Hey everyone, Matt Diemer here, The Angry Democrat
Below are three conversations with the Democratic candidates running in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. I reached out to each of them individually, and to their credit, they were all easy to work with and open to sitting down for a real discussion. I genuinely enjoyed each of these conversations, and what stands out is how different they all are. You can clearly see the distinctions between the candidates in how they think, how they answer, and what they prioritize.
Below you’ll also find a link to the set of questions that were asked, or variations of those questions. While not every single question was asked to every candidate word-for-word, if you listen to the full conversations, you’ll hear that each topic was addressed in some way, shape, or form.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ssxTDRxpVF84EpXeypADTQykvVoAQifry5XG6NypuII/edit?usp=sharing
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me or directly to the candidates.
And if you haven’t already, please subscribe to The Angry Democrat and The Angry Ohioan
Maria Jukic
Maria Jukic is a Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, an attorney, former Euclid City Council member, and longtime healthcare administrator at the Cleveland Clinic. Her background includes over two decades in healthcare leadership, as well as experience in law and public service, shaping her focus on healthcare access, economic issues, and protecting democratic institutions. You can learn more about her and her campaign here:
https://www.mariajukicforcongress.com/
Please see the summaries below and the timestamps that correlate with the video to find where the questions you want to hear answered appear in the conversation so you can jump directly to those sections.
Background, Religion, and Dignity of Work
00:00 – 12:15
We started with Maria’s personal and professional background, including her work in healthcare administration, law, and public service. From there, the conversation moved into separation of church and state, the role religion plays in shaping values, and then into a broader discussion about dignity of work, where she emphasized purpose, contribution, and supporting oneself and family.
AI, Automation, and Regulation
12:15 – 24:45
This section focused heavily on AI, automation, job displacement, misinformation, and regulation. Maria argued that AI is moving faster than public policy, that Congress is already behind, and that there needs to be more transparency, human oversight, and bipartisan seriousness around how AI affects workers, democracy, and the public good.
Top Priorities, Democracy, and Working-Class Issues
24:45 – 33:15
When asked about her main policy goals, Maria framed the moment as one of democratic emergency, focusing first on executive overreach, congressional abdication, and the need to protect constitutional order. She then laid out broader priorities around helping regular working people, defending the rule of law, and improving healthcare access and affordability.
Campaign Questions, District Residency, and Political Identity
33:15 – 52:15
This part covered campaign-related questions, including union printing concerns, residency and district boundaries, why she believes she can represent the district well, and how she defines herself politically. She described herself as center-left, argued that most people live in a broad middle rather than at ideological extremes, and said her campaign approach is rooted in listening, respect, and finding common ground.
Healthcare, Ethics, Foreign Policy, and Closing Thoughts
52:15 – End
The last section covered a range of major issues. Maria discussed healthcare as a human right, the need to expand coverage, and practical paths to getting more people insured. She also addressed insider trading in Congress, impeachment, Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, the national debt, money in politics, and what she is proud of in America, closing with a message about freedom, democracy, and the need to rebuild civic trust.
Bill O’Neill
Bill O’Neill brings a long and unconventional background to this race, including service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, a decade on the Ohio Court of Appeals, five years on the Ohio Supreme Court, and over a decade working as a registered nurse in a pediatric emergency department. His campaign centers on what he calls the “three A’s”: access to healthcare, affordability, and anti-war policy. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes systemic reform, economic fairness, and a rejection of money in politics. You can learn more about his campaign here:
https://oneillforcongress.com/
Please see the summaries below and the timestamps that correlate with the video to find where the questions you want to hear answered appear in the conversation so you can jump directly to those sections.
Background, Campaign Framework, and Core Platform
00:00 – 20:00
We started with O’Neill’s background, where he framed himself as three people in one: military officer, judge, and nurse. He laid out his campaign’s “three A’s” — healthcare access (Medicare for All), affordability, and an anti-war stance — while also criticizing cuts to Medicaid and warning about the downstream impact on hospitals and rural healthcare.
