Ohio midterm elections 2026: Key races and what to know
Ohio midterm elections 2026: Key races and what to know
Eric OrvietoThu, October 22, 2026 at 1:53 PM UTC
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Ohio features two extremely close statewide races with national implications during the 2026 midterms, as well as a high-profile House race.
A messy gubernatorial battle got even uglier after a controversial ad run by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has caused uproar from the Democratic candidate Amy Acton and widespread criticism from others, including prominent Republican figures, who have said it is backfiring on the campaign.
The ad features Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who Acton has said she has not seen since she was 12 years old in 1978 following her step-father being charged and indicted for sexually abusing her. Acton has said her mother did "nothing to protect me."
In the ad, Arthur says Acton "was a serious problem. She is a liar; she lies about her past," to which Acton's brother responded by calling the ad a "despicable low" and that "this desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core — a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants."
The Ramaswamy campaign said it will spend $4 million to promote the ad, and Vice President JD Vance said "politics is a tough business" and he didn't like seeing Republicans "whining" about it. Acton's chances of winning increased following the ad and its backlash, and large donations were made to her campaign, as well.
Ohio Senate
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The ad controversy even seeped into the closely contested US Senate race, with Ohio's current Republican Sen. Jon Husted saying he "would not have run" it.
Husted, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill Vance's vacated seat, is locked in a battle with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, where a Fox News poll found that Brown holds a slight lead over Husted with likely voters, with the economy being a major reason why.
Brown lost his previous Senate seat to current Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024.
Ohio House
A high-profile House race in Ohio has seen its own controversies.
In the state's 7th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Max Miller's campaign has been marred by multiple allegations of domestic abuse, including by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of the current Ohio Senator.
His Democratic challenger, Brian Poindexter, has outraised Miller in a race that has been deemed a toss-up. In September, local TV stations reportedly ignored threats from Miller's legal team over broadcasting a Poindexter ad that references the allegations against Miller.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
