Congressional candidates face campaign changes.

NORWALK — Campaigning for elections this year has taken a turn from business as usual. Many in-person events have been canceled and most have turned to use social chatter to connect with constituents. In the race for Ohio's 4th Congressional District, the three candidates — Republican incumbent Jim Jordan, Democrat Shannon Freshour and Libertarian Steve Perkins — all have shifted their methods of campaigning. "We've been much more judicious in how we meet people where they are. We can't really do traditional door-knocking and with county fiars being eliminated, a lot of traditional ways to meet a broad array of voters we haven't really had that at our disposal," Freshour said. "The public's safety is critically important. We've really been relying on digital and word of mouth." Jordan's spokesman, Kevin Eichinger, said while there are fewer in-person meetings and events, people are still paying close attention to the elections and are eager to discuss the issues. "The biggest, most noticeable difference has been changing from in-person communication to more phone calls and Zoom meetings," Eichinger said. For Perkins, he said the pandemic has completely removed the ability to implement a strategy of "wearing out my shoes to present a campaign on the ground." Perkins said it removes many avenues to present a message to people. "The politically connected have already been bought and paid for," he said. "Incumbents take millions from their war chests that have been filled by special interests and 'mail-in' their re-election with a budget that could never be touched unless you were just as corrupt already." Freshour said the pandemic has required her to be more creative. She said they've been able to do some things to interact with voters by implementing social distancing measures and wearing masks. "It's really important that we as people who are looking to be leaders and representatives respect the safety and the health of the people asking for their vote," she said. Eichinger said the move away from in-person events and meeting to more phone calls and Zoom meetings have been challenging, but not too difficult. "Everyone understands the need to conduct business a little differently, and they are happy to receive information about the issues facing the country any way they can get it," he said. Perkins said with a pandemic and a district as gerrymandered as Ohio's 4th, the outcome is a "foregone conclusion." "You won't see Jim Jordan in Ohio, but you'll see ads," Perkins said. "An alligator's favorite place is the swamp." Freshour said this year's election is incredibly important for everyone and that "everything you believe is on the ballot this year." She said if people support certain programs or issues, you should know where the candidates stand. "Everything that you care about is on the ballot this year," Freshour said. "It's really critically important to do all of your research and make sure that you're using really good sources."