Ohio Election 2026: The Latest Results and Key Takeaways
The votes are in, and Ohio's political landscape is taking shape following Tuesday's general election.
With Ohio voters choosing our next Governor and dozens of key races across the state, there was plenty at stake this election cycle. The results will determine who leads Ohio over the next four years and set the stage for a new legislative session in Columbus.
Here's a look at how the races unfolded and what the results mean for Ohio REALTORS®.
Please note that election results remain unofficial until certified by the Ohio Secretary of State.
Ohio Elects Its Next Governor
Let's start at the top of the ticket, where Ohio voters have chosen their next governor.
With Governor Mike DeWine term-limited after eight years in office, the race for Ohio's highest office drew significant attention throughout the election cycle.
Democrat Amy Acton and her running mate, David Pepper, secured the governor's race, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, Robert McColley. Acton had approximately 52.3% to Ramaswamy's 44.4% of the vote.
The result shifts the governor's office from Republican to Democratic control, with Acton becoming the first woman elected governor in Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office in 16 years.
The governor's race wasn't the only statewide contest on the ballot. Ohioans also voted for the attorney general and auditor of state, as well as the next secretary of state and treasurer of state.
Of the four statewide races, only the Secretary of State contest has been called as of Wednesday morning. While the remaining three races are still too close to call, the candidates currently leading each hold margins outside Ohio's automatic recount threshold of 0.25%. Below is the breakdown:
- Secretary of State: Democrat Allison Russo won, defeating Republican Robert Sprague. The office shifts from Republican to Democratic control.
- Attorney General: Democrat John Kulewicz led Republican Keith Faber by approximately 0.6 percentage points, or 28,000 votes, as of Wednesday morning.
- Auditor of State: Republican Frank LaRose led Democrat Annette Blackwell by approximately 1.6 percentage points, or 72,000 votes, as of Wednesday morning.
- Treasurer of State: Democrat Seth Walsh led Republican Jay Edwards by approximately one percentage point, or 50,000 votes, as of Wednesday morning.
The results mark a significant shift in Ohio's statewide leadership. Republicans held all four offices heading into Election Day, but Democrats have already flipped the Secretary of State's office and currently lead in the races for Attorney General and Treasurer of State. If those results hold, Democrats will gain control of three of the four offices, while Republicans would retain the Auditor of State's office.
With a new administration preparing to take office, Ohio REALTORS® are looking forward to continuing to build relationships with incoming state leaders. We will also continue working with the treasurer's office on opportunities that support homeownership, including the Homebuyer Plus program!
The Race for Washington: Ohio’s Federal Results
Turning to Washington, Ohio was once again in the national spotlight, with one of the state's U.S. Senate seats on the ballot.
Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Republican incumbent Jon Husted, winning approximately 50.0% of the vote to Husted's 45.2%. Brown returns to the U.S. Senate after his 2024 defeat. The special election fills the remainder of the term originally won by JD Vance, ending in January 2029.
Ohio REALTORS® has worked with elected officials across party lines, and we look forward to continuing those relationships as Ohio's representation in Washington changes.
Nationally, Democrats were projected to regain control of the U.S. Senate, ending the Republican majority. Heading into Election Day, Republicans held a 53–47 advantage, meaning Democrats needed to gain at least four seats to take control of the chamber.
Ohio was one of several states where Democrats flipped a Republican-held seat. In addition to Sherrod Brown's victory, Democrats secured key wins in Texas and North Carolina. The party also picked up seats in states such as Kansas and Iowa, contributing to a broader shift in the Senate's balance of power.
With Democrats preparing to take control of the chamber, the results will change the political dynamics in Washington as Congress begins its next session.
Meanwhile, all 15 of Ohio's congressional districts were on the ballot. Based on projected district calls available Wednesday morning, Republicans were set to hold eight seats and Democrats seven. That would be a shift from the prior 10–5 Republican advantage.
