2026 Ohio elections

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2026 Ohio elections
Flag of Ohio.svg
  2024 November 3, 2026 2028  

The 2026 Ohio general elections will take place on November 3, 2026, throughout the US state of Ohio. All of Ohio's United States House of Representatives districts and one U.S. Senate seat are up for election. Additionally, half of the Ohio Senate, all seats of the Ohio House of Representatives, parts of the state judiciary, and several state executive offices, including the governor, will appear on the ballot.

Contents

Due to term limits, the incumbent governor and several other statewide officers first elected in 2018 are ineligible for re-election. [1] Several of those officers are seeking other elected positions. [2]

Federal

Senate

A special election will be held for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by J.D. Vance, who resigned to become the vice president, concurrent with the general election. Republican John Husted, the former lieutenant governor, was appointed to the seat in February 2025, and is seeking re-election. [3]

House of Representatives

All of Ohio's 15 seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2026.

State executive

Ohio's state executives are up for election. Most of these positions are held by incumbents who have reached their term limits and are ineligible to run for re-election in 2026. [1]

Governor and lieutenant governor

Incumbent Republican governor Mike DeWine and lieutenant governor Jim Tressel are ineligible to seek a third term. [1]

Attorney general

Ohio's attorney general is up for re-election. Incumbent Republican Dave Yost is ineligible due to term limits. [1]

Secretary of state

The Ohio Secretary of State is up for election to a four-year term. Incumbent Republican Frank LaRose is ineligible for re-election. [1]

Treasurer

The state treasurer is up for election. Incumbent Republican Robert Sprague is ineligible to seek re-election. [1]

Auditor

The state auditor is up for election. The incumbent, Republican Keith Faber, is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. [1]

State legislative

Elections for both houses of the Ohio General Assembly will be held in 2026. [4]

Senate

The 17 odd-numbered districts out of 33 seats in the Ohio Senate are up for election in 2026. Prior to the election, eleven of these seats are held by Republicans and six are held by Democrats. [5]

House of Representatives

All 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives will be up for election in 2026. Prior to the election, sixty-five of these seats are held by Republicans and thirty-four are held by Democrats. [6]

State judicial

Multiple state judicial offices are up for election in 2026. Due to a bill passed in June 2021, Ohio Supreme Court and Ohio Court of Appeals elections are partisan, showing a party label next to each candidate. [7]

Supreme Court

Two of the seven justices of the Ohio Supreme Court are up for re-election to a six-year term. [8] Currently, six seats are held by Republicans and one is held by a Democrat. [9] Republican judge Patrick Fischer, whose seat is not up for election until 2028, has announced a challenge to Democratic judge Jennifer Brunner. [10]

Courts of Appeals

The Ohio District Courts of Appeals consists of 69 judges in 12 districts. Judges serve a 6-year term. Approximately 1/3 of these positions are up for election every two years. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taylor, Ashley (January 30, 2025). "Which Ohio politicians will be "termed out" of their office in 2026?". WTOL . Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  2. Carr Smyth, Julie (February 6, 2025). "Ohio elections chief Frank LaRose will run for state auditor in 2026". Associated Press . Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. Carr Smyth, Julie (April 10, 2025). "Trump favorite Jon Husted launches 2026 US Senate campaign in Ohio". Associated Press . Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  4. "2026 Legislative Races by State and Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  5. "Senate Directory". The Ohio Senate. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  6. "Member Directory". The Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  7. "Bill requiring party labels for Ohio judicial candidates clears legislature". The Plain Dealer . June 27, 2021.
  8. "Jurisdiction & Authority". Supreme Court of Ohio. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  9. Henry, Megan (November 5, 2024). "Republicans win all three Ohio Supreme Court races, increasing hold over court to 6-1". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  10. Bischoff, Laura A. (May 28, 2025). "Last Democrat statewide officeholder in Ohio targeted by colleague on Supreme Court". Columbus Dispatch . Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  11. "Appeals Courts". Ohio Judicial System. Retrieved June 27, 2025.