2026 Ohio General Election Results and Analysis

Introduction

Even before votes were counted, Ohio’s race for Governor was going to be transformational with two-term Governor Mike DeWine leaving office due to term limits. As the night unfolded, it became clear that a Democratic wave will change Ohio’s political dynamics overnight.

Both gubernatorial candidates, Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee, and Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee, were complete political outsiders – having never held elected office before. The race was bitterly fought, getting personal at times, and in the end Dr. Acton became the first woman elected Governor in Ohio and will be the first Democrat to be elected to the state’s highest office in 20 years.

The Democratic wave propelled other Democratic candidates for statewide office to victory. Importantly, the Ohio House Democratic Caucus gained enough seats (8) to end the Republican supermajority, which is critical for Dr. Acton’s incoming administration in the next General Assembly.  Three more seats in the Ohio House are too close to call as of publication of this memo. The Democratic victories also impact the upcoming lame duck session. Current Statehouse Republicans will push the envelope and pass as much of their agenda as possible before Democrats assume office in January. This raises questions about how Governor DeWine will react to proposals designed to curb executive branch powers.

The U.S. Senate race between incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R) and former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D) played a key role in determining which political party controls the Senate in the next Congress. Sen. Brown is returning to the Senate, and the Democrats will control the chamber with a wider margin than expected thanks to results across the country.

Nationally, Democrats rolled to victory, defeating incumbents in districts previously thought out of reach for the party. In Ohio, a redistricting effort meant to make certain seats more winnable for Republicans created an environment that ultimately resulted in challengers defeating incumbent Congressmen Mike Turner (R-Dayton), Max Miller (R-Bay Village) and Mike Carey (R-Columbus), helping the Democratic party to easily regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Even local races were of critical importance. Dozens of local ballot measures decided the future for the development of data centers.

Federal Elections

U.S. Senate

Going into Election Night, many thought the winner of Ohio’s Senate race would decide partisan control of the Senate. Sen. Brown handily defeated Sen. Husted 50.01% to 45.15% and Democrats, thanks to victories across the country, are taking control of the US Senate with a larger margin than expected. Because this election was a special election to finish the remaining term when J.D. Vance resigned to assume the Vice Presidency, Senator-elect Brown takes office almost immediately and faces re-election again in November 2028 for a full 6-year term.

U.S. House of Representatives

Nationally, Democrats regained control of the chamber thanks in part to victories even in districts previously thought unwinnable for the party. That included Ohio where three additional incumbents lost including Mike Turner (R-Dayton), Mike Carey (R-Columbus), and Max Miller (R-Bay Village). Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo), the current longest serving member of Congress, fended off former State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) in a rematch of 2024. With those victories, Democrats now hold 8 of Ohio’s 15 Congressional seats – the first time Democrats have had the majority of seats in the Ohio delegation since 2011.

All results are preliminary until the official canvas. Projected winners are in bold.

District	Incumbent	Democrat	Republican
1	Greg Landsman	Greg Landsman	Eric Conroy
2	Dave Taylor	Jen Mazzuckelli	Dave Taylor
3	Joyce Beatty	Joyce Beatty	Cleophus Delaney
4	Jim Jordan	Joshua Kolasinski	Jim Jordan
5	Bob Latta	Brian Sahver	Bob Latta
6	Michael Rulli	Elizabeth Kirtley	Michael Rulli
7	Max Miller	Brian Poindexter	Max Miller
8	Warren Davidson	Vanessa Enoch	Warren Davidson
9	Marcy Kaptur	Marcy Kaptur	Derek Merrin
10	Mike Turner	Kristina Knickerbocker	Mike Turner
11	Shontel Brown	Shontel Brown	Mike Kirchner
12	Troy Balderson	Jerrad Christian	Troy Balderson
13	Emila Sykes	Emilia Sykes	Carey Coleman
14	Dave Joyce	Maria Jukic	Dave Joyce
15	Mike Carey	Don Leaonard	Mike Carey

State Elections

Governor

Due to a controversial ad in the final weeks of the campaign, the Ohio Governor’s race drew national attention. It was the penultimate moment of a fiercely fought campaign.

Dr. Amy Acton became the first Democrat elected Governor of Ohio in 20 years since Ted Strickland in 2006. She is also the first woman elected to the post in the state’s history. She defeated Vivek Ramaswamy 52.31% to 44.38%.

Attorney General

Democrat John Kulewicz leads Auditor of State Keith Faber by around 30,000 votes – as provisional ballots, certain absentee ballots, and oversea ballots are counted, there is a slight possibility the Attorney General race could find itself in a recount position.  We will continue monitoring the margin in this tight race.

