There are 105 candidates running for office during this year’s midterm elections, spread out between the federal, state and local level.
It’s easy to get confused with such an influx of information, but don’t worry — we’re here to help you understand who’s who and what’s on your ballot.
Click here for a list of key election dates, from registering to vote to requesting your absentee ballot.
Federal elections
Special Election for U.S. Senate
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This state-wide special election is being held to fill the federal Senate seat vacated by J.D. Vance when he became vice president. The pre-primary field is crowded, and will likely be quite competitive.
The incumbent is Sen. Jon Husted, the former lieutenant governor of the state. The candidate with the most name recognition is likely former Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, who is back in the running following his 2024 loss to Sen. Bernie Moreno. Brown faces a primary challenge from local disability activist Ron Kincaid.
The race also includes four third party candidates: Jeffrey Kanter and Bill Redpath will face off during the Libertarian primary, while Gregory Levy represents the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Stephen Faris is running an independent write-in campaign.
District 1 U.S. House Elections
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This House race pits former Cincinnati councilman and current incumbent Rep. Greg Landsman against a wide field vying for his seat in Washington, including a primary challenge from nonprofit executive Damon Lynch. District 1 occupies most of Cincinnati and the outlying areas of Hamilton and Warren counties.
The Republican ticket is a four-way primary challenge between sales manager Holly Adams, Air Force and CIA veteran Eric Conory, dentist Dr. Steven Erbeck, and nonprofit founder and educator Dr. Rosemary Oglesby-Henry.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will face Libertarian candidate John Hancock.
District 8 U.S. House Elections
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
Incumbent Rep. Warren Davidson is currently serving his fifth term in the House, following his appointment to the seat after former House Speaker John Boehner resigned in 2015. District 8 is made up of many of the western suburbs of Cincinnati, including Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Woodlawn; as well as Butler, Darke and Preble counties.
Davidson will face the winner of May’s Democratic party primary election, which will be between Cincinnati-based CEOs Vanessa Enoch and Madaris Grant.
State Elections
Governor
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Current Gov. Mike DeWine will be unable to run again following the end of his second term, so this election lacks an incumbent candidate. DeWine has endorsed former Roivant Sciences CEO and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to fill his seat. Despite that endorsement, Ramaswamy is facing two primary challengers: CEO Heather Hill and nonprofit founder Casey Putsch.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic candidate and former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, as well as Libertarian candidate and former auto/HVAC worker Don Kissick.
Independent candidate Tim Grady is a public affairs student at The Ohio State University.
Lieutenant Governor
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Unsurprisingly, the election for lieutenant governor is tied to the election for governor — whichever candidate wins that race, their running-mate will win this race.
Dr. Acton has picked former state Democratic Party chairman and Cincinnati councilman David Pepper as her teammate, while Hill has chosen Air Force veteran Stuart Moats, and Putsch has chosen Cloudality CEO Kim Georgeton.
Ramaswamy is running alongside state Sen. Robert McColly, and Kissick has selected James Mills. Independent candidate Tim Grady, meanwhile, has chosen substitute teacher and Army veteran Andrea Neutzling.
Attorney General
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Current A.G. Dave Yost is at the end of his second term, which means he is ineligible to hold the office again.
Instead, State Auditor Keith Faber is running for the office. He faces two Democratic party challengers; former state Rep. Elliot Forhan and Upper Arlington city councilman John Kulewicz.
Secretary of State
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Current Secretary of State Frank LaRose, facing the end of his second term, has decided to run for state auditor, leaving current State Treasurer Robert Sprauge to run for secretary.
Sprauge is challenged by both Democrats, Libertarians and Republicans; including current state Rep. C. Allison Russo, local hematologist Dr. Bryan Hambley, and Toledo-based perennial candidate Tom Pruss. Sprauge even faces a challenger from within his own party, Air Force veteran Marcell Strbich.
State Auditor
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This election pits current Maple Heights mayor Annette Blackwell against current Secretary of State Frank LaRose for the office of auditor; putting them in charge of financially investigating public bureaucratic bodies throughout the state.
State Treasurer
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh finds himself running against both Jay Edwards (a veteran of the state House of Representatives) and Kristina Daley-Roegner (a veteran of the state Senate) for the office of treasurer.
If elected, either of the three would be put in charge of the state’s $249 billion dollar budget.
Ohio Supreme Court (Brunner’s Seat)
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
The only state-wide elected Democrat in Ohio, Justice Jennifer Brunner has held her spot on the bench since 2021.
This year, she faces four Republican challengers: Judge Andrew King of the Fifth District Court of Appeals, Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger of the Ninth District Court of Appeals, Judge Ronald Lewis of the Second District Court of Appeals, and federal immigration Judge Colleen O’Donnell.
Ohio Supreme Court (Hawkins’ Seat)
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Justice Dan Hawkins has served on the Ohio Supreme Court since 2024. This year he faces a Democratic challenger; Judge Marilyn Zayas of the First District Court of Appeals.
District 9 State Senator
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This undisputed election for state Senate covers much of Cincinnati and central Hamilton county. Incumbent Sen. Catherine Ingraham has held the seat since 2021.
