Cincinnati 2026 voter guide: Key races, ballot issues and deadlines
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The Nov. 3 general election is fast approaching, so here's what to know about your ballot in Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
🗳️ How to vote
The big picture: Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.
- Schedule and where to go.
- Absentee ballots (by mail or drop off) must be received by your board of election by 7:30pm Nov. 3.
Election Day voting is 6:30am-7:30pm Nov. 3.
- Voters must bring a valid photo ID.
- Find your polling place … what's on your ballot.
💰 Big local levies
Hamilton County voters face two major property tax decisions.
- Issue 4: Cincinnati Public Schools seeks a five-year, 7-mill operating levy that would generate about $66 million annually. It would cost homeowners approximately $245 per $100,000 of home value.
- Issue 10: Hamilton County seeks to renew and increase its Children's Services levy to fund foster care, child protection and related programs. The four-year, 5.61-mill levy would cost about $121 annually per $100,000 of home value (up from roughly $82).
🏛️ Congressional races
1st District: U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Cincinnati) faces Republican Eric Conroy and Libertarian Nathan Weise in a district that includes Cincinnati, eastern Hamilton County, along with Warren and Clinton counties.
2nd District: U.S. Rep. David Taylor (R-Amelia) faces Democrat Jen Mazzuckelli in a district stretching east from the Cincinnati suburbs across southern Ohio.
8th District: U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Troy) faces Democrat Vanessa Enoch in a district that includes portions of Hamilton County and extends north into southwest Ohio.
👀 Governor's race
This fiercely contested showdown features Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, the state's former health director.
Why it matters: The election will determine whether Ohio continues its run of Republican leadership or elects a Democrat for the first time since Ted Strickland in 2006.
The big picture: Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate from Cincinnati, is campaigning on deregulation and conservative education reforms.
- Acton, who became a household name as the initial face of Ohio's pandemic response, is emphasizing affordability, public education and health care.
Friction point: The race has received national attention for a controversial Ramaswamy ad involving Acton's estranged mother, which has received fierce bipartisan backlash.
📢 Senate race
Republican Sen. Jon Husted seeks to fend off former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a race with big implications and huge amounts of money being spent on campaign ads.
Why it matters: The race may determine control of the Senate. A good showing from Brown could return Ohio to swing-state status in 2028.
State of play: Data center opposition and transgender rights are issues that have defined the race, which is considered to be a toss-up.
🪪 Ohio Issue 3
Ohio voters will decide whether to approve photo ID requirements at the polls as a constitutional amendment, making existing voting rules harder to change.
Why it matters: Ohio already requires photo ID to vote in person, but Issue 3 would enshrine that requirement in the state constitution — limiting lawmakers' ability to eliminate it while leaving some implementation details to state law.
🌰 Other statewide offices
Ohio voters will also choose who oversees state elections, finances, law enforcement and the state's highest court.
- Attorney general: Republican Keith Faber faces Democrat John Kulewicz for the state's top legal office.
- Secretary of state: Republican Robert Sprague, Democrat Allison Russo and Libertarian Tom Pruss are vying to become Ohio's chief elections officer.
- Auditor: Republican Frank LaRose faces Democrat Annette Blackwell for the office responsible for auditing public spending.
- Treasurer: Republican Jay Edwards, a former state representative, faces Cincinnati City Council member Seth Walsh, a Democrat, to oversee state investments and finances.
- Ohio Supreme Court: Sitting Republican Justice Daniel Hawkins faces Democratic Judge Marilyn Zayas, while sitting Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner faces Republican Judge Colleen O'Donnell.
👥 Other local races
Hamilton County voters will decide who represents them in county government, the Ohio Statehouse and local courts.
- County commissioner: Democrat Meeka Owens faces Republican Jonathan Pearson for a seat on the three-member board, after Owens defeated incumbent Stephanie Summerow Dumas in the primary.
- Ohio Senate: Republican Zac Haines faces Democrat Cara Jacob in District 7, while Democratic incumbent Catherine Ingram faces Republican Linda Matthews in District 9.
- Ohio House: Contested races include Republican incumbent Mike Odioso against Democrat Caleb Price in District 30, and Republican incumbent Cindy Abrams against Democrat Jonathan Bradner in District 29.
- Judges: Several Hamilton County Common Pleas Court seats are contested, including the Probate Court race between Republican incumbent Ralph Winkler and Democrat Elizabeth Tye, and the Juvenile Court race between Democratic incumbent Kari Bloom and Republican Susan Luken.
Hamilton County's full candidate list
🏫 More local issues
Hamilton County communities will determine school funding and other local tax questions.
School funding: North College Hill, Northwest Local and Southwest Local school districts have income tax proposals, while Sycamore and Winton Woods are seeking property tax levies.
Municipal issues: Cheviot, Deer Park and Norwood have tax renewals, while Forest Park and Lockland seek additional funding for fire and emergency services.
- Addyston seeks a new levy for its water system, while Fairfax, Greenhills, North Bend and Terrace Park have renewals for general operating expenses.
- Glendale and Golf Manor each have two renewal levies, while Mariemont seeks to renew funding for permanent improvements.
General operations: Miami Township voters will decide whether to renew a 0.46-mill property tax levy for day-to-day township expenses.
Charter changes: Harrison, Madeira, Wyoming and St. Bernard voters will consider changes to their local governments' governing documents.