Other Constitutional Statewide Offices

The only statewide victory for Ohio Republicans was current Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Upper Arlington), who successfully defeated Annette Blackwell (D-Maple Heights) to become the next Auditor of State. Former House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) defeated Treasurer of State Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) in the race to become Secretary of State. Last, Cincinnati City Councilmember Seth Walsh (D) defeated former State Representative Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and will be Ohio’s next State Treasurer. LaRose’s victory draws more parallels to 2006, when Mary Taylor was the only statewide Republican to win and became Auditor of State.

Ohio Senate

Ohio Democrats picked up two seats to chip away at the Republican super majority, including defeating incumbent Senator Michele Reynolds. Democrat Mike Roberto won an open seat against Rep. Steve Demtrious in the other Democratic victory. Republican Rep. Gayle Manning denied the Democrats their third pickup when she was able to return to a seat she held previously.

All results are preliminary until the official canvas. Projected winners are in bold.

District	Incumbent	Democrat	Republican
1	Rob McColley		Craig Riedel
3	Michele Reynolds	Stacie Baker	Michele Reynolds
5	Steve Huffman	Jeffrey Harris	Phil Plummer
7	Steve Wilson	Cara Jacob	Zac Haines
9	Catherine Ingram	Catherine Ingram	Linda Mathews
11	Paula Hicks-Hudson	Paula Hicks-Hudson	James Nowak
13	Vacant[1]	Joe Miller	Gayle Manning
15	Hearcel Craig	Latyna Humphrey	Joseph Healey
17	Shane Wilkin	Brian Deer	Shane Wilkin
19	Andrew Brenner	Scot Charland	Ryan Rivers
21	Kent Smith	Kent Smith	Mikhail Alterman
23	Nickie Antonio	Bride Rose Sweeney	Robert Dintaman
25	Bill DeMora	Bill DeMora	Don Roberts
27	Kristina Roegner	Mike Roberto	Steve Demetriou
29	Jane Timken	Thomas West	Jane Timken
31	Al Landis	Laura Sirot	Al Landis
33	Al Cutrona	Michael Kripchak	Al Cutrona

Ohio House of Representatives

Going into Election Night, Ohio Democrats needed to flip six seats to break the Republican veto-proof super majority. Accomplishing that goal grew more important as it became apparent that Dr. Acton was poised for victory. A supermajority enables Republicans to override gubernatorial vetoes. If the House Democrats failed to win enough seats, an Acton administration would face immense challenges in advancing any agenda.

House Democrats not only succeeded, they appear poised to win at least eight seats, with a couple races still too close to call. Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) are leading by 19 and 126 votes respectively. Rep. Tom Young (R-) is losing to Democratic challenger Tom Herner in another race likely triggering an automatic recount.

All results are preliminary until the official canvas. Projected winners are in bold. Italics indicate a possible recount and/or too close to call at this time.

