Secretary LaRose Releases List of Candidates Filing for Statewide Office

(Columbus) – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced today the list of partisan candidates who submitted petitions to run for statewide office in the May 5, 2026 primary election.

“Public service is a patriotic calling, and I want to recognize these candidates for having the courage to get in the arena, as Teddy Roosevelt described it,” said Secretary LaRose. “Our team at the Secretary of State’s office will now work with the county boards of elections to carefully review every petition signature and determine whether each candidate qualifies to appear on the primary ballot.”

The following candidates filed petitions by today’s 4pm deadline to run for a statewide office as a partisan candidate:

For U.S. Senate:

• Sherrod Brown (D)

• Jon Husted (R)

• Jeffrey M. Kanter (L)

• William B. Redpath (L)

• Ron Kincaid (D)

For Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio:

• Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert A. McColley (R)

• Amy Acton, David Pepper (D)

• Heather Hill, Stuart Moats (R)

• Casey Putsch, Kimberly C. Georgeton (R)

• Donald C. Kissick, James L. Mills (L)

• Renea Turner, Jalen Turner (R)

For Attorney General of Ohio:

• Keith Faber (R)

• John J. Kulewicz (D)

• Elliott Forhan (D)

For Secretary of State of Ohio:

• Bryan Hambley (D)

• Marcell Strbich (R)

• Allison Russo (D)

• Robert Sprague (R)

• Tom Pruss (L)

For Auditor of State of Ohio:

• Frank LaRose (R)

• Annette Blackwell (D)

For Treasurer of State of Ohio:

• Seth Walsh (D)

• Kristina D. Roegner (R)

• Jay Edwards (R)

For Ohio Supreme Court:

• Marilyn Zayas (D)

• Daniel R. Hawkins (R)

For Ohio Supreme Court:

• Jill Lanzinger (R)

• Jennifer Brunner (D)

• Colleen O'Donnell (R)

• Ronald Lewis (R)

• Andrew King (R)

Next Steps:

Bipartisan county election officials will begin reviewing the petitions to determine whether each candidate met the signature requirement to be placed on the ballot.

Upcoming Deadlines:

• February 17, 2026: Boards of elections must certify the validity and sufficiency of partisan candidates’ petitions. The Secretary of State must certify partisan candidates for the May 5 primary election.

• February 23, 2026: Write-in candidates for the May 5 primary election must file declarations of intent.

• February 24, 2026: Form of official ballots for the May 5 primary election must be certified by Secretary of State to boards of elections.

  
  

The full election calendar can be found here.

Media Contact

Ben Kindel

BKindel@OhioSoS.gov