Ohio Primary Election 2026: Ramaswamy Leads Busy Republican Field
Ohio primary election 2026 will take place Tuesday, May 5, 2026, when voters choose nominees for statewide races that include the US Senate and governor. Polls will open at 6:30am local time and close at 7:30pm local time.
Ramaswamy and Brown
The Republican race for governor features Vivek Ramaswamy against Casey Putsch, while Amy Acton is unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face the Republican nominee in November. Ramaswamy has the endorsement of the state Republican Party and Donald Trump’s complete and total endorsement.
The special election for one of Ohio’s two US Senate seats has drawn attention as former US Senator Sherrod Brown seeks to return after losing his seat in 2024. The special election will fill the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance, who was elected as Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024.
Heather Hill Ballot
Heather Hill was disqualified after her running mate for lieutenant governor withdrew from the race, but her name will still appear on the ballot and her votes will not be counted. That leaves voters choosing among candidates in a primary that also covers US House, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state supreme court, state senate and state house races.
At the end of April 2026, Putsch had less than $9,000 in his campaign account, while Ramaswamy had $31m. For voters heading to the polls, the race to replace Republican Governor Mike DeWine and the special Senate contest are the clearest markers of how the November ballot will take shape.