District	Incumbent	Democrat	Republican
1	Dontavius Jarrells	Dontavious Jarrells	Joel Greff
2	Latyna Humprhey	Charity Martin King
3	Ismail Mohamed	Ismail Mohamed	Bernadine Kennedy Kent
4	Beryl Piccolantonio	Beryl Piccolantonio
5	Meredith Lawson-Rowe	Merdith Lawson-Rowe	Richard Cole
6	Chrstine Cockley	Christine Cockley	Matthew Jackson
7	Allison Russo	Ukeme Awakessien Jeter	William Mercier
8	Anita Somani	Anita Somani	Kelly Hunter-Kalagidis
9	Munira Abdullahi	Munira Abdullahi	Bruce Euans
10	Mark Sigrist	Mark Sigrist	Denise D’Angelo
11	Crystal Lett	Crystal Lett	Shawn Kaeser
12	Brian Stewart	Liam Strausbaugh	Brian Stewart
13	Tristan Rader	Tristan Rader	Billy Fronimo
14	Sean Brennan	Sean Brennan	David Morgan
15	Chris Glassburn	Chris Glassburn	Daniel Conway
16	Bride Rose Sweeney	Scott DiMauro	Sophia Tjotjos
17	Mike Dovilla	Megan Coy	Mike Dovilla
18	Juanita Brent	David Russell	Maureen Lynn
19	Phillip Robinson Jr.	Nicole Sigursdon	Ed Hargate
20	Terrence Upchurch	Eugene Miller
21	Eric Synenberg	Eric Synenberg	Tina Barhams
22	Darnell Brewer	Darnell Brewer
23	Daniel Troy	Daniel Troy	Julie Belich
24	Dani Isaacsohn	Dani Isaacsohn
25	Cecil Thomas	Cecil Thomas
26	Ashley Bryant Bailey	Ashley Bryant Bailey	Tom Brinkman
27	Rachel Baker	Rachel Baker	Nancy Aichholz
28	Karen Brownlee	Karen Brownlee	Jill Cole
29	Cindy Abrams	Jonathan Bradner	Cindy Abrams
30	Mike Odioso	Caleb Price	Mike Odioso
31	Bill Roemer	J. Noah Spinner	Mike Kahoe
32	Jack Daniels	Djordjije Popovic	Jack Daniels
33	Veronica Sims	Veronica Sims	Napoleon Rodgers
34	Derrick Hall	Derrick Hall	Craig Shubert
35	Steve Demetriou	Samantha Salamon	Vik Sandhu
36	Andrea White	Rose Lounsbury	Andrea White
37	Tom Young	Tom Herner	Tom Young
38	Desiree Tims	Desiree Tims
39	Phil Plummer	Daquan Neal	Mark Campbell
40	Rodney Creech	Timothy Hornbacker	Rodney Creech
41	Erika White	Erika White	Ian Chamberlin
42	Elgin Rogers Jr.	Elgin Rogers Jr.	Robert McMahon
43	Michele Grim	Michele Grim	David Karmol
44	Josh Williams	David Fournier	Edward Schimmel
45	Jennifer Gross	Jayson Rasheed	Jennifer Gross
46	Thomas Hall	Benjamin McCall	Thomas Hall
47	Diane Mullins	Jordan Haire	Diane Mullins
48	Scott Oelslager	Nick Morris	Christina Hagan
49	Jim Thomas	Krista Allison	Jim Thomas
50	Matthew Kishman	Rylan Finzer	Matthew Kishman
51	Jodi Salvo	Amanda Fontana	Jodi Salvo
52	Gayle Manning	Mike Baker	Cliff Winkel
53	Joe Miller	Matt Lundy	Bradley Lacko
54	Kellie Deeter	Brenda Buchanan	Kellie Deeter
55	Michelle Teska	Paul Kurtz	Michelle Teska
56	Adam Mathews	Laalitya Acharya	Adam Mathews
57	Jamie Callender	Rick Walker	Jessie Styles
58	Lauren McNally	John Boccieri	Heather Fronk
59	Tex Fischer	Wayne Penny Jr.	Tex Fischer
60	Brian Lorenz	Shelby Kimball	Brian Lorenz
61	Beth Lear	Vince McGrail	Shawn Stevens
62	Jean Schmidt	Ian Schwartz	Jean Schmidt
63	Adam Bird	Debbie Davidson	Adam Bird
64	Nick Santucci		Nick Santucci
65	David Thomas	John Barbo	David Thomas
66	Sean Hutson	Chris Nardo	Sean Hutson
67	Melanie Miller	Heather Sample	Melanie Miller
68	Thad Claggett	Mason Blankenship	Thad Claggett
69	Kevin Miller	Amy Rigsby	Kevin Miller
70	Brian Lampton	Kim McCarthy	Brian Lampton
71	Levi Dean	Krista Magaw	Levi Dean
72	Heidi Workman	Jeff Clapper	Heidi Workman
73	Jeff LaRe	Whittney Wood	Jeff LaRe
74	Bernard Willis	Darrell Jackson	Bernard Willis
75	Haraz Ghanbari	Richard Rettig	Haraz Ghanbari
76	Marilyn John	Colton Stidam	Marilyn John
77	Meredith Craig	Brooke Dillon	Meredith Craig
78	Matt Huffman	Jeffrey Givan	Matt Huffman
79	Monica Robb Blasdel	Bob Guy	Monica Robb Blasdel
80	Johnathan Newman	Katie Koehler Wagner	Johnathan Newman
81	James Hoops	David Swanson	Patti Rockey
82	Roy Klopfenstein	Maddux McCray	Roy Klopfenstein
83	Ty Mathews	Sheila Coressel	Ty Mathews
84	Angela King	Arienne Childrey	Angie King
85	Tim Barhorst	Victoria Maddox	Tim Barhorst
86	Tracy Richardson	Kent Halloran	Ben Weber
87	Riordan McClain	Lora Covrett	Jeffrey McClain
88	Gary Click	Aaron Jones	Gary Click
89	Vacant[2]	Easton Retzke	Caleb Stidham
90	Justin Pizzulli	Collin Docterman	Justin Pizzulli
91	Bob Peterson	Amy Wright	Bob Peterson
92	Mark Johnson	Sarah Senff	Mark Johnson
93	Jason Stephens	Jessica Harper	Jason Stephens
94	Kevin Ritter	Wenda Sheard	Kevin Ritter
95	Ty Moore	Paul Cameron	Ty Moore
96	Ron Ferguson	Charrie Foglio	Ron Ferguson
97	Adam Holmes		Adam Holmes
98	Mark Hiner	Scott Grund	Mark Hiner
99	Sarah Fowler Arthur	Louis Murphy	Sarah Fowler Arthur