Among the notable results, Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated Republican incumbent Max Miller in the 7th District. Democrat Don Leonard unseated Republican incumbent Mike Carey in the 15th District. Democrat incumbent Marcy Kaptur won another term in the closely watched 9th District.
As Ohio's congressional delegation takes shape, our Federal Political Coordinator Program will play an important role in maintaining relationships with members of Congress. Through this program, REALTOR® members serve as direct points of contact for federal lawmakers and help to educate them on issues affecting the real estate industry, bringing the REALTOR® perspective to Washington.
Ohio's Judicial Races
Ohio voters also weighed in on the makeup of the state's judiciary, with two Ohio Supreme Court seats on the ballot.
In unofficial results reported Wednesday morning, Democratic incumbent Justice Jennifer Brunner led Republican Colleen O'Donnell by approximately 124,000 votes, or 2.74 percentage points. Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Marilyn Zayas led Republican incumbent Justice Dan Hawkins by approximately 92,000 votes, or 2.02 percentage points. Both races remain unofficial, but if these leads hold, the court's Republican majority would narrow from 6–1 to 5–2.
While judicial races often receive less attention than those at the top of the ticket, their outcomes can have lasting implications for Ohio's legal landscape. The courts regularly consider cases involving private property rights and other issues that can directly affect the real estate industry.
The Battle for the Statehouse
Now, let's turn to the Ohio Statehouse, where every seat in the Ohio House of Representatives was on the ballot, along with 17 of the 33 seats in the Ohio Senate.
Heading into Election Day, Republicans held supermajorities in both chambers.
As of Wednesday morning, Republicans had secured 53 seats in the Ohio House, while Democrats had won 42. Four races remain too close to call. Regardless of how those remaining contests unfold, Republicans will fall short of the 60 seats needed to maintain their House supermajority.
Over in the Ohio Senate, Republicans will maintain control with a 22–11 majority. While Democrats flipped two Republican-held seats, Republicans will retain their supermajority in the upper chamber.
Beyond the partisan breakdown, the election will bring over two dozen new members to the 137th General Assembly. For Ohio REALTORS®, that means new opportunities to build relationships and educate legislators about the issues facing Ohio's housing market.
And these legislators will have a busy start to the 137th General Assembly. One of their first major responsibilities will be considering Ohio's next two-year state operating budget, which must be passed by the end of June 2027.
For Ohio REALTORS®, the budget process will be a major focus as we continue advocating for policies that support homeownership and address challenges facing Ohio's housing market.
With several new faces heading to Columbus, our State Political Coordinator Program will be especially important. Through this program, REALTOR® members are paired directly with state legislators to build relationships and serve as a resource on issues affecting the real estate industry. These connections help ensure lawmakers hear directly from REALTORS® in their communities as they consider legislation at the Statehouse.
As the new General Assembly gets underway, we'll be working closely with our State Political Coordinators and elected officials to advance REALTOR® priorities and ensure our members have a voice in the decisions being made at the Statehouse.
State Issue 3: Voters Approve Constitutional Amendment
Ohio voters also weighed in on State Issue 3, and the results were decisive. The proposed constitutional amendment passed with approximately 65% of voters supporting the measure and 35% opposing it.
So, what changes? Ohio already requires photo identification to vote, but the approval of Issue 3 takes that requirement a step further by placing it directly into the Ohio Constitution. That means future changes to the requirement would need to go through the constitutional amendment process rather than simply being passed by the state legislature.
Supporters viewed the measure as a way to protect Ohio's existing voter ID requirements, while opponents argued that those decisions should remain in the hands of state lawmakers.
Looking Ahead
While Election Day is behind us, the work in Columbus is just beginning.
With a new governor preparing to take office and a new General Assembly on the horizon, Ohio's elected officials will soon turn their attention from campaigning to governing.
For Ohio REALTORS®, our focus remains on advancing policies that protect private property rights and support a strong housing market.
As we head into 2027, building relationships with newly elected officials will be a priority. We'll also continue working with returning lawmakers to ensure the REALTOR® voice is heard on the issues that matter most to our members.
