May 11, 2026
Primary Election Results
Ohio’s May 5th primary election has officially set the stage for a high-profile 2026 general election, with major statewide, congressional, and Statehouse matchups now coming into focus. Results remain unofficial until certified by the Ohio Secretary of State. G2G follows elections very closely as we seek to develop new and maintain current relationships with elected officials. Below you will find results for races of interest, election news, and a recap of the 2026 Impact Ohio Post-Primary event G2G attended on May 7th.
Voter Turnout
Ohio’s May 5, 2026, primary turnout offered an early glimpse into what could become a highly competitive general election environment this fall. While overall statewide turnout remained relatively low at roughly 20%, Democrats significantly narrowed the enthusiasm gap that had favored Republicans in recent midterm primaries.
Approximately 791,000 voters requested Democratic ballots compared to roughly 817,000 Republican ballots — a far closer margin than in 2022, when Republican participation exceeded Democratic turnout by nearly half a million voters. The results suggest renewed Democratic engagement fueled by marquee statewide races, including former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s comeback bid and Amy Acton’s gubernatorial campaign, while Republicans demonstrated continued strength through decisive wins by Trump-backed candidates such as Vivek Ramaswamy.
Political analysts caution that primary turnout alone is not predictive of November outcomes, particularly in a state that has trended increasingly Republican in recent cycles, but the stronger Democratic showing may indicate a more energized and competitive electorate heading into key Senate, gubernatorial, and congressional contests that could shape control of both Congress and Ohio’s statewide offices
U.S. Senate
Former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown won the Democratic primary for Ohio’s U.S. Senate election and will face Senator Jon Husted (R-OH) in November. Brown received nearly 90% of the Democratic primary vote, while Husted was unopposed on the Republican side. This race will determine who serves the remainder of the term (through 2028) for the seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance and is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in the country. Current polling shows Husted up by a slight margin, but this is bound to change as we get further into election season.
Governor
Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican primary with more than 80% of the vote, defeating Casey Putsch. Ramaswamy will face former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary. With Casey Putsch performing better in rural areas than urban areas, taking about 25% of the Republican primary vote in these rural areas, Vivek will need to solidify the Republican base ahead of the November election. This comes after recent polls show voters who backed Casey Putsch will either abstain or vote for Dr. Acton. This race is a statistical tie currently and will be a closely watched race nationwide.
Secretary of State
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague who is running for Secretary of State faced a primary challenge from Marcell Strbich. Sprague received roughly 70% of the Republican primary vote and will face off against former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington). Russo received roughly 68% of the vote and won every county in the Democratic primary. Both candidates will seek to solidify their bases ahead of the November election, with Sprague being the current favorite to win that race.
Treasurer
Former State Representative Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) defeated State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) in a closely contested primary. Edwards overperformed in his home region of Southeast Ohio while also winning Western Ohio and Lucas, Cuyahoga, Montgomery, and Hamilton County, which contain Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati respectively. Roegner did well in affluent suburban counties such as Delaware, Warren, Lake, and her home county of Summit. While Edwards looks to solidify the Republican base ahead of the November election, he will face Democratic candidate Seth Walsh. Walsh, who ran unopposed, is a Cincinnati City Councilman, and was the Executive Director of the College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation.
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1 — Eric Conroy, who was formerly in the U.S Airforce, has won the Republican primary and will face Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-1). This will be a closely watched race as Republicans and Democrats battle to control the U.S House of Representatives next year.
District 5 — In Northwest Ohio, Democratic candidate Brian Shaver, the Fostoria City Council President, has narrowly won the crowded Democratic primary and will face long time Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-5). Shaver will seek to unseat the current Congressman in a very Republican leaning district.
District 7— Brian Poindexter who is a union ironworker and Brook Park City Councilman, has won a very contested Democratic primary. This is seen as somewhat of an upset as the runner-up was Ed Fitzgerald, who is the former Mayor of Lakewood and former Cuyahoga County Executive and is well known throughout the district. Poindexter will face Congressman Max Miller (R-OH-7) who currently holds a more Republican leaning seat after redistricting. This is a seat Democrats believe they can flip but Republicans are confident they will keep.