Judicial Elections

Ohio Supreme Court

The Democratic victories continued even in the judicial branch. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Brunner (D) won re-election over Judge Colleen O’Donnell (R). Justice Brunner will no longer be the only Democrat serving on the high court thanks to Judge Marilyn Zayas (D) defeating Justice Dan Hawkins (R).  Interestingly, these victories come after the legislature changed Ohio law to place party affiliation for certain judicial candidates on the ballot.

Court of Appeals

All results are preliminary until the official canvas. Projected winners are in bold.

District	Democrat	Republican
1	Ginger Bock
2		Chris Epley
3		Mark Miller
4	Todd Grace	Jayme Fountain
5		Matthew George
6		Michael Goulding
6	Myron Duhart	CJ Kamm
7		Molly Johnson
7	Katherine Rudzik	Mark Anthony Hanni
8	Ashley Kilbane
8	Jeff Crossman
8	Michael John Ryan
8	Emanuella Groves
8	Anita Laster Mays	Anthony Alto
9	Tavia Galonski	Nathan Manning
9	Betty Sutton	Cythia Curtin
10	Michael Mentel
10	Terri Jamison
11		Marisa Cornachio
11		Robert Patton
12		Robert Hendrickson
12		Matthew Byrne[3] Willa Concannon[4]

Ballot Issues.

Statewide – Issue 3

Ohio voters enshrined ID requirements for voting in the state constitution by approving Issue 3. Ohio Republicans initially thought the measure could be a wedge issue and even drive Republican voter turnout, but when Dr. Acton expressed her support for Issue 3, no real opposition to the proposal emerged.

Local Ballot Issues – Data Centers

Election night in Ohio always includes a multitude of local ballot measures, often school and local government operating levies. Data centers were on the ballot, both figuratively and literally, on Tuesday. Campaign ads routinely tried to tie candidates to unpopular data center projects throughout the cycle. According to Ballotpedia, 41 ballot issues involving data centers, ranging from charter amendments banning data centers, enacting moratoriums, or referendums on zoning approvals, were decided on Tuesday evening. Notable was Issue 28 in Grove City, which requires a voter referendum on any large-scale economic development projects – not exclusively data centers. Issue 28 was approved by approximately 1,900 votes as of the current count. The trend appeared to hold across multiple ballot issues with outright bans or overturned approvals appearing likely to pass.

Conclusion

It cannot be understated how transformational the 2026 election was in Ohio. Ohio Democrats completely upended the political dynamics in Columbus, at least for the next two years. Many questions remain. Governor-elect Acton begins the difficult task of assembling a staff and cabinet to run Ohio’s government, along with other incoming statewide office holders.

The General Assembly, at least in the House, will also have a different feel in 2027. Questions about leadership in both the statehouse and political caucuses will definitely be heard in Columbus. The previous supermajority allowed for defections when there were internal disagreements. How will Democrats leverage their increased numbers in the chamber.

In the near term, the legislature returns to Columbus for the final days of the 136^th General Assembly – otherwise known as lame duck session. Significant questions now arise going into the November-December lame duck session.  With Governor-elect Acton’s victory, Ohio Republicans may feel pressure to enact a number of policy proposals that the incoming Governor would likely veto.   How far might those proposals go?  Will outgoing Governor Mike DeWine go along with them and sign them into law? Or, might he veto legislative efforts he thinks go too far? With the clear sea change demanded by voters, at both the state and national levels, will Ohio voters allow more Republican games before the full slate of Democrat statewide officeholders take office in January 2027?

Statewide Officeholder Transition Planning

In the coming days and week, each of the new elected statewide officeholders will begin to name key staff members and outline plans for their respective transition efforts and January 2027 inaugural events.  We will continue to update all of you on those transition efforts, key staffing announcements, and inaugural events and inaugural committee opportunities of support in the new year.

As Ohio moves forward, we are strategically positioned to help you assess the political landscape and achieve your policy goals.

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[1] Nathan Manning vacated this seat after being appointed to the 9^th District Court of Appeals.

[2] Rep. D.J. Swearingen resigned to take a position in the federal government.

[3] Withdrew, but name remains on the ballot, per Ballotpedia.

[4] Write-in candidate.