2026 Election Results

The 2026 election has concluded, bringing important changes that will impact Ohio's political landscape. Voters across the state made key choices in races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio state legislature, and the Ohio Supreme Court. Here's an overview of the major results.

Ohio voters elected Democrat Amy Acton governor and returned Sherrod Brown to the U.S. Senate. Republicans kept control of both chambers of the General Assembly, but Democrats broke the GOP's veto-proof majority in the Ohio House. Heading into the next two-year budget cycle, Republican leaders will need Democratic votes to override an Acton veto.

Statewide Constitutional Offices

Democrats won four of Ohio's five statewide executive contests. Acton will succeed Mike DeWine as Ohio's first woman elected governor and the first Democrat elected to the office since 2006. Frank LaRose was the only Republican to win a statewide executive office.

Ohio Supreme Court

Democrats won both seats on the ballot, narrowing the Republican majority from 6-1 to 5-2. Justice Jennifer Brunner retained her seat with 51.4% against former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O'Donnell (48.6%). First District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas defeated incumbent Justice Dan Hawkins, 51.0% to 49.0%.

Ohio General Assembly

Ohio House. Republicans entered the election with a 65-34 majority. Democrats needed six pickups to deny Republicans the 60 votes required to override a veto. Unofficial returns showed roughly ten pickups, putting the projected split near 55 Republicans and 44 Democrats (one result showed 56 Republicans and 43 Democrats). Five gains came in open seats. In five others, Democratic challengers appeared to defeat sitting Republican representatives.

Republican Reps. Haraz Ghanbari and Cindy Abrams held narrow leads in two additional races that could affect the final House count.

Ohio Senate Democrats picked up two Republican seats. Stacie Baker defeated Sen. Michele Reynolds, and Mike Roberto defeated Rep. Steve Demetriou for an open seat. In the 13th District, Republican Rep. Gayle Manning led Democratic Rep. Joe Miller. A Manning win would preserve the GOP's Senate supermajority. A Miller win would end it.

Ohio's Congressional Delegation

U.S. Senate. Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted, 50.0% to 45.2%. Brown will serve alongside Republican Bernie Moreno for the remainder of JD Vance's former term. The seat will be on the ballot again in 2028.

U.S. House. All five Democratic incumbents won reelection, including Marcy Kaptur, who defeated Derek Merrin for a 23rd term in the 9th District. Democrats flipped two seats. Brian Poindexter defeated Rep. Max Miller in the 7th District, and Don Leonard defeated Rep. Mike Carey in the 15th.

The delegation stood at seven seats per party with the 10th District outstanding. Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker led Republican Rep. Mike Turner by 4,938 votes. Decision Desk HQ projected a Knickerbocker win. The Associated Press had yet to call the race in its Wednesday reporting.