The midterm general election is fast approaching, with early voting beginning on Oct. 3 and Election Day coming up on Nov. 3. For those who haven’t already, it’s time to familiarize yourself with what is on the ballot. Our Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide covers statewide elections, as well as those specific to Lucas County. We do not cover any other county elections at this time, though we will be expanding in future election years to cover more.
This guide is updated frequently through Election Day, so make sure to check in for links to new stories, updates on campaigns, and more.
Below you’ll find a description of the candidates, what the role entails, and linked resources to learn even more about those candidates. The Voter’s Guide is constantly growing up until election day as we cover the candidates and ballot issues, so make sure to refer to it often as you consider how to cast your vote this election.
Statewide candidates
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
The governor is the chief executive of the state. Their powers and/or responsibilities include managing state departments, cabinet members, agencies, and state military forces; proposing the state budget; signing/vetoing bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly; convening and adjourning legislatures; and the ability to pardon criminal convictions.
The lieutenant governor serves as successor if the governor can no longer serve. Their powers and/or responsibilities also include representing the governor at meetings as needed, leading major departments as needed, and generally carrying out executive orders from the governor and what is mandated by state law.
Amy Acton and David Pepper (Democratic)
Quick facts about Amy Acton:
Relevant experience:
-Served as Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health from 2019-2020
- -Graduated Northeast Ohio Medical University
- -Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University
- Website: actonforgovernor.com
Quick facts about David Pepper:
– Served as Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015-2021
- – Ran for Ohio Attorney General, lost to Mike DeWine (R), Pepper received 38.5 percent of the vote
- – Ran for Ohio Auditor; lost to Dave Yost (R), Pepper received 44.9 percent of the vote
- Websites: davidpepper.com and actonforgovernor.com
- Learn more about Acton and Pepper here.
Don Kissick and James L. Mills (Libertarian)
Quick facts about Don Kissick:
- – Has served as County Development Coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Ohio since 2018
- – Ran for United States Senate in Ohio in 2024 and lost to Bernie Moreno (R); Kissick received 3.4 percent of the vote.
- – Ran for Ohio’s 5th Congressional District in 2018 and lost to Bob Latta (R); Kissick received 2.6 percent of the vote.
- Website: donkissick.com
- Quick facts about James L. Mills:
- – Has served as vice chair for a third party political party for Ohio and Warren County since 2024
- – Has served as brokerage director at Brokerage Solutions since 2025
- – Co-founded Mills Residential, a construction company, with his brother in 2018
- Website: donkissick.com
- Learn more about Kissick and Mills here.
Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley (Republican)
Quick facts about Vivek Ramaswamy:
- – Vivek Ramaswamy ran as a presidential candidate in the Republican Primary 2023-2024, but lost the primary to current President Donald Trump.
- – Ramaswamy was part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk, before stepping down from his role there to pursue the Ohio Governor’s race.
- – Trump endorsed Ramaswamy for the Ohio Governor.
- Website: vivekforohio.com
- Quick facts about Robert A. McColley:
- – Since 2017, he has served as State Senator for Ohio Senate’s 1st Senate District including Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams Counties and parts of Auglaize, Fulton and Logan Counties.
- – From 2015-2017, he served as State Representative for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 81st district, which includes Henry, Putnam, Williams, and part of Fulton Counties.
- – Co-sponsored Senate Bill 23, which prohibited abortion after the detection of a heartbeat. [6] Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 23 on April 11, 2019.
Write-in Candidates
Tim Grady and Andrea Neutzling (Independent)
Quick facts about Tim Grady:
- – Served as chair of the Ohio Forward Party
- – Was the Libertarian nominee for state representative of Richland County in 2018
- – Working toward his MA in Public Administration at Ohio State University, Glenn College of Public Affairs
- Website: timgradyforohio.com
- Quick facts about Andrea Neutzling:
- – Served in the Army as an active duty Intelligence Analyst at Camp Essayons, South Korea, and Fort Gordon, GA from 2001-2004
- – Currently serving as District Senior Vice Commander at VFW District 12
- – After serving in Iraq and being exposed to the Burn Pit on Camp Bucca Iraq, she advocate with others to get the PACT Act passed in 2022
- Website: timgradyforohio.com
Heather Hill and Patrick Manley (Republican)
*Though Ohio write-in candidate Heather Hill was disqualified on April 22 after her running mate, Stuart Moats, dropped out as her running mate, she reentered the race on June 10 with a new running mate, Patrick Manley.
Quick facts about Heather Hill:
- – Was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2023 to serve on the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
- – Described on her campaign website as “the only gubernatorial candidate who has actively protested for the last 25 years to end abortions throughout the United States.”
- – Formed a branch of the Morgan County Martin Luther King Scholarship Foundation, where she served as president from 2005 – 2013
- Website: heatherhillohio.com
- Quick facts about Patrick Manley:
- – Has worked as an adjunct instructor in the Construction Sciences Department at Columbus State Community College for more than 20 years
- -Has served for more than 20 years on the board of directors for Dave Fox Design Build
- – Served a 10-year term as president of the Ohio Chapter of the Association of Licensed Architects
- Website: heatherhillohio.com
Renea Turner and Jalen Turner (Independent, Republican Party)
Ron Ula and Michael Lehnerd (Independent)
U.S. Senator
Senate terms last six years with elections being staggered so that no two U.S. senators in Ohio are seeking election at the same time. This year, Sherrod Brown (D) is facing incumbent Senator Jon Husted (R). U.S. Senators’ roles are legislative, meaning they are responsible for proposing and voting on federal bills. They are also charged with approving U.S. presidential appointments (cabinet members), convicting or exonerating impeachment cases, and can approve or reject treaties. The U.S. Senates is the upper house of Congress.
