Honestly, walking into a voting booth in Ohio feels a bit like being handed a 500-page novel and being asked to summarize the plot in thirty seconds. It's a lot. If you're wondering what issues are on the ballot for Ohio in 2026, you aren't just looking at a list of names; you’re looking at a massive tug-of-war over the state's very identity.
The 2026 midterm election is shaping up to be a monster. We’ve got an open seat for Governor because Mike DeWine is finally term-limited. There's a high-stakes U.S. Senate race. And then there are the ballot initiatives—those citizen-led efforts that can change our state constitution overnight.
The Battle for the Governor’s Mansion
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. For the first time in eight years, we are guaranteed a new face in the Governor's office. This isn't just a "business as usual" swap.
On the Republican side, things have gotten spicy. Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur who made a splash in the 2024 presidential primaries, is the heavy hitter here. He’s already snagged the official endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party and even got a nod from Donald Trump. He’s running with state Senate President Rob McColley. Basically, if you like the "outsider" vibe with a heavy dose of regulatory relief and small business focus, that’s his lane.
But don’t count the Democrats out. Dr. Amy Acton—yes, the former Ohio Department of Health director you probably remember from the early COVID-19 briefings—is the frontrunner. She’s teamed up with David Pepper, the former head of the Ohio Democratic Party. It’s a fascinating matchup. Acton has a lot of "neighborly" appeal, while Ramaswamy has that high-energy, national-stage momentum. Recent polling from Emerson College shows them neck-and-neck, with Acton actually leading slightly in some demographics. It’s going to be a long, loud road to November.
What Issues Are on the Ballot for Ohio Regarding Our Rights?
If you thought the 2023 abortion vote was the end of constitutional fights in Ohio, think again. The 2026 ballot is likely to be packed with citizen-led initiatives that tackle everything from how we vote to what we can do in our own backyards.
Here’s a look at what’s currently clearing the hurdles for signature gathering:
- The Equality of Rights Under the Law Amendment: This is a big one. It aims to bake protections into the Ohio Constitution against discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, and even "disease status."
- The Voting and Elections Amendment: This would overhaul how we register to vote. Think automatic voter registration and same-day registration. It’s a direct response to recent legislative changes that tightened up voting rules.
- The "Right to Sue" Initiative: This seeks to eliminate "qualified immunity." Essentially, it would make it easier for citizens to bring civil lawsuits against government actors—like police officers or public employees—if their constitutional rights are violated.
- Property Tax Abolition: There is a group pushing hard to completely prohibit taxes on real property. It sounds great on a flyer, right? No property taxes! But the counter-argument is the massive hole it would leave in funding for local schools and emergency services.
Getting these on the ballot isn't easy. In Ohio, you need signatures from at least 44 of our 88 counties. It’s a safeguard to make sure an issue isn't just popular in Cleveland or Columbus, but has support across the "red" and "blue" parts of the state.
The Weed Wars and Hemp Chaos
Remember when we legalized recreational marijuana? Well, the legislature has been busy trying to "tweak" the rules ever since.
One major issue likely to hit the ballot is a referendum on Senate Bill 56. This bill was designed to clamp down on the "wild west" of the hemp industry. It basically bans intoxicating hemp products from being sold anywhere except a licensed dispensary and caps the number of dispensaries statewide.
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Hemp business owners are furious. They’ve filed paperwork to let the voters decide whether these regulations should stay or go. If you’ve seen those "hemp-derived THC" products at gas stations, this is the issue that determines their fate.
The "Right to Hunt and Fish"
This one is coming from the legislature rather than the citizens. Lawmakers are looking to add a "Right to Hunt and Fish" to the Ohio Constitution. Critics say it’s a "solution in search of a problem" because nobody is actually trying to ban hunting in Ohio. Supporters, however, argue it’s a necessary preemptive strike against animal rights groups that might try to limit these activities in the future.
Who Else is Running?
While the Governor’s race gets the headlines, the rest of the ballot is just as critical for how the state actually functions.
- U.S. Senate: Incumbent Republican Jon Husted (who was appointed to fill JD Vance’s seat) is facing a massive challenge from former Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown lost his seat in 2024 but is looking for a comeback. This race will likely determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
- Attorney General: Democratic state Rep. Elliot Forhan and retired attorney John Kulewicz are eyeing the spot, while current State Auditor Keith Faber is looking to make the jump to AG on the Republican side.
- Secretary of State: This is the office that runs our elections. Republican State Treasurer Robert Sprague is running, and on the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Allison Russo is making a play for it.
- The Ohio Supreme Court: Two seats are up. Right now, Justice Jennifer Brunner is the lone statewide elected Democrat left. Whether she stays or is replaced by a Republican (like Colleen O'Donnell or Andrew King) will shift the balance of the court for years.
Why This Matters for Your Wallet
Beyond the social issues, the economy remains the #1 concern for Ohioans. When you look at what issues are on the ballot for Ohio, you have to look at the "hidden" economic impact.
The Governor and the Legislature decide how much we pay in state income tax and how much of our federal tax money comes back to our local roads. They decide if Ohio leans into "Big Tech" with more data centers or if we stick to our manufacturing and agricultural roots.
There’s also a major court case looming regarding hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment money that the state turned down. The outcome of these political races determines who sits on the boards that make those final calls.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think that once a law is passed by voters—like the marijuana or abortion amendments—it’s "settled." In Ohio, that’s rarely the case. The legislature has the power to "refine" (some say "gut") statutes. This is why you see so many groups trying to put things into the Constitution specifically. It's much harder for politicians to change the Constitution than it is for them to change a regular law.
Practical Next Steps for Ohio Voters
Don't wait until the morning of the election to figure this out. The "I'll just wing it" strategy is how we end up with buyers' remorse on major policy shifts.
- Check your registration: You can do this in about 30 seconds on the Ohio Secretary of State website. Do it now.
- Understand the "60% Rule": Remember, for a constitutional amendment to pass, it now needs a 60% supermajority in the legislature just to get on the ballot if it's coming from them. But for voters to pass it, it still only needs a simple majority (50% + 1), unless the rules change again.
- Look at the "Blue Book": A few weeks before the election, the state sends out a pamphlet explaining the ballot issues. Read the "Arguments Against" section specifically. That’s usually where you find the details the TV ads conveniently leave out.
- Mark May 5th: That’s the primary. If you want a say in which Republican or Democrat makes it to the November ballot, you have to show up in the spring.
Ohio is often called a "barometer" for the rest of the country. What happens here in 2026—whether we lurch toward the populist right with Ramaswamy or back toward the center-left with Acton—will set the stage for the 2028 presidential race. Pay attention. The fine print matters.
Summary of Key Deadlines
To make sure your voice is actually heard, keep these dates on your fridge:
- February 4, 2026: Deadline for partisan candidates to file for the primary.
- April 6, 2026: Last day to register to vote for the May primary.
- May 5, 2026: Primary Election Day.
- July 1, 2026: Deadline for citizen groups to submit signatures for the November ballot.
- October 5, 2026: Last day to register for the General Election.
- November 3, 2026: General Election Day.
The stakes for Ohio’s future haven't been this high in a decade. Whether it’s property taxes, voting rights, or who sits in the Governor’s chair, the decisions made in 2026 will stick with us for a generation.