When Concerned Veterans for America-Ohio decided who would receive the organization’s first endorsement of this election cycle, they didn’t have to look far outside their own ranks. CVA-Ohio is throwing its support behind State Rep. Steve Demetriou in his bid for Ohio Senate District 27 — a choice that says as much about what the organization values as it does about the candidate himself.
“Steve Demetriou has spent his career answering the call to serve — from leading soldiers in Afghanistan to fighting for Ohio veterans and working families at the Statehouse,” said Adam Miller, CVA Strategic Director for Ohio. “He understands firsthand the sacrifices our veterans make, and he has backed that experience with a strong record of leadership, fiscal responsibility, and removing barriers to opportunity. CVA is proud to endorse Rep. Demetriou because we know he’ll continue to be a principled, effective voice for veterans and communities across Northeast Ohio in the state Senate.” It’s a fitting first pick. Demetriou’s path to the Statehouse didn’t start in politics — it started at West Point.
From the Battlefield to the Ballot Box
Demetriou graduated from the United States Military Academy with Dean’s List honors and a degree in economics before commissioning as an Army infantry officer. He earned his Ranger tab and Airborne wings, then deployed to Afghanistan, where he led an infantry platoon and earned the Bronze Star Medal for his service.
That’s not a line on a campaign mailer — it’s the foundation of how Demetriou approaches public service. Leading soldiers in combat means making decisions under pressure, taking responsibility for outcomes, and putting the mission and the people you’re serving ahead of yourself. It’s a mindset that doesn’t stay behind when the uniform comes off.
Service That Didn’t Stop
After leaving the Army, Demetriou became an entrepreneur, growing a small business from three employees to more than sixty in just three years, and later helping run several family-owned enterprises. Meeting payroll, navigating regulation, and keeping a business afloat through COVID-era labor shortages gave him a firsthand education in how government policy either helps or hinders the people trying to create jobs and opportunity.
That same instinct for service is what brought him to the Ohio House of Representatives, where he’s represented the 35th District since 2023 — and it’s what CVA-Ohio is betting on as he seeks to carry that record into the state Senate.
In the Ohio House, Demetriou has:
Delivered property tax relief for Ohio families
Championed parental empowerment and school choice, including support for the Backpack Bill
Backed a flat income tax and legislation to make Ohio more competitive for workers and job creators
Supported reforms to modernize regulatory frameworks, including for emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency
Voted for House Bill 15, a market-driven energy reform package aimed at boosting power generation, holding utilities accountable, and keeping rates low for consumers
Why the First Endorsement Matters
Organizations don’t spend their first endorsement of a cycle lightly. For a group built around elevating veterans’ voices in public policy, choosing Demetriou first is a statement: the discipline, accountability, and service-before-self mentality forged at West Point and on deployment in Afghanistan are exactly the qualities Ohioans should want carrying their interests in Columbus.
Demetriou has already shown in the Ohio House that his service didn’t end when he came home — it just changed uniforms. Now he’s asking Northeast Ohio voters in the 27th District to let him keep it going in the state Senate.