District 24 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This undisputed race for state House covers a similar area to the Senate’s 9th district; including most of Cincinnati. Unchallenged incumbent state Rep. Dani Isaacson has held the seat since 2023.
District 25 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Incumbent Rep. Cecil Thomas is running an undisputed race for the State House, covering a district that includes multiple northern Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Clifton and Camp Washington.
Thomas has been in office since 2023.
District 26 State Representative
General: November 3, 2026
Incumbent Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey will be defending her seat in the State House from former state representative and national Senate candidate Tom Brinkman Jr.
Bryant Bailey’s district is spread across eastern Cincinnati, from Hyde Park to Mariemont, even including a bit of Mt. Washington.
District 27 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
A first-time candidate, and the current president of wealth management business Clarita, Elizabeth Maier is seeking to challenge incumbent Rep. Rachel Baker for her seat in the State House.
The district includes the Indian Hill and Reading neighborhoods around the eastern edge of the city.
District 28 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Though she’s only held office for a little over a year, incumbent Rep. Karen Brownlee now faces a general election challenge by Blue Ash mayor Jill Cole — whose city lies at the heart of the district.
District 29 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This election sees incumbent Rep. Cindy Adams defending her State House seat from Jonathan Bradner, a pastor at Immanuel United Church of Christ.
Rep. Adams’ district covers some of the far western suburbs of Cincinnati; from Northgate to the Indiana state line.
District 30 State Representative
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Stretching from Covedale all the way past Cleves, incumbent Rep. Mike Odioso’s district lies over much of the river front south-western area of Cincinnati. Odioso is being challenged by first-time candidate and public administration student Caleb Price.
District 1 Court of Appeals Judge
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Judge Ginger Bock is running an undisputed race for the state First District Court of Appeals. Bock has been on the bench since 2021.
County Elections
County Commissioner
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
The former mayor of Forest Park, Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas, is the first woman of color to be elected to a county commissioner position in the history of Ohio. She is facing a challenge from Jonathan Pearson, owner of Pearson Turf & Landscaping, who lost the 2024 Hamilton County Commissioner election to Commissioner Alicia Reese. Summerow Dumas is also facing a primary challenge from city council member Meeka Owens and former mayoral candidate Dr. Herman Najoli, who is running as both a Democrat and Independent.
County Auditor
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
Incumbent Hamilton County auditor Jessica Miranda is facing an independent challenge from former State House candidate Regina Collins.
Court of Common Pleas Elections
In the state of Ohio, all magistrates and attorneys wishing to join the bench of the county Court of Common Pleas must participate in a partisan primary election, followed by a non-partisan general election.
Judges from different divisions within the court can choose to run for a seat within another division, but must also participate in the primary.
Court of Common Pleas Judge (General Division)
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
The Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas has 14 active judges on it. Those marked as incumbents below are up for re-election this year, while those that aren’t are not active judges on the court.
Who’s Running?
Democrats
Jennifer Branch (Incumbent)
Wende Cross (Incumbent)
William Gallagher
Alison Hatheway (Incumbent)
Sarah Henry
Manisha Kotian
Latoya Maley
Christian Jenkins (Incumbent)
Donte Johnson
Alan Triggs (Incumbent)
Chris Wagner (Incumbent)
Republicans
Katie Casch (Incumbent)
Leah Dinkelacker (Incumbent)
Robert Goering (Incumbent)
Chris McDowell (Incumbent)
Court of Common Pleas Judge (Drug Court Division)
General: Nov. 3, 2026
This uncontested election will appoint Judge Nicole Sanders to the Hamilton Country Drug Treatment and Recovery Court, the only full-time court of its kind in the state.
Sanders has sat on the bench since 2021.
Court of Common Pleas Judge (Probate Division)
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
The Hamilton County Probate Court serves many of the legal needs for the county’s residents; including birth and death certificates, declarations of paternity, name changes, and will deposits.
Incumbent judge Ralph Winkler is facing a challenge from local attorney Elizabeth Tye-Bristol. Winkler has sat on the bench since 2015.
Court of Common Pleas Judge (Juvenile Division)
Primary: May 5, 2026
General: Nov. 3, 2026
The Hamilton County Juvenile Court hears cases with children as a legal feature; including criminal delinquency cases, custody hearings, and child support cases.
Incumbent judge Kari Bloom is facing a challenge by magistrate Susan Luken, who currently serves as the assistant administrator for the probate court. Bloom has sat on the bench since 2021.
Court of Common Pleas Judge (Domestic Relations Division)
General: Nov. 3, 2026
The Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court covers all aspects of family law not pertaining to children.
Magistrate Tiffany Evans is running unopposed in this election.
Party Central Committee Elections
In Ohio, voters elect the members of their party’s central committee.
As stated by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, a committee member is “…the first line of contact with residents of your precincts when they are concerned with local issues that may affect their community.”
Committee members also recruit and appoint precinct election officials during election season. During the primary, voters will vote for one male and one female member, to ensure gender equality on the committee.
For a full list of Democratic Central Committee candidates, click here; for a list of Republican candidates, here, and Libertarian candidates, here.
This article was edited at 4:39 PM on March 3, 2026 to remove mention of some candidates who were no longer in contention.