Campaign Strategy, Political Identity, and Past Controversies
20:00 – 40:00
We discussed his decision to run again, his high name recognition in the district, and his unconventional campaign strategy of refusing all donations. O’Neill addressed past controversies directly, acknowledged mistakes, and framed his identity as a traditional “Roosevelt Democrat” focused on labor, unions, and social safety nets.
Healthcare, Taxes, and Economic Policy
40:00 – 01:00:00
The conversation shifted heavily into policy. O’Neill strongly advocated for Medicare for All, arguing it would reduce costs and correct systemic inefficiencies driven by private insurance. On taxes, he called for a return to more aggressive progressive taxation, suggesting significantly higher rates on multi-million dollar incomes while rejecting taxes on unrealized gains.
Government Ethics, Money in Politics, and Foreign Policy
01:00:00 – 01:20:00
We covered insider trading in Congress, where O’Neill proposed a full ban on stock trading for members of Congress and their spouses. He criticized Citizens United and broader financial influence in politics, while also outlining a foreign policy framework focused on defense rather than offense, opposing intervention in Iran but supporting aid to Ukraine and Taiwan.
Democracy, Social Issues, and Closing Vision
01:20:00 – End
In the final portion, O’Neill addressed issues like voting laws, abortion, separation of church and state, and impeachment. He opposed national voter ID expansion, supported abortion rights up to viability, and emphasized strict separation of religion and government. He closed by discussing AI, infrastructure, and energy, arguing the U.S. must adapt quickly to technological change while investing in domestic capacity and jobs.
Carl Setzer
Carl Setzer is a Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District with a background in international experience and business, including time spent abroad that shaped his perspective on American politics, economic systems, and global competition. In this conversation, he focuses on rebuilding trust in government, addressing economic inequality, reforming political incentives, and taking a more grounded approach to both domestic and foreign policy. You can learn more about him and his campaign here:
https://setzerforcongress.com/
Please see the summaries below and the timestamps that correlate with the video to find where the questions you want to hear answered appear in the conversation so you can jump directly to those sections.
Background, Motivation, and View of America’s Political Direction
00:00 – 18:00
I opened by asking Carl why he decided to run, and he explained that returning to the U.S. after years abroad gave him a different perspective on American politics. He talked about the backlash after the Obama era, the rise of Trump, and how economic frustration, political messaging, and structural issues like gerrymandering and money in politics have driven division.
Campaign Vision, Party Identity, and How to Compete in the District
18:00 – 35:00
We discussed what it means to be a Democrat today and how he fits into a crowded primary field. Carl emphasized broadening the party’s message, reconnecting with working-class voters, and focusing on economic realities rather than political branding. He also outlined how Democrats can compete in both suburban and rural parts of the district by addressing real economic concerns.
Economic Policy, Inequality, and Working-Class Focus
35:00 – 55:00
The conversation shifted to economic policy, where Carl focused heavily on structural inequality and incentives within the system. He discussed how wealth concentration, corporate influence, and misaligned incentives have shaped outcomes for workers, and argued for policies that better align economic rewards with labor and productivity.
Democracy, Election Laws, and the SAVE Act
55:00 – 01:05:00
We moved into election integrity and voting laws, including the SAVE Act. Carl opposed the idea of a national ID system tied to voting, arguing that it would be seen as overreach and could inflame distrust rather than solve real problems. He framed the issue as one of communication failure and political misalignment between parties and voters.
Foreign Policy, Israel-Gaza, and Global Conflicts
01:05:00 – 01:15:00
On foreign policy, Carl compared conflicts like Israel-Palestine, Ukraine-Russia, and China-Taiwan, focusing on power imbalances and historical context. He emphasized the human cost of these conflicts and questioned how the U.S. engages in them, particularly when it comes to funding, influence, and long-term consequences.
Money in Politics, Lobbying, and Systemic Incentives
01:15:00 – End
We closed with a deeper discussion on money in politics, including lobbying and groups like AIPAC. Carl argued that large financial contributions distort representation and that individual voters cannot compete with institutional money. He framed the issue as a systemic problem tied to incentives, not just individual candidates.
Stay Angry
Disclaimer: This interview summary and the timestamps were generated with the assistance of ChatGPT based on the transcript and are intended to provide a condensed overview of the conversation.
