We’ve only just begun: Election season begins in earnest after Tuesday’s primaries

The 2026 election season is about to begin in earnest with Tuesday’s primary elections, setting the stage for what could be one of the Buckeye State’s most consequential elections in recent years.

In the highest-profile race, the governor’s race, Cincinnati native and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and his lieutenant governor running mate, Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, face off in a nominal primary against Casey Putsch and Kimberly Georgeton. Putsch has made headlines in recent weeks for all the wrong reasons, including comments about Ramaswamy that have been condemned as racist.

Republicans Heather Hill and Stuart Moats will also appear on the ballot, but any votes for the duo will not be counted, as Moats has withdrawn from the race.

Ramaswamy and McColley are expected to face off against Democrats Amy Acton, the state’s former director of public health, who continues to face questions over her actions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and David Pepper, the former Democratic Party head, and Libertarians Donald C. Kissick and James L. Mills in November. Polling data for November’s election shows a tight race.

“While our opponent tells Ohio that affordability is just a ‘buzzword’, Amy is fighting to make life better for Ohio’s working families by lowering costs, tackling corruption and building a state where everyone can get ahead,” Acton Campaign Manager Phil Stein said in a recent statement.

Ramaswamy, however, is pointing to his business success as a record of accomplishment and something Ohioans should strive to achieve.

“If you listen to my opponent, with due respect, I think she’s articulated no vision for the state, but constantly criticizes me for, in her words, being a billionaire,” Ramaswamy told WCPO-TV. “Well, you know what? I view success is something we should celebrate and actually ensure that every kid in the state is able to achieve that same success at an even bigger scale.”

In an equally high-profile race for the U.S. Senate, former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown faces off against Ron Kincaid in the Democratic primary. Jeffrey Kanter and William Redpath will face off in the Libertarian primary.

The winners will face incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appointed to the seat in January 2025 to replace now Vice President JD Vance.

Congressional Races to Watch

The two highest-profile congressional seats, particularly in the wake of last year’s redistricting, are the 1st and 9th districts.

In the 1st Congressional District in the Cincinnati area, Holly Adams, Eric Conroy, Steven Erbeck and Rosemary Oglesby-Henry will face off in the Republican primary. John D. Hancock Jr. and write-in Jason Stoops will battle for the Libertarian nomination.

The winners hope to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, who is running against Damon Lynch IV for the nomination.

In the 9th Congressional District, Anthony Campbell, Derek Merrin, Alea Nadeem, Madison Sheahan and Josh Williams will battle it out for the Republican nomination. Matthew Althaus and David Gedert will face off for the Libertarian nomination.

The winners hope to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

Expert: Republicans Likely to Retain Control of the Statehouse

At the state level, one political expert said he expects Republicans to retain their hold on the state House and the state Senate.

“The question becomes, is it a tidal wave, a tsunami, or a trickle?” Herb Asher, a political scientist at The Ohio State University, told Governing. “For Democrats to have a good year in Ohio, it has to be a major wave.”

Added Asher: “I don’t think anybody expects the Democrats, in the near term, to ever win control of the General Assembly.”