Troy Balderson (born January 16, 1962) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the U.S. Representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district since September 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Balderson rose through Ohio's state legislature before winning a closely watched special election to succeed Pat Tiberi in Congress. Born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, he built a career in both the private sector and public service, first serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011 and then in the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2018. In Congress, Balderson has focused on energy policy, grid reliability, and rural issues, emerging as a prominent legislative voice on matters affecting his largely rural and suburban central Ohio district. His GRID Power Act, which requires federal agencies to assess the impact of proposed regulations on the electric grid before finalization, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025.

Early Life

William Troy Balderson was born on January 16, 1962, in Zanesville, Ohio, a city in Muskingum County in east-central Ohio. He grew up in the Zanesville area, a region with deep ties to manufacturing, agriculture, and small business. Balderson's family had business interests in the area, including an automotive dealership, Balderson Motor Sales. His roots in the community shaped his later political career, as he frequently cited his connection to the district's rural and small-town character during his campaigns and while in office.

Balderson attended local schools in the Zanesville area before pursuing higher education. His upbringing in a business-oriented family in a largely rural part of Ohio informed many of the policy positions he would later adopt, particularly regarding economic development, energy, and limited government.

Education

Balderson attended Muskingum University, a private liberal arts institution located in New Concord, Ohio, near his hometown of Zanesville. He also attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He did not complete a degree at either institution.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Balderson was involved in business in the Zanesville area. His family operated Balderson Motor Sales, an automotive dealership. During his 2018 congressional campaign, The Columbus Dispatch reported that the family company had failed to pay taxes on time on multiple occasions. In December 2018, the Ohio Attorney General brought legal action against the owner of Balderson Motor Sales, as reported by the Zanesville Times Recorder. These business issues became a topic of discussion during his political campaigns but did not prevent his electoral success.

Ohio House of Representatives (2009–2011)

Balderson's career in elected office began with his election to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2008, representing the 94th district. He succeeded Jim Aslanides in the seat. He took office on January 5, 2009, and served in the Ohio House until July 2011.

During his time in the state house, Balderson represented a district in east-central Ohio that included portions of Muskingum County and surrounding areas. His legislative focus during this period included economic and energy issues relevant to his constituents in a region with significant ties to coal, natural gas, and manufacturing.

Ohio Senate (2011–2018)

In 2011, Balderson moved to the Ohio Senate, where he represented the 20th district. He was appointed to the seat on July 13, 2011, succeeding Jimmy Stewart, who had resigned. Brian Hill succeeded Balderson in the Ohio House's 94th district.

As a state senator, Balderson served on multiple committees and engaged with issues including energy policy, economic development, and state regulation. His tenure in the Ohio Senate lasted until September 2018, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Congress following his victory in the special election and subsequent general election for Ohio's 12th congressional district. Brian Hill again succeeded him in the state senate's 20th district.

During his time in the Ohio Senate, Balderson was involved in debates over Ohio's energy policy. He participated in discussions regarding the state's energy efficiency standards, a topic that drew attention from industry groups and utilities.

U.S. House of Representatives (2018–present)

2018 Special Election

Balderson's path to Congress began after Pat Tiberi, the incumbent Republican representing Ohio's 12th congressional district, resigned from office in January 2018 to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable. A special election was called to fill the vacancy, and Balderson emerged as the Republican nominee from a competitive primary field.

The August 7, 2018, special election between Balderson and Democratic candidate Danny O'Connor attracted national attention as a bellwether for the November 2018 midterm elections. The race was extremely close, with Balderson leading by a narrow margin on election night. After all votes were counted, including provisional and absentee ballots, Balderson was declared the winner. Politico reported on the final certified results, confirming Balderson's victory in the special election. The Columbus Dispatch also confirmed that Balderson won Ohio's 12th congressional district election on August 24, 2018.

Balderson took office on September 5, 2018, following the certification of the special election results. He then faced O'Connor again in the November 2018 general election for a full two-year term and won, securing his position in the 116th Congress.

Subsequent Elections

Balderson has won re-election in each subsequent cycle, continuing to represent Ohio's 12th congressional district. His campaign filings are documented with the Federal Election Commission.

Legislative Priorities and Committee Work

In Congress, Balderson has focused on energy policy, infrastructure, rural development, and healthcare access. He has established himself as a legislator with particular emphasis on the reliability and security of the American electric grid.

GRID Power Act

One of Balderson's signature legislative efforts has been the Generating Reliable Industrial Development (GRID) Power Act. The bill requires federal agencies to assess the potential impact of proposed regulations on the reliability of the electric grid before those regulations are finalized. The legislation drew support from energy industry groups and was framed as a measure to prevent regulatory actions from inadvertently undermining grid stability.

The GRID Power Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in late 2025. Cleveland.com reported in December 2025 that the bill had passed the House, drawing industry support for its requirement that federal agencies evaluate grid impacts before finalizing regulations. The Ohio Senate's website also noted the passage of the GRID Power Act by the U.S. House. As of early 2026, the bill was pending in the U.S. Senate.

RFD-TV profiled Balderson in October 2025 as part of its "Champions of Rural America" series, highlighting his work on energy policy and noting that his GRID Power Act had recently passed the House.

Energy Infrastructure and Grid Security

Balderson has been involved in broader congressional efforts to address the security of the nation's energy infrastructure. In December 2025, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled "Securing America's Energy Infrastructure, Including the Electric Grid," in which Balderson's legislative work on grid reliability was relevant to the subcommittee's discussions.

Healthcare and Telehealth

Balderson has also been active in healthcare legislation, particularly regarding telehealth services and community health centers. In July 2025, he co-introduced a bipartisan telehealth permanence bill alongside Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Doris Matsui (D-CA). The legislation sought to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities that had been expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2025, Balderson joined Representative David Valadao (R-CA) and other members of the Congressional Community Health Center Caucus in introducing a resolution honoring community health centers.

District Engagement

Balderson has maintained regular engagement with constituents in his district, including participation in legislative breakfasts and public events. In early 2026, he attended a Legislative Breakfast in Zanesville to discuss recent legislative developments and his priorities in Congress.

Personal Life

Balderson was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, and has maintained close ties to the community throughout his career. He has one child. His family's involvement in the local business community, particularly through Balderson Motor Sales, has been a feature of his public profile.

In early 2026, Balderson was among several Ohio politicians who moved to return campaign donations linked to Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, following renewed scrutiny of Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. WSYX reported that multiple Ohio political figures, including Balderson, scrambled to distance themselves from the donations.

Recognition

Balderson has received recognition for his work on energy and rural policy. In October 2025, he was featured in RFD-TV's "Champions of Rural America" series, which highlighted his role as "a leading voice in energy policy" and noted the passage of his GRID Power Act through the U.S. House.

His congressional record and official information are maintained in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and on his official congressional website. His legislative record is also documented by the Library of Congress through Congress.gov.

His appearances and congressional activities have been documented by C-SPAN.