2026 Ohio Midterms
Primary: May 5, 2026 · General: November 3, 2026
Filing deadline: Feb 4, 2026 · Polls updated as available
Governor (Open Seat · DeWine Term-Limited) · Nominees Set May 5
Republican Nominee ✓
✓ Vivek Ramaswamy
GOP NOMINEE · Won May 5 primary easily over Casey Putsch · Former biotech CEO, 2024 presidential candidate · Running mate: Rob McColley (Senate Pres)
General polling · Fox News Jun 3: Acton +1 (statistical tie) · RCP avg: Ramaswamy +1.0 · BGSU Apr: Ramaswamy +1 · Emerson Dec: Acton +1 · Dead heat all cycle
Democratic Nominee ✓
✓ Amy Acton
DEM NOMINEE · Uncontested Democratic primary · Former Ohio Health Director during COVID · Running mate: David Pepper
General polling · Fox News Jun 3: Acton +1 (statistical tie) · RCP avg: Ramaswamy +1.0 · BGSU Apr: Ramaswamy +1 · Emerson Dec: Acton +1 · Dead heat all cycle
U.S. Senate Special Election (Vance Vacancy) · Nominees Set May 5
JD Vance resigned Jan 10, 2025 to become VP. DeWine appointed Jon Husted. Special election Nov 3, 2026 fills remainder of term. Winner must run again in 2028 for a full six-year term.
Republican Nominee ✓
✓ Jon Husted
GOP NOMINEE · Uncontested Republican primary · Incumbent (appointed) · Former Lt. Governor
General polling · Fox News May 28–Jun 1: Brown 53, Husted 45 (Brown +8, first lead outside MoE) · BGSU Apr: Husted +3 · OnMessage Mar: Brown +2 · Cook Political: Toss Up
Democratic Nominee ✓
✓ Sherrod Brown
DEM NOMINEE · Easily won May 5 primary over Ron Kincaid · Former 3-term US Senator (2007–2025) · Lost to Moreno in 2024 by 3.6pts · Endorsed by IUPAT
General polling · Fox News May 28–Jun 1: Brown 53, Husted 45 (Brown +8, first lead outside MoE) · BGSU Apr: Husted +3 · OnMessage Mar: Brown +2 · Cook Political: Toss Up
Also on the Ballot · US Senate Special Election
Greg Levy
Party for Socialism and Liberation · Independent · Community organizer, veteran, musician · Akron native · Running general election only (no primary)
tap for details
U.S. House Races · All 15 Ohio Districts · General: Nov 3, 2026
New redistricted maps in effect for 2026. Nominees confirmed May 5 primary. Incumbents: 10R / 5D. Competitive targets: OH-1, OH-9, OH-13, OH-15.
★ Key Competitive Races
OH-9 · Toledo / NW Ohio · TOSS UP
Republican
Derek Merrin
Fmr state rep · Toledo-area · Lost to Kaptur by <1% in 2024
Democrat (Incumbent)
Marcy Kaptur
Longest-serving woman in Congress · In office since 1983 · Barely survived 2024
Cook PVI: R+3 after redistricting · District redrawn to favor R · NRCC targeting · called a national toss-up. Merrin came within 2,400 votes in 2024.
OH-1 · Cincinnati / SW Ohio · COMPETITIVE
Republican
Eric Conroy
Won May 5 R primary · District redrawn to expand R-friendly territory north to Warren/Clinton Co.
Democrat (Incumbent)
Greg Landsman
Won with 54.6% in 2024 · Former Cincinnati City Council · District now R-leaning after remap
Cook PVI: D+3 pre-remap, now R-leaning under new boundaries. Trump won the 2024 version of this district by ~3 pts. National Ds defending.
OH-13 · Akron / Summit-Stark · LIKELY D
Republican
TBD
Republican nominee TBD · District redrawn slightly more D per compromise map
Democrat (Incumbent)
Emilia Sykes
Won 51.1% in 2024 · Running for US Senate · if she wins Senate primary, seat becomes open
Sykes confirmed Senate candidacy · if she wins the Senate race, OH-13 becomes an open seat. District protected as D-leaning in redistricting deal. Watch this space.
OH-15 · SW Columbus Metro · WATCH
Republican (Incumbent)
Mike Carey
Incumbent · R+4 PVI · Survived 2024 · Former coal lobbyist
Democrat
Don Leonard
Won D primary over fmr. State Rep. Adam Miller · Expected to gain national D attention
Cook PVI R+4. Vorys recap flagged this as a race "expected to gain national attention." D nominee Don Leonard bested Adam Miller in the primary.
All 15 Districts · At a Glance
| District |
Region |
R Nominee |
D Nominee |
Rating |
| OH-1 | Cincinnati / SW Ohio | Eric Conroy | Greg Landsman (inc.) | Competitive |
| OH-2 | SE Ohio / Appalachia | David Taylor (inc.) | TBD (D primary) | Solid R |
| OH-3 | Columbus / Franklin Co. | TBD | Joyce Beatty (inc.) | Solid D |
| OH-4 | N-Central Ohio / Lima | Jim Jordan (inc.) | TBD | Solid R |
| OH-5 | NW Ohio / Findlay area | Bob Latta (inc.) | TBD | Solid R |
| OH-6 | NE Ohio / Mahoning Valley | Michael Rulli (inc.) | TBD | Likely R |
| OH-7 | NE Ohio / Medina-Summit | Max Miller (inc.) | TBD | Likely R |
| OH-8 | N Cincinnati suburbs / Butler Co. | Warren Davidson (inc.) | TBD | Solid R |
| OH-9 ★ | Toledo / NW Ohio | Derek Merrin | Marcy Kaptur (inc.) | Toss Up |
| OH-10 | Dayton / Montgomery Co. | Mike Turner (inc.) | TBD | Likely R |
| OH-11 | Cleveland / inner suburbs | TBD | Shontel Brown (inc.) | Solid D |
| OH-12 | E Columbus exurbs / Zanesville | Troy Balderson (inc.) | TBD | Solid R |
| OH-13 ★ | Akron / Summit-Stark | TBD | Emilia Sykes (inc.)* | Likely D* |
| OH-14 | NE Ohio / E Cleveland suburbs | David Joyce (inc.) | TBD | Likely R |
| OH-15 ★ | SW Columbus Metro | Mike Carey (inc.) | Don Leonard | Watch |
* OH-13: Emilia Sykes has declared for US Senate. If she wins the Senate Democratic primary, OH-13 becomes an open seat. TBD nominees = primary winner not confirmed in this build. Ratings reflect Cook PVI and post-primary conditions as of May 2026.
Key Dates
General Election
November 3, 2026
General election · all offices on ballot. US Senate special election concurrent.
Redistricting Note
New Maps in Effect
Ohio redistricted congressional maps Oct 2025. All US House races run under new boundaries in 2026.
Polling sources: Emerson College (Aug & Dec 2025), RealClearPolling average (Mar 2026). Nominees confirmed May 5, 2026. General election polling updates pending post-primary cycle.