Ohio voters will cast their ballot for a new governor in 2026, along with all of Ohio’s other statewide executive offices, as all current officeholders are term-limited.
That includes Ohio secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, treasurer. Two Ohio Supreme Court justice seats will also be up for election this year.
Former Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton is running as a Democratic candidate for governor. Former Congressman Tim Ryan announced he will not run for governor, essentially clearing a path for Acton to be the Democratic nominee.
Acton has received nominations from the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, and the United Auto Workers.
There are two Republican candidates running for governor — entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and political newcomer Casey Putsch. The Ohio Republican Party officially endorsed Ramaswamy in May 2025.
Ramaswamy has secured trade union endorsements including the Ohio Teamsters Union and the Central Regional Council of Carpenters. President Donald Trump and the Center for Christian Virtue’s president have also endorsed Ramaswamy, who ran for president in 2024.
Putsch lives in northwest Ohio and is a founder of the nonprofit Genius Garage car charity.
Political newcomer Heather Hill is also running for governor as an independent after leaving the Republican party.
Former Democratic state Rep. Elliot Forhan and John Kulewicz, a retired attorney and Upper Arlington City Council member, are running in the Democratic primary for Ohio attorney general. Current Republican Ohio Auditor Keith Faber is also running for attorney general.
Democratic Ohio House state Rep. Allison Russo and Bryan Hambley, a cancer doctor with University of Cincinnati Health, are running in the Democratic primary for secretary of state.
Current Republican Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and retired Air Force intel officer Marcell Strbich are running in the Republican primary for secretary of state.
Current Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running for state auditor in 2026.
A Republican primary for the nomination for Ohio treasurer includes former state Sen. Niraj Antani, current state Sen. Kristina Roegner, former state Rep. Jay Edwards, and Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren.
No Democrats have yet announced their candidacy in 2026 for Ohio auditor or treasurer.
Two Ohio Supreme Court races will be on the 2026 ballot.
Democratic Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner is being challenged by four Republicans competing in a primary — former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell, Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Andrew King, Second District Court of Appeals Judge Ron Lewis, and State Appellate Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger.
Brunner is the only Democratic judge on the 6-1 Ohio Supreme Court.
Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Dan Hawkins is up for reelection next year against Democratic candidate First District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Ohio Supreme Court in 2022 when she lost to Justice Pat DeWine by a 13% margin.
The filing deadline to run for Ohio office is Feb. 4, Ohio’s primary election is May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3.
The last time a Democratic candidate won any of Ohio statewide executive offices was back 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.
Also in 2026, former Ohio Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will challenge appointed Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who replaced JD Vance in the chamber. Husted is seeking his first election to the position.
This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.