District 9 — Former State Rep. Derrick Merrin who ran against Kaptur in 2024 and lost by less than 2500 votes, has won the Republican primary by a significant margin defeating well known candidates Madison Sheahan who served has Deputy Director of ICE, and State Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania). Merrin will face Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), who he narrowly lost to last time. This race will be closely watched since the seat has become more Republican after redistricting. Congresswoman Kaptur has held a seat in Congress for 43 years, the longest serving woman in congressional history.
District 15 —Don Leonard, an Ohio State University educator, has defeated former State Representative Adam Miller. Leonard will face Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH-15) in a seat that has become more Republican since redistricting.
Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House District 7 - Upper Arlington Council President Ukeme Awakessien Jeter has won the Democratic primary and will likely replace outgoing State Representative Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) since this district is solidly Democratic.
Ohio House District 12 - Finance Chair State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) faced off against challenger Patty Hamilton once again. This was a surprisingly close primary race last election cycle but was less so this primary cycle. Stewart won with 59% to Hamilton’s 41%.
Ohio House District 31 - Mike Kahoe, who was on the Revere School Board, has won the Republican Primary over Stephanie Stock, who is the President of the Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom. Kahoe will face Democrat J. Noah Spinner. This district was won by Kamala Harris in 2024 and is a seat that Democrats are hoping to pick up given that State Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) is retiring.
Ohio House District 48 - Former State Rep. Christina Hagan, mounting a political comeback, has won the Republican primary and is likely to replace outgoing and longtime State Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton).
House District 60 - State Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) has defeated his primary challenge from Peggy Guzzo and faces Shelby Kimball. This seat has continued to garner interest from Republicans and Democrats as it has high population growth and will be more competitive than it has in recent years.
Ohio House District 61 - State Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) has lost his primary against former State Rep. Shawn Stevens (R-Sunbury) to replace State Rep. Beth Lear (R-Galena). This is seen as an upset given how well-known Brenner is throughout the district.
Ohio House District 62 - State Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) faced off against Dillon Blevins who ran against her last election cycle. This race was incredibly close last election, however, Schmidt has won by a significant margin and will head back to the general assembly next year.
Ohio House District 93 - Former Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) faced Larry Kidd who ran for the second Congressional District that was open following the departure of former Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-2). Stephens has won by a significant margin and will head back to the general assembly next year.
Ohio House District 96 - State Rep. Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville), faced a primary challenge from former State Sen. Frank Hoagland. Ferguson has won by a significant margin in this solidly Republican seat.
Statehouse Updates
Cirino Bows Out of Senate President Race
Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) announced he would end his bid for Senate president, effectively clearing the path for Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) to lead the chamber in the next General Assembly. Cirino, a prominent conservative voice and chief architect of several high-profile higher education and workforce proposals, had been viewed as a serious contender for the chamber’s top leadership role. His decision to step aside avoids what had become an increasingly public internal caucus battle and signals a continued consolidation of support around Reineke among Senate Republicans.
Yost Resigns As Attorney General
Ohio politics was jolted by reports that Attorney General Dave Yost is expected to resign before the end of his term to take a private-sector position, creating an unexpected vacancy in one of the state’s highest-profile executive offices. Yost, a longtime Republican officeholder who previously served as state auditor, has led the Attorney General’s office since 2019 and was once considered a major contender for governor before suspending his campaign last year. His departure would give Gov. Mike DeWine the opportunity to appoint a replacement, potentially reshaping the Republican bench heading into the 2026 election cycle. The resignation also adds another layer of uncertainty to an already dynamic political landscape in Ohio, where statewide offices, legislative leadership, and key congressional races are all undergoing significant transition at once.
2026 Post-Primary Impact Ohio
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce hosts post-election events to discuss results and look forward after each primary and general election. G2G typically attends these events as they are valuable for both information from leaders and networking.
