Does liberal Rep. Ismail Mohamed live in Delaware County? Franklin County elections board dismisses challenge

Democratic state Rep. Ismail Mohamed will remain on the Nov. 3 ballot in House District 3 after the Franklin County Board of Elections voted 3-1 to reject a challenge to the lawmaker’s residency.

Bernadine Kennedy Kent, a former Democratic state representative who, as a write-in candidate, won this year’s Republican primary and faces Mohamed in next month’s general election, filed the challenge. The board rejected an initial challenge on a technicality on Sept. 14, after Mohamed, D-Columbus, changed his registration from one Franklin County apartment to another.

Kent’s attorney, Curt Hartman, refiled the challenge against the new address, resulting in the hours-long hearing that put Mohamed, who has represented the district since 2023, in the hot seat. Through her attorney, Kent argued that Mohamed does not live in the district, which covers parts of northeast Columbus, including Linden, portions of the University District and Short North, and part of Clinton Township.

Ohio State Rep. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) was served a subpoena at a $587,000 Delaware County house outside his district. On body cam he tells the officer he lives somewhere else. Today's hearing on his voter registration was postponed. Watch: pic.twitter.com/xLUQtSZ8vT

— jackwindsor (@jackwindsor) September 14, 2026

The allegations stem from county records showing that Mohamed and his partner, Hoda Adheys, bought a home for $587,000 together in October 2025 on Heather Ridge Drive in Delaware County. That home, which is listed on tax records as an owner-occupied primary residence, receives tax credits as Mohamed’s principal residence.

Mohamed, however, told the board that he spends weekdays at the Franklin County apartment where he is registered and weekends and holidays at the Delaware County house. On documents that treat him and Adheys as a married couple, Mohamed said they had a religious union that is not a legal marriage under Ohio law, and that he only signed on so she could qualify for the loan.

“She was unable to qualify for the property. She had requested that I sign on to the property to qualify. That was my involvement,” Mohamed told the board.

Calling the house an “investment property,” Mohamed told the board that he and Adley planned to use it as a short-term rental, and said he had only recently learned of the owner-occupancy credit. His attorney, Corey Colombo, told the board split residences are common.

“You’re allowed to have more than one residence. You can only select one for voting. And he clearly is going to establish that he meets the criteria to be a registered voter at his apartment in Franklin County,” Colombo later reiterated to WOSU.

Democrats Jamie Shumaker and Michael Sexton voted to deny the challenge, joined by Republican Doug Preisse. Republican Meredith Freedhoff voted to sustain the challenge.

AN OPEN LETTER TO FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS CHAIRMAN DOUG PREISSE

Chairman Preisse,

On Monday, you presided over a public hearing on whether State Representative Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) lives in the district he was elected to represent. Monday I emailed you three… pic.twitter.com/OD7fPgDsk5

— jackwindsor (@jackwindsor) September 29, 2026

The board’s vote has since resulted in community backlash. In an open letter to the board, podcaster Jack Windsor called foul, giving Preisse until Oct. 1 to answer pointed questions about how the hearing was run, including inconsistent statements made under oath.

“Under oath, Rep. Mohamed admitted the mortgage he signed on the $587,000 Delaware County home declares him married and declares the home his principal residence,” Windsor wrote.

Franklin County BOE Chairman Doug Preisse had until 5 p.m. to answer 10 written questions about the Ismail Mohamed residency hearing. Deadline passed. No response. You be the judge. https://t.co/5E5cWFqB7f pic.twitter.com/sjjMlk0tAC

— jackwindsor (@jackwindsor) October 1, 2026

Kent, telling WOSU reporters that she was “a bit frustrated,” also noted contradictions admitted under oath and said she plans to keep looking at the Delaware County property, including whether its homeowners association would have allowed Airbnb short-term rentals.

Mohamed, calling the challenge a “sham,” said it was “politically motivated, very clearly.”

“Have I made some mistakes? Absolutely. Were there some things that I would have done differently? Sure,” Mohamed said. “But she was imputing a lot of things.”

While the board’s vote settled the registration challenge, it did not resolve separate questions about the mortgage paperwork or marriage.