Robert Sprague

Ohio voters choose a new secretary of state on Nov. 3, with Republican state Treasurer Robert Sprague, Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, and Libertarian Tom Pruss on the ballot. The race has turned on two election-policy flashpoints: a proposed constitutional amendment (Issue 3) locking in photo ID requirements, which Sprague backs and Russo and Pruss oppose, and absentee ballot drop boxes, which Sprague wants eliminated while Russo and Pruss favor expanding. Sprague, the best-funded candidate, emphasizes election security and points to fraud cases in other states; Russo argues Ohio's drop boxes are already secure and accuses Republicans of suppressing access. A planned debate between Sprague and Russo never materialized.

Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh and Republican former state Rep. Jay Edwards are competing to succeed term-limited Republican Robert Sprague as Ohio treasurer, a lower-profile office that serves as the state's chief investment officer and banker overseeing roughly $275 billion in assets, including pension board appointments, the Ohio Checkbook transparency tool and programs like STABLE accounts and Ohio Homebuyer Plus.

Both candidates oppose using Ohio's unclaimed funds to help finance a new domed Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park; Edwards wants oversight of unclaimed funds moved to the treasurer's office, while Walsh wants to join litigation challenging the funding mechanism. Both also want to direct more state investment toward smaller communities and credit unions. They diverge on the state's roughly $262.5 million in Israel Bonds holdings, with Walsh opposed to prioritizing investment in any foreign country and Edwards favoring decisions based on financial merit. Walsh has criticized Edwards' past ties to convicted former House Speaker Larry Householder; Edwards says he was not involved in the corruption scheme and was not charged.

Ohio voters will choose between Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh and Republican former state Rep. Jay Edwards to succeed term-limited Treasurer Robert Sprague. The office oversees roughly $275 billion in state investments, manages pension board appointments, the Ohio Checkbook transparency tool, and savings programs including STABLE accounts, Ag-LINK and Ohio Homebuyer Plus.

Walsh, 35, a former NASA-obsessed community development worker turned council member, wants to invest more state money in small communities, join a lawsuit over using unclaimed funds for the new Cleveland Browns stadium, and oppose state investment in Israel bonds. Edwards, 37, a onetime Ohio University linebacker and ally of imprisoned former House Speaker Larry Householder, wants to shift oversight of unclaimed funds to the treasurer's office, supports Israel bonds based on financial merit, and seeks greater transparency for pension retirees. Both candidates oppose using unclaimed funds for the Browns stadium and pledge to use the low-profile office as a more vocal platform on state spending decisions.

Ohio voters will choose a new secretary of state on Nov. 3, picking among Republican Robert Sprague, the state's treasurer for the past eight years; Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, former Ohio House minority leader; and Libertarian entrepreneur Tom Pruss. The office oversees the state's 88 county boards of elections, certifies results, runs the Ohio Ballot Board, investigates election fraud claims and maintains voter rolls, giving the winner significant influence over election administration and reform.

The race has sharpened around Issue 3, a ballot measure to enshrine Ohio's voter ID law in the state constitution. Sprague supports it and wants photo ID requirements extended to absentee voters, calling drop boxes unnecessary and a security risk. Russo opposes Issue 3 as a turnout tactic, says fraud is rare, and backs expanding drop boxes and voter registration efforts. Pruss also opposes Issue 3, supports drop boxes, and is campaigning chiefly to make ballot access easier for minor parties like his own.

Ohio's 2026 governor's race will determine who signs off on any further changes to the state's voting rules, after years of tightening under outgoing Gov. Mike DeWine, including a shrinking early-voting window, voter ID requirements, a one-drop-box-per-county limit, and proof-of-citizenship rules at BMV offices.

Democrat Amy Acton says she would largely preserve existing rules, emphasizing a balance between security and access, and has backed Issue 3, the GOP-authored measure enshrining voter ID in the state constitution. Libertarian Don Kissick wants automatic voter registration at age 18 and would consider trimming early-voting and drop-box hours, though he opposes Issue 3. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who has not answered questions on the topic from local reporters, previously called as a presidential candidate for ending most early voting and requiring paper ballots, but hasn't repeated those positions on the campaign trail. Separately, the race for secretary of state pits a Republican nominee seeking to eliminate drop boxes against a Democrat who wants them at every polling place. Early voting for the 2026 election begins October 6.

Ohio's 2026 governor's race is shaping up as a pivotal contest over abortion policy, with Democrat Amy Acton, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and independent Don Kissick offering sharply different approaches to reproductive rights, an issue the next governor will have substantial power to shape. Elsewhere in Ohio politics, state Rep. Allison Russo and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague are negotiating terms for a debate after clashing over 2020 election fraud claims, and a new analysis pushes back on claims by Sen. Jon Husted that coal plant closures during Sherrod Brown's tenure drove up electric bills, pointing instead to rising demand from data centers.

In congressional races, Rep. Dave Joyce faces Democrat Maria Jukic in the 14th District, while Rep. Marcy Kaptur has resumed campaigning after a car crash injury, ahead of a rematch with Derek Merrin in a redrawn, more Republican-leaning 9th District. Separately, the Ohio Supreme Court blocked a Wilmington data-center ordinance from the November ballot, and Ashland County Fair officials settled a free-speech lawsuit over ejected anti-Trump vendors.