Ohio Primary Election
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 · Election has passed
U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Governor, statewide offices
What’s being decided
A primary election determines which candidates advance to the November general election. Voters in each party select their nominee, and the winners face each other in the fall.
Ohio holds an open primary — any registered voter may participate, regardless of party affiliation.
Candidates
Governor
Republican
Matt Dolan has served in the Ohio State Senate since 2017 and is a leading Republican candidate for governor in 2026, when incumbent Governor Mike DeWine is term-limited. He previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024, losing the Republican primary both times partly due to his refusal to endorse claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. His family owns the Cleveland Guardians Major League Baseball team.
Democratic
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.
Voter information
Registration deadline
October 4, 2026 (30 days before the November 3 general)