Ohio State Senate District 17

Current seat holder: Shane Wilkin.

Brian Deer

Brian Deer Brian Deer earned a high school diploma from Rock Hill High School and a degree from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 1991. Deer's career experience includes working as a coach and in law enforcement.

“Senior care is declining and I want to make sure our seniors are treated with the reverence and dignity they deserve and earned.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026))
“I am a retired law enforcement officer and former small business owner.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026))

Shane Wilkin

Shane Wilkin is the incumbent Republican member of the Ohio State Senate representing District 17, having assumed office in January 1, 2023, and is running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. Shane Wilkin lives near Hillsboro, Ohio. Wilkin's career experience includes working as a small business owner and a licensed real estate agent.

· Official legislative page

Campaign site

“Shane Wilkin is a proven conservative and lifelong Republican. A true Southern Ohio native, he and his wife are raising their daughters in the heart of Ohio’s 17th State Senate District, instilling in them the values we all hold dear: faith, family and freedom.” (Campaign website (shanewilkin.com))
“As a small business owner, Shane sees and feels the harmful impact Bidenomics and Washington’s outrageous tax-and-spend policies are having on hardworking Ohioans. He is running for re-election for the Ohio State Senate because he knows we can - and we must - do better for middle-class families like his own.” (Campaign website (shanewilkin.com))