University of Akron

Gun rights remain a central flashpoint in Ohio's 2026 elections for U.S. Senate and governor. Republican Jon Husted, who led concealed-carry reform as Ohio House Speaker, faces Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown, criticized by gun-rights advocates for backing assault weapons bans, red-flag laws, and universal background checks. In the governor's race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy opposes gun registration and red-flag orders, while Democrat Amy Acton, former state health director, frames gun ownership as a public health issue and backs expanded background checks. Republicans have poured over $200 million into the Senate race, with Trump and Vance rallying for Husted amid economic frustrations that analysts say could narrow GOP margins statewide.

Cuyahoga County's Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board has won praise from social service providers even after cutting funding to some of them, a marked contrast to the resistance County Executive Chris Ronayne has faced over demands for across-the-board departmental cuts. Providers say the ADAMHS Board took a thoughtful, targeted approach, evaluating which programs work together and prioritizing outcomes rather than simply preserving every existing agency, with some organizations gaining funding while others lost it. The opening of the Glick Recovery Campus, for example, absorbed services previously funded elsewhere.

By contrast, Ronayne's request for a flat 3.3% cut across all departments has drawn open pushback, with officials including the county prosecutor and clerk of courts declining to comply, arguing the executive's own office has expanded staff and spending. County departments have also outlined worst-case scenarios—including losing universal pre-K and funding for child advocacy and college-support programs—if voters reject a health and human services levy. The episode highlights how budget process and perceived fairness shape public and institutional trust during periods of shrinking government resources.