Voter at the voting machine. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Only repost photo with original story.)
Coming off the heels of victories in local races, the Ohio Democratic Party is bullish about the 2026 elections.
On November 4, all of the Democratic mayors in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo won re-election.
“Our mayors are models of what Democratic leadership can look like and represent the future of our party,” Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde said Wednesday during a virtual press call.
Ohio voters will cast ballots for a fresh governor in 2026, as they will for all other executive offices across the state, because all current officeholders are term-limited. This includes Ohio’s Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer.
“This cycle gives us the most opportunity for Ohio Democrats in 20 years, and we are confident we will win this election and take back our state,” Clyde said.
“Republicans in Columbus have raised costs for Ohioans and made life unaffordable for families across the state, serving only billionaires and special interests. In this election, voters will be ready for change while Republicans offer more of the same.”
The last time a Democratic candidate won any statewide executive office in Ohio was in 2006, when Ted Strickland was elected governor, Marc Dann was elected attorney general, Richard Cordray was elected treasurer and Jennifer Bruner was elected secretary of state.
“Republicans have controlled state government for almost two decades, and all we have to show for that is rising costs and declining quality of life,” Clyde said.
Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is running as the Democratic candidate for governor against Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
The Ohio Republican Party officially endorsed Ramaswamy in May.
Political newcomer Heather Hill he is also running for governor as, among others, independent after leaving the Republican Party.
Former Ohio Democratic congressman Tim Ryan has hinted at running for governor in 2026, but hasn’t made a decision yet.
Former Democratic Party Republican Elliot Forhan and John Kulewicz, a retired lawyer and member of the Upper Arlington City Council, is running for election Democratic primary for Ohio attorney general. Current Ohio Republican Auditor Keith Faber is also running for attorney general.
Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Representative Allison Russo i Bryan Hambleyoncologist at the University of Cincinnati Health, is running in the Democratic primary for secretary of state.
Current Ohio Republican Treasurer Robert Sprague and retired Air Force intelligence officer Marcel Strbich are running in the Republican primary for secretary of state.
Ohio’s current Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose will run for auditor in 2026.
Republicans seeking the nomination for Ohio treasurer include former state Sen. Niraj Antani, current state Sen. Kristina Roegner, former state Republican Jay Edwards and Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren.
No Democrat has announced their candidacy for Ohio auditor or treasurer in 2026 yet, but Clyde said she expects to hear announcements about those races soon.
Ohio Supreme Court races will be on the ballot in 2026.
Ohio Democratic Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner is being challenged by five Republicans competing in the primary – Rocky River Municipal Judge Joseph Burke, former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Andrew King, Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ron Lewis and a state appellate judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger.
Brunner is the only Democratic justice on the Ohio Supreme Court with a 6-1 record.
Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Dan Hawkins is running for re-election next year, but no candidate has announced they will seek his seat.
The deadline for submitting applications to stand is February 4, 2026 i The Ohio primary election will be held on May 5, 2026.
Also in 2026, former Ohio Democratic senator Sherrod Brown will face appointed Ohio Republican senator Jon Husted, who replaced J.D. Vance in the chamber. Husted is seeking his first election to the position.
Follow the OCJ reporter Megan Henry in Bluesky.
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