The list of candidates considering a run against Steve Chabot is growing – and it's not exclusively Democrats who want to change the face of Ohio's 1st Congressional District.

Cincinnati City Councilwoman Amy Murray is exploring challenging Chabot in the 2020 GOP primary, potentially setting up an intriguing battle in an election cycle where both parties see Republican suburban, college-educated moms as the key to victory.

Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou confirmed on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week that he and Murray have talked about her running against Chabot, but the party leader said "it would be a mistake to primary challenge" the long-time congressman. (Click the Audioboom icon at the top of the article to listen.)

While Murray didn't deny being interested in a congressional run, she told Politics Extra: "I’m serving 2½ more years on City Council, and I’m focused on that right now.”

Chabot, in his 12th term, has never had a serious primary opponent in a congressional race.

Murray, 55, isn't the only Republican eyeing Chabot's seat. 700 WLW host Rocky Boiman has been trying to position himself as Chabot's successor in recent months, but the former NFL linebacker and Green Township trustee has no interest in a primary. Boiman – recently recognized by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's Maverick PAC as one of the nation's rising conservative stars – hopes to fill the seat after Chabot retires or loses.

Murray's interest comes as Republicans and Democrats await a U.S. Supreme Court court decision on whether Ohio's congressional districts map will have to be redrawn ahead of next year's election. That decision is expected by end of the month.

Several Greater Cincinnati Democrats, including Aftab Pureval, Alicia Reece and Jill Schiller, are in a holding pattern awaiting the high court's decision. If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court's decision to create fairer districts, 1st Congressional District lines will be redrawn to most likely favor Democrats. That'll set up a wild, free-for-all Democratic primary, and the winner would be the favorite to head to Washington.

But if the district remains gerrymandered to favor Republicans – spanning western and northern Hamilton County and all of Warren County – most of the Democrats currently considering a run won't end up challenging Chabot.

Democrats likely will still run a woman candidate, hoping to appeal to suburban moms who are turned off by Donald Trump and upset with the Republican Party for supporting the president.

I can see why Murray is at least exploring this. The Mount Lookout resident seems to fit the targeted voter demographic – a mother of two, college educated and a Procter & Gamble alum. Murray also will be termed off Council in 2021, and she's looking for her next step in politics.

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Murray could be an appealing general election candidate, but it'd be difficult for her to get through a primary. She is a moderate and has never won a head-to-head race. She hasn't publicly said if she backs Trump, though she has been supportive of the president's policies. Murray does not live in the current district, but there's no residency requirement in a congressional race.

Chabot isn't the ideal candidate to challenge in primary. He is a staunch conservative and an incumbent in good standing in the GOP. He's masterful at exploiting his opponents' weaknesses in a campaign.

In a primary, Chabot could appeal to voters by promoting that he's long been one of Capitol Hill's top pro-life leaders. His strong base of pro-life supporters have already offered a glimpse into how things might go if there's a Murray-Chabot primary.

Pro-life advocates took to social media to question Murray's stance on abortion in December 2017, after she was chosen as then-gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci's running mate. Months earlier, Murray had abstained from a Council vote to honor a longtime Cincinnati Planned Parenthood doctor.

It was a meaningless, non-binding resolution, and Council has absolutely no say on abortion laws. But pro-life advocates believed Murray should've voted against the resolution instead of sidestepping.

"Primaries are won on the fringes – on the left and the right – and there's not anybody who's going to get more to the right of Steve Chabot," Triantafilou said.

Asked specifically about Murray potentially running, Triantafilou added: "I love Amy Murray. We're good friends. She's got a great future in the party. We'll leave it there."

MICROSCOOPS

SABOTAGED: Cincinnati teachers' union members and supporters have foiled Ben Lindy's efforts to get the Democratic Party's endorsement in this year's race for Cincinnati Public Schools board. Lindy lost by one vote after a contentious endorsement committee meeting last weekend. He leads Teach for America in Greater Cincinnati, an organization unions can't stand despite it being supported by former President Barack Obama and run mostly by Democrats. Don't be surprised, however, if Lindy receives the backing of the powerful Cincinnati Business Committee. Lindy will likely raise more money than the entire field combined, and the Hyde Park resident has a decent chance of winning in year where there will be nothing else significant on the ballot to elevate an entire slate. The Cincinnati Democratic Committee will take a final vote on school board endorsements at the end of the month, where incumbents Ozie Davis, Carolyn Jones and Eve Bolton are expected to get the party's official backing.

OUTSIDE HELP? In another indication that Hamilton County is heading for its most expensive prosecutor's race ever: Local Democratic leaders have had preliminary discussions with George Soros' representatives about the liberal billionaire financier getting involved in the 2020 effort to unseat Joe Deters. That's no surprise, considering Soros has been backing progressive candidates in local prosecutor races the past three years in an effort to "overhaul to the U.S. justice system," according to Politico. Soros' Justice and Public Safety PAC has poured millions into district attorney races in Philadelphia and suburban Washington, D.C. Democrats are hoping to defeat long-time Prosecutor Joe Deters to essentially complete their takeover of Hamilton County government. Deters raised an eye-popping $500,000 at his campaign launch last month. Expect outside money to flow in for Deters and Democratic challenger Gabe Davis.

LONE VOTE: Kudos to Murray, who was the only Council member opposed to giving $750,000 to the Center for Closing the Health Gap in Wednesday's final budget vote. Council continued to allow the nonprofit organization – under scrutiny for its effectiveness and how it spends taxpayer money – to avoid having to go through the United Way vetting process like all other city-funded social services. "All human services funding should go through the United Way process," Murray said.

CONGRATS: Two Cincinnati Democratic political families have welcomed new baby boys. A hearty congratulations to City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld and his family on the arrival of George Pete Isaac Sittenfeld on June 12. Likewise to Hamilton County Democratic Party first executive co-chair Alex Linser and his family on the birth of Franklin George Linser on Monday. Congrats also goes out to the Kyle Plush Answer the Call Foundation, which received a presidential award for compassion from the National Emergency Numbers Association.

Subscribe and listen to Jason's free That's So Cincinnati podcast on Apple Podcasts and most other pod platforms. Email: jwilliams@enquirer.com