Ohio elections in 2026
17 electoral votes · 15 House seats · Midwest · 2 statewide races on the 2026 ballot
The political landscape
Ohio, long the archetypal bellwether, has trended Republican while retaining fierce competition in its statewide races. Manufacturing, energy and the fortunes of its mid-sized cities remain the spine of its politics.
Its largest population centers include Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo. Where a state's people live, and what those places do for a living, is the starting point for how Electorate HQ simulations reason about it.
On the ballot in Ohio
Issues that weigh heavily in Ohio
Based on the state's industry mix, geography and cost of living, these issues tend to carry structural weight in Ohio elections:
Latest Ohio political headlines
Governor DeWine Signs Executive Order, Announces DBH to Assume Recovery Housing Certification and OversightFlorida and Texas are the biggest losers in the housing market as Ohio emerges a surprise winnerGovernor DeWine Signs Executive Order to Streamline Recovery Housing Certification & Improve OversightList: When school starts for Columbus and central Ohio school districts 2026-27Ohio State hires central Ohio superintendent to support student workforce developmentOhio Housing Finance Agency Announces New Staff and a PromotionSimulate Ohio
In the Electorate HQ simulator, Ohio is one of 51 delegations that reads current reporting and decides a presidential race issue by issue. Results are AI simulations, clearly labeled, with the reasoning shown for every call. See the methodology for what that does and does not mean.