Sherrod Brown (Democratic)
Quick facts about Sherrod Brown:
- – Ran in the General Election for U.S. Senate for Ohio in 2024 and lost to Bernie Moreno (R). Brown received 46.5 percent of the vote.
- – Served as Ohio U.S. Senator from 2007-2024
- – Served as a U.S. Congressman from 1993-2007
- Website: sherrodbrown.com
- Learn more about Brown here.
Jon Husted (Republican)
Quick facts about Jon Husted:
- – Has served as Ohio U.S. Senator since 2025. Appointed by Mike DeWine to replace J.D. Vance, as Vance took on his new role as Vice President of the United States.
- – Served as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 2019-2025
- – Served as Ohio Secretary Of State from 2011-2019
- Website: husted.senate.gov
- Learn more about Husted here.
- • Gregory Levy (Independent)
Quick facts about Gregory Levy:
- – A member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
- – Military veteran
- – A community organizer from Akron
- Website: greg4senate.com
William B. Redpath (Libertarian)
Quick facts about William Redpath:
- – Ran for Illinois U.S. Senate in 2022. Redpath received 1.7 percent of the vote and lost to Tammy Duckworth (D).
- – Ran for U.S. House to represent Illinois’s 6th District in 2020. Redpath received 1.7 percent of the vote and lost to Sean Casten (D).
- – Ran for the U.S. House to represent Virginia’s District 10 in 2014. Redpath received 1.5 percent of the vote and lost to Barbara Comstock (R).
- Website: billredpath.com
- Learn more about Redpath here.
Attorney General
The attorney general serves as the primary legal counsel for the state of Ohio. The position supports law enforcement, consumers, and heads up the following divisions under the Attorney General’s office: antitrust, appeals, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, charitable law, civil rights, collections enforcement, constituent services, constitutional offices, consumer protection, court of claims defense, crime victim services, criminal justice, education, employment law, environmental enforcement, executive agencies, health & human services, health care fraud, Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, policy and legislation, public utilities, special prosecutions, taxation, and workers’ compensation. Read more about the specifics of these AGO sections here.
Keith Faber (Republican)
Quick facts about Keith Faber:
- – Has served as Ohio’s Auditor of State since 2019.
- – Served as Ohio’s U.S. Congressman representing District 84 from 2016-2018.
- – Served in the Ohio State Senate representing District 12 from 2007-2016.
- Website: keithfaber.org
John J. Kulewicz (Democratic)
Quick facts about John J. Kulewicz:
- – 44-year member of the Columbus law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, where he argued cases against the U.S. Supreme court and other state courts.
- – Wrote An Ohioan’s Odyssey: Lessons in Leadership, Law, and Public Service
- – Currently serving his second term on City Council for Upper Arlington.
Website: john4ohioag.com
Learn more about him in TFP’s coverage here.
Auditor of State
• Annette Blackwell (Democratic)
• Frank LaRose (Republican)
Secretary of State
• Tom Pruss (Libertarian)
- • Allison Russo (Democratic)
- • Robert Sprague (Republican)
Treasurer of State
- • Jay Edwards (Republican)
- • Seth Walsh (Democratic)
Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Term commencing Jan. 1, 2027)
• Daniel R. Hawkins (Republican)
• Marilyn Zayas (Democratic)
Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Term commencing Jan. 2, 2027)
• Jennifer Brunner (Democratic)
• Colleen O’Donnell (Republican)
LUCAS COUNTY
U.S. Representative – 9th District
• Matthew Althaus (Libertarian)
• Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)
• Derek Merrin (Republican)
State Senator – 11th District
• Paula Hicks-Hudson (Democratic)
• Kenneth W. Sharp (Libertarian)
• James Nowak (Republican)
State Representative – 41st District
• Ian Chamberlain (Republican)
• Erika White (Democratic – Write-In)
State Representative – 42nd District
• Elgin Rogers Jr. (Democratic)
• Robert McMahon (Republican – Write-In)
State Representative – 43rd District
• Michele Grim (Democratic)
• Zach Hall (Libertarian)
• David Karmol (Republican)
State Representative – 44th District
• David J. Fournier (Democratic)
• Edward L. Schimmel (Republican)
Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Relations
• Lisa D. McGowan (Republican)
• Nedal Adya (Democratic – Write-In)
Court of Common Pleas – Probate
• Tom Puffenberger (Democratic)
• Jaime Agnew (Republican)
Court of Appeals – 6th District
• Myron C. Duhart (Democratic)
• Michael R. Goulding (Republican)
• CJ Kamm (Republican)
Lucas County Commissioner
• Lisa A. Sobecki (Democratic)
• Brenden Johnson (Libertarian – Write-In)
• Laura Brown (Republican – Write-In)
Lucas County Auditor (Vote for 1)
• Katie Moline (Democratic)
• Carolyn Munn (Republican – Write-In)