Governor’s Race
Reflecting on the election, campaign strategists from both the Republican and Democratic sides feel positive about what they saw on May 5th. Democrats noted this was the highest democratic turnout since 2006, the last time Democrats held the Governor’s mansion and are hopeful this is a signal for good things ahead for the party. They noted 1 in 5 Republicans did not vote for Ramaswamy and there was a notable number of Republicans who pulled a Democratic ballot. Republicans are not worried by these statistics noting similar trends in 2018 when DeWine faced Cordray, a well-known candidate, and was still able to win by 3.5%. They need Trump voters to show up for Ramaswamy to secure the win and referenced their strong fundraising numbers. Republican strategists feel confident Ramaswamy is a strong pick as a self-made successful entrepreneur who will attract business to the state. Democrats believe Acton, who experienced homelessness in her youth but worked hard to put herself through medical school, understands Ohioans and is the new face the state needs to address its current challenges.
Statehouse Races & Updates
There are number of House and Senate races that are considered toss ups with Democrats believing they can flip those seats. Democrats would need to flip 6 seats in the House to break the super minority. In 2018, the election season following Trump’s first presidential win, Democrats flipped 6 House seats. Republicans think Democrats can only flip a few in the House but will hold strong in the Senate. Republicans believe Democrats need to talk about kitchen table issues many Ohioans care deeply about and currently are not. Democrats repeatedly noted affordability — the price of gas, rising cost of health insurance premiums, and childcare to name a few — as a reason they see their party succeeding in November.
The following districts are the most competitive in the state:
- House District 10 is located in southwest Franklin County, including parts of Grove City and southwest Columbus, and is currently represented by Democrat Mark Sigrist, who will face Republican Denise D’Angelo, a Grove City business owner; the district is considered ‘lean Democratic.’
- House District 11 covers west and southwest portions of Columbus in Franklin County and is currently held by Democrat Crystal Lett who will face Republican Shawn Kaeser, a Dublin City Schools teacher. This is generally considered ‘lean Democratic’ due to Franklin County voting trends.
- House District 17 is located in Cuyahoga County and one of two seats Republicans still hold in the County. Incumbent Mike Dovilla will face Democrat Megan Coy, a registered nurse and Olmsted Falls City Councilwoman.
- House District 27 is located in Hamilton County and currently held by Democrat Rachel Baker who will face Elizabeth Maier, a consultant and start up leader. This district leans Democratic but will be a close rase.
- House District 28 is located in suburban Hamilton County in the Cincinnati region and is considered one of the more competitive suburban legislative seats in Ohio, making it a true toss-up between Democrats and Republicans. This is currently held by Democrat Karen Brownlee who will face Blue Ash Mayor Jill Cole.
- House District 58 covers portions of the Mahoning Valley, including areas connected to Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Former Congressman and State Representative John Bocceiri will face non profit leader Heather Fronk. The seat is currently held by Democrat Lauren McNally who did not run for re-election. While historically Democratic due to union strength, the district has trended Republican in recent years and is now considered ‘lean Republican.’
- Senate District 3 is located in central Ohio and includes portions of Franklin County, primarily covering southeast and southern suburban areas. Republican Michele Reynolds currently holds the seat and will face Reynoldsburg City Councilmember Stacie Baker. While Franklin County overall trends Democratic, this district was drawn to favor Republicans and is generally considered ‘lean Republican,’ though Democrats could become more competitive over time as suburban voting patterns continue to shift.
- Senate District 13 covers Lorain County and most of Huron County in northern Ohio. Democrat State Representative Joe Miller and Republican House Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning are running. With both being incumbents and both former educators, the race will be of interest to many. While Republicans maintain an edge, the district is viewed as competitive and slightly Republican-leaning.
- Senate District 27 includes portions of Summit and Portage counties in the Akron suburban region. State Representative Steve Demetriou will face former educator Mike Roberto. The district is considered ‘lean Republican.’