Ohio 2026 Primary Election: What You Need to Know
Al Jazeera Staff
Ohio voters head to the polls on May 5 for primary elections to select candidates for key offices ahead of the November midterms, with high-stakes races for Senate and governor drawing particular attention. The November midterm election is widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term. Key races include the governor's contest between Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy and internet personality Casey Putsch, as well as a special Senate election to replace Vice President JD Vance.
On May 5, 2026, Ohio voters will participate in primary elections to select candidates for several important offices, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state Supreme Court, state Senate, and state House.
The November midterm election is widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term and will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of his tenure.
Polling Hours
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. GMT) and close at 7:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. GMT).
Governor's Race
Former presidential candidate and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, backed by Trump, faces internet personality Casey Putsch for the Republican nomination. Putsch, a race car engineer and right-wing political commentator, claims to be a more faithful representative of Trump's “America First” ideology than Ramaswamy. According to the Associated Press, Putsch has less than $9,000 in his campaign account, while his opponent has $31 million.
Ramaswamy enjoys support from the state Republican Party and Trump himself, who has called him “young, strong, and smart.” A third candidate, Heather Hill, was disqualified after her running mate withdrew, but her name remains on the ballot (votes for her will not be counted).
On the Democratic side, Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Department of Health, is running unopposed in the primary.
Senate Race
A special election is being held to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance after he was elected as Trump's running mate in 2024. Jon Husted, appointed as interim senator, is the sole Republican candidate. Former Senator Sherrod Brown (D), who lost his reelection bid in 2024, is the leading Democratic contender. Brown faces Ron Kincaid but holds significant advantages in name recognition and fundraising. Polls suggest the general election matchup between Brown and Husted in November will be extremely tight.
Voter ID Requirements
Ohio voters must present a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. The name on the ID must match the voter registration list. Republicans have long pushed for stricter voter ID laws, citing election integrity, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the U.S.
Who Can Vote?
Any registered voter may participate in the primary of any party. The state does not register voters by party affiliation but considers a voter a party member if they vote in that party's primary.
