NW
Nan Whaley
Democratic · Governor, Ohio
2026 General Election
Nan Whaley served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio from 2014 to 2022 and ran for governor in 2022, losing to incumbent Governor Mike DeWine. As mayor she led Dayton's response to a mass shooting in the Oregon District in 2019 that killed nine people, bringing national attention to gun violence and her advocacy for gun safety legislation. She is among the leading Democratic candidates for Ohio's open 2026 governor's race.
Views on the Issues
Gov. Whaley’s stated positions alongside Democratic and Republican party platforms. Sources cited below each position. MyPolity does not editorialize.
Democratic Platform
Nan Whaley
Republican Platform
Economy & Taxes
Democratic Platform
Democrats support progressive taxation, with higher rates on top earners and corporations to fund public investment. The party favors raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and expanding worker protections. Democrats generally support government investment in infrastructure, education, and social programs as drivers of broad economic growth.Nan Whaley
Whaley supports federal and state investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and workforce development as the foundation of Ohio's economic recovery. As Dayton mayor she attracted significant investment to revitalize the city's economy following manufacturing losses. She supports raising wages, strengthening worker protections, and policies that rebuild Ohio's middle class.Republican Platform
Republicans favor lower taxes across income levels, with particular emphasis on cutting corporate and capital gains taxes to stimulate investment and job creation. The party supports deregulation, reduced government spending, and free market solutions over federal programs as the primary engine of prosperity.Healthcare
Democratic Platform
Democrats support expanding access to affordable healthcare, including protecting the Affordable Care Act and moving toward a public option or expanded Medicare coverage. The party broadly favors government negotiation of prescription drug prices and opposes removing protections for pre-existing conditions.Nan Whaley
Whaley supports expanding Medicaid access and protecting the Affordable Care Act's coverage for pre-existing conditions. She supports abortion rights and has been a vocal critic of Ohio's abortion restrictions, backing the 2023 ballot measure that enshrined abortion rights in Ohio's constitution. She has backed expanding access to mental health and addiction treatment, reflecting Dayton's experience with the opioid crisis.Republican Platform
Republicans have generally sought to repeal or significantly reform the Affordable Care Act, favoring market-based solutions. The party supports expanding health savings accounts, increasing competition among insurers across state lines, and reducing federal mandates on coverage requirements.Immigration
Democratic Platform
Democrats generally support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and favor comprehensive immigration reform. The party supports increased resources for legal immigration processing and a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers at the border.Nan Whaley
Whaley supports comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents and DACA recipients. She has highlighted the contributions of immigrant communities to Ohio's economy and has opposed enforcement-only approaches she views as harmful to established Ohio families.Republican Platform
Republicans prioritize border security and strict enforcement of existing immigration law. The party broadly supports completing physical border barriers, ending policies they view as incentivizing illegal entry, and reforming legal immigration to favor applicants with marketable skills.Education
Democratic Platform
Democrats favor robust federal investment in public K-12 education and higher education, along with policies to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. The party generally opposes using public funds for private school vouchers and supports universal pre-K and affordable childcare.Nan Whaley
Whaley is a strong defender of Ohio's public schools and opposes diverting public school funds to private voucher programs. She supports robust K-12 investment, teacher pay increases, and expanded access to early childhood education and workforce training.Republican Platform
Republicans support school choice, including voucher programs for private and religious schools, and local control over curriculum decisions. The party generally opposes federal education mandates and broadly supports parental rights in schooling. Many Republicans oppose student loan forgiveness as unfair to borrowers who repaid their loans.Gun Policy
Democratic Platform
Democrats broadly support stricter gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The party frames these regulations as consistent with the Second Amendment and necessary to reduce mass shootings.Nan Whaley
Whaley has been one of Ohio's most prominent gun safety advocates since leading Dayton's response to the 2019 Oregon District mass shooting that killed nine people. She supports universal background checks, red flag laws, and assault weapon restrictions, and has called for state and federal action on gun violence as both a public safety and public health emergency.Republican Platform
Republicans strongly defend Second Amendment rights and generally oppose new gun control legislation, arguing that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. The party emphasizes mental health intervention, the right to self-defense, and opposes what they view as infringement on law-abiding gun owners.Climate & Energy
Democratic Platform
Democrats view climate change as an urgent crisis requiring immediate government action. The party supports transitioning to clean energy through federal investment and regulation, reducing carbon emissions across the economy, and meeting international climate commitments. Democrats generally oppose expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.Nan Whaley
Whaley supports clean energy investment and views the transition to renewable energy as an economic opportunity for Ohio's manufacturing sector. She has backed federal climate investments and supports state policies that accelerate clean energy development while protecting Ohio's industrial base.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize American energy independence through domestic production of oil, gas, and coal alongside renewable development. Many in the party are skeptical of aggressive climate regulations they argue harm economic growth and jobs. Republicans generally prefer market-based energy solutions over government mandates and oppose restrictions that raise energy costs for families.Foreign Policy
Democratic Platform
Democrats generally support a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing alliances, international institutions, and diplomacy as the first line of engagement. The party broadly supports maintaining NATO commitments, providing aid to democratic allies, and engaging international bodies to address shared challenges.Nan Whaley
Position not yet available.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize American sovereignty, a strong military as a deterrent, and bilateral relationships over multilateral institutions. The party broadly supports robust defense spending and is skeptical of international agreements they view as constraining American action or requiring open-ended foreign commitments.Social Security
Democratic Platform
Democrats oppose cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits and support expanding both programs. The party generally favors raising the Social Security payroll tax cap on high earners to ensure long-term solvency and opposes any form of privatization.Nan Whaley
Position not yet available.Republican Platform
Republicans support reforming Social Security and Medicare to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, which some in the party argue requires adjusting benefits or eligibility ages. The party opposes tax increases to fund the programs and some members have supported personal investment account options.Criminal Justice
Democratic Platform
Democrats broadly support criminal justice reform, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences, addressing racial disparities in policing and incarceration, and investing in community-based alternatives. The party generally supports police accountability measures and evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism.Nan Whaley
Whaley supports criminal justice reforms that reduce racial disparities, expand reentry opportunities, and invest in community violence prevention. As Dayton mayor she worked to address the root causes of crime alongside law enforcement, including economic disinvestment and substance abuse, as complementary strategies.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize law and order, strong support for law enforcement, and tough penalties for crime. The party generally opposes reducing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenses and supports prosecutors pursuing strong sentences. Republicans broadly oppose policies they view as undermining police authority or creating leniency for criminals.About these profiles. Party platform positions are drawn from the 2024 Democratic and Republican national platforms. Candidate positions are sourced from official statements, voting records, and campaign websites. MyPolity does not editorialize or endorse any candidate.