Aaron Gies

Gies says he was raised in a working family; his father ran a small contracting business and his mother worked as a school secretary. He holds a B.A. in Bible and Religion from Montreat College (2002) and an M.A. in Christian Thought from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2007).[4][1] He went on to earn an M.A. in Medieval Studies (2010) and a Ph.D. in Historical and Systematic Theology (2018) from The Catholic University of America, and a 2023 diploma in manuscript studies from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.[1]

Before academia, Gies says, he worked as a teacher and nonprofit leader, waited tables, balanced the books for a Main Street business and worked on a nonprofit farm. He joined St. Bonaventure University in 2019 as a research postdoctoral fellow, became a regular member of the Department of Theology and Franciscan Studies in 2021, and is now an associate professor.[4][1] Gies is Associate Editor of the Franciscan Institute's journal Franciscan Studies and has published translations of the medieval theologian Alexander of Hales. The university's faculty profile says he serves as a cantor in his parish and helps at his wife's veterinary clinic.[1]

Gies's 2026 campaign was his first run for political office, according to WSKG's July 2025 coverage of his candidacy announcement. He won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary over Erie County attorney Kevin Stocker, and Spectrum News described him as a political newcomer.[5][2][7] He received 39.8% of the vote to Nick Langworthy's 60.2%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]