State, local candidates, issues on May 5 primary ballot

2026 primary candidates

Knox County Commissioner

Christa Ciotola (Republican)

William Pursel (Republican)

Knox County Auditor

Sarah Ann Thorne (Republican)

Judge of Court of Common Pleas

Jay Nixon (Republican)

Ohio Governor

Amy Acton (Democrat)

Don Kissick (Libertarian)

Heather Hill (Republican)

Casey Putsch (Republican)

Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican)

Renea Turner (Republican)

Ohio Attorney General

Elliot Forhan (Democrat)

John Kulewicz (Democrat)

Keith Faber (Republican)

Ohio Auditor

Annette Blackwell (Democrat)

Frank LaRose (Republican)

Ohio Secretary of State

Bryan Hambley (Democrat)

Allison Russo (Democrat)

Tom Pruss (Libertarian)

Robert Sprague (Republican)

Marcell Strbich (Republican)

Ohio Treasurer

Seth Walsh (Democrat)

Jay Edwards (Republican)

Kristina Roegner (Republican)

Ohio Supreme Court Justice (Jan. 1)

Marilyn Zayas (Democrat)

Daniel Hawkins (Republican)

Ohio Supreme Court Justice (Jan. 2)

Jennifer Brunner (Democrat)

Andrew King (Republican)

Jill Lanzinger (Republican)

Ronald Lewis (Republican)

Colleen O’Donnell (Republican)

US Senator

Sherrod Brown (Democrat)

Ron Kincaid (Democrat)

Jeffrey Kanter (Libertarian)

William Redpath (Libertarian)

Jon Husted (Republican)

US Congress 12th district

Jerrad Christian (Democrat)

Daniel Crawford (Democrat)

Jason Reynard (Democrat)

Troy Balderson (Republican)

Ohio Senator 19th district

Janet Wagner (Democrat)

Beth Lear (Republican)

Ryan Rivers (Republican)

Ohio Representative 98th district

Scott Grund (Democrat)

Mark Hiner (Republican)

Ohio Representative 61st district

Vince McGrail (Democrat)

Andrew Brenner (Republican)

Shawn Stevens (Republican)

Ohio Central Committee, man, 19th district

Joydeep Gupta (Democrat)

Ryan Wynia (Democrat)

Gary James (Republican)

Ohio Central Committee, woman, 19th district

Mary Rugola-Dye (Democrat)

Janine Baker (Republican)

Andrea Dalton (Republican)

Melanie Leneghan (Republican)

Cathi Nelson (Republican)

Rebecca Nourse (Republican)

Judge, Court of Appeals, 5th district

No Democrat on ballot

Matt Donahue (Republican)

Jeff Furr (Republican)

Matthew George (Republican)

Issues/Levies

Liberty Township

Property tax renewal and increase, 4.4 mills (0.1 mill increase to 4.5), five years for fire and EMS services

Mount Vernon School district

Income tax, additional 1 percent

Central Ohio Joint Fire District

Property tax renewal, 5.5 mills, four years for fire and EMS services

Morris Township Fire District

Property tax renewal, 4 mills, 3 years, for fire and EMS services

Fredericktown Community Joint Ambulance District

Property tax renewal, 1 mill, 5 years for ambulance and EMS service

Centerburg

•Local option, sale of spirituous liquor on premise, Valessa Inc., 23 E. Main

•Local option, Sunday sale of win and mixed beverages, Valessa, 23 E. Main

Voters are reminded that during a primary election, you must select a party affiliation in order to vote for state and local candidates. Only the candidates in that selected party will be on your ballot.