Hamilton County Republicans have a new name on the November ballot after choosing Nancy Aichholz to challenge Democratic state Rep. Rachel Baker in Ohio’s 27th House District. The decision comes less than two weeks after Republican nominee Elizabeth Maier abruptly ended her campaign, turning a quiet suburban race into a sudden party scramble.
A district committee selected Aichholz on Tuesday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Aichholz will replace Maier on the November ballot and face Baker, who is running for a third term representing the district.
Maier announced in July that she was leaving the race for family reasons, a move that left local Republicans working on a tight timeline. Signal Statewide News reported that the Hamilton County Republican Party had until Aug. 10 to name a replacement and had been considering several possible candidates.
Aichholz Brings Business Experience To The Race
Aichholz is best known locally as an entrepreneur who founded Nancakes and later launched That’s So Sweet, a bakery brand that grew out of a combination with Donna’s Gourmet Cookies. A profile by LINK nky also described her earlier work leading Aviatra Accelerators, a Cincinnati-area organization focused on women-owned businesses.
The bakery later became the Cincinnati Bengals’ official cookie partner, with treats sold at Paycor Stadium, according to the Cincinnati Bengals. Aichholz also previously ran unsuccessfully for Hamilton County auditor in 2018 and has a background in marketing, including work with Chiquita Brands, according to the Enquirer’s report.
A District Spanning Cincinnati’s East And North Sides
Baker, a Democrat from Cincinnati, is the current representative for House District 27, according to her Ohio House profile. The district includes a wide stretch of Hamilton County, from parts of Cincinnati and northern communities to Anderson Township, Indian Hill, Madeira, Reading, Silverton and Wyoming.
The official district description from the Ohio Secretary of State also lists communities including Amberley, Lockland, Newtown, Terrace Park and Woodlawn. That geographic mix gives the race a distinctly local feel even as the contest helps determine the balance of power in Columbus.
Why The Replacement Matters
Ohio election rules allow a candidate nominated in a primary to withdraw before the general election, while replacement procedures depend on the timing and circumstances of the vacancy. The state’s 2026 candidate guide explains that party organizations and committees may be involved in filling such openings under Ohio law.
With Aichholz now selected, Republicans avoid leaving the district without a nominee and can shift their focus to introducing her to voters. The November contest will pit Baker’s legislative record against a challenger whose public profile has been built more around entrepreneurship than elected office.
