2026 Democratic Candidates
Sherrod Brown, US Senator
Sherrod Brown has always been a relentless fighter for the people of Ohio.
Born and raised in Mansfield, Sherrod saw firsthand how corporations lobbied for tax breaks and bad trade agreements that shipped Ohio jobs overseas.
That’s why he’s always opposed unfair trade deals that hurt Ohio workers.
A tireless advocate in standing up for the dignity of work, Sherrod has never stopped fighting for Ohio families and workers across the country–and time and again he’s delivered results.
Called “a champion for workers and the middle class” who “has advocated for Ohio and for ordinary people,” Sherrod Brown “has fought for affordable health care, fair wages, worker pensions and consumer protections.” Read more
Dr. Amy Acton, Governor
Dr. Amy Acton is running for Governor because she refuses to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while politicians in Columbus cater to billionaires and corporations.
Growing up in Youngstown, in a family who’d worked in the steel mills, Amy Acton faced a difficult childhood—overcoming abuse, hunger, and periods of homelessness. That challenging upbringing molded the values and determination that have shaped a career dedicated to lifting others.
From working as a waitress to delivering newspapers, Amy worked her way out of poverty and put herself through college and medical school to become a doctor. She experienced firsthand what so many Ohio families face today—working harder than ever and still feeling like they’re falling behind. Read more
Justice Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Supreme Court
Justice Jennifer Brunner has served at all three levels of Ohio’s judiciary. Before her election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2020, she was a judge of Ohio’s Tenth District Court of Appeals for 6 years. She also was a judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court for the state’s most populous county, for nearly 5 years. While a trial judge in Franklin County, she became concerned about the high percent of people in the criminal justice system who were addicted to drugs and experienced mental illness. She founded in 2004 the county’s adult felony drug court, still operating today. This special court docket helps people move from crime and addiction to clean and healthy lives and give back to their families and communities.
Jennifer Brunner is one of just 5 women to be elected to statewide nonjudicial office in her own right since Ohio became a state in 1803. Read more
Judge Marilyn Zayas, Supreme Court Justice
Judge Marilyn Zayas has served nearly nine years on Ohio’s First District Court of Appeals, earning widespread respect for her ethical decision-making and commitment to fair, impartial justice that prioritizes the law over politics—earning support from those who value accountability and balance in the judiciary.
Named the 2024 Hispanic National Bar Association Latina Judge of the Year and featured on Good Morning America for her judicial excellence and inspirational student program, Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders, showcasing her as a role model who promotes education and opportunity for all.
Judge Zayas believes that Ohio Supreme Court should be a beacon of integrity and accountability, free from outside influence. Her judicial record has earned trust across political lines. Read more
John J. Kulewicz, Attorney General
John J. Kulewicz grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He learned the values of hard work and independent judgment from his parents and grandparents, who came from Martins Ferry and Cincinnati, and saw firsthand the importance of good jobs and union membership to the economy of Ohio. John has spent his law career challenging conventional wisdom and taking on uphill battles. As a 44-year member of the Columbus-based law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, he successfully argued and won cases against the odds in the Supreme Court of the United States and courts throughout Ohio. He recently published a book, An Ohioan’s Odyssey: Lessons in Leadership, Law, and Public Service.
In politics, Kulewicz has consistently defied expectations, most recently in his own two campaigns for Upper Arlington City Council, where he was the leading vote-getter both times. Read more
Annette Blackwell, Auditor of State
Annette Blackwell is the current Mayor of Maple Heights as well as Director of Safety, and has been widely praised for turning the city’s fiscal health around. Moving to Ohio from Selma, Alabama at the age of 2, she became a leader in her community. Along with her public service, she has long-time private sector experience, including at Key Bank (formerly Ameritrust), University Hospitals, and and 16 years at Deloitte and Ryan where she focused largely on property tax issues.
Now Mayor Blackwell is running for Ohio Auditor to ensure local communities and government can provide safe and affordable places to live for Ohio’s working families, fight the corruption that’s plaguing Ohio’s government, and safeguard our tax dollars by holding bad actors accountable.
When Mayor Blackwell was first elected to lead Maple Heights... Read more
Allison Russo, Secretary of State
State Representative Allison Russo is currently serving her fourth term in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing House District 7 which includes Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, and portions of Columbus. She previously served as the Minority Leader for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus between January 2022 and June 2025.
Prior to being elected Minority Leader, Representative Russo served as the Ranking Member on the House Health Committee. She also served as a member on the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, Finance Committee, and Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee. Additionally, Representative Russo previously served on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, was the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Children’s Caucus, Policy Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Ohio Advisory... Read more
Dr. Bryan Hambley, Secretary of State
Dr. Bryan Hambley grew up on a small family farm in a tight-knit community where he saw the impact of people coming together. When he was a child, the state tried to shut down his town’s small public school. The town of 800 people got into their trucks, drove to the state capitol, and made their voices heard to save the school, the heart of their community. His parents taught him this was democracy at its best: a community rallying to do together what no one could do alone.
Ever since, Bryan has committed his life to fighting for what’s right. He has organized communities around key issues.
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Fighting against pharmaceutical companies using their money to buy influence in hospitals.
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Bringing critical health care to underserved communities.
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Standing up for the right to vote and be heard. Read more
Seth Walsh, Treasurer of State
Seth Walsh is a recognized community development leader who has prioritized keeping Cincinnati growing, vibrant, and safe. As Treasurer of State, Seth will ensure the state's investments, pension funds, and revenue are managed with integrity and are used to strengthen our communities so all Ohioans thrive.
Seth is an accomplished nonprofit leader, securing $85 million in economic development funding as Executive Director of the College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation. First appointed to Cincinnati City Council in December 2022, he has championed millions of dollars in direct economic support to grow Cincinnati's small businesses and neighborhoods. Seth is a member of the Cincinnati Retirement System Board of Trustees.
A native of St. Joseph, Michigan, Seth graduated from Xavier... Read more
Ron Kincaid, US Senator
Ron Kincaid’s campaign is built on simple but powerful principles: dignity, fairness, and opportunity for every Ohioan. His vision is rooted in practical solutions, not partisan games — and his mission is to fight for working families who’ve been left behind for too long.
Ron’s leadership has always been about listening first and finding common ground. He believes Washington works best when people from different backgrounds sit down, respect each other, and get to work. That’s the approach he’ll bring to the Senate — putting results ahead of partisanship, and Ohio families ahead of politics.
This campaign is built on the voices of everyday Ohioans. Ron’s service starts with listening, and his commitment is to take those voices to Washington and turn them into action. Read more
Daniel Burket, US Congressional Candidate - 5th District
Daniel Burket, a husband, father, small business owner, and lifelong resident of Findlay, Ohio. He was raised in a working-class family that often went without more than the basics, and he know what it’s like to grow up with limited means. Those experiences shaped his values and his commitment to helping others.
He graduated from Liberty-Benton High School in 2013, then studied Political Science and Finance at Ohio University before transferring to Bowling Green State University. While he was in college, he had the chance to purchase the restaurant he was managing—Stevi B’s Pizza—and took over in June of 2017 at just 21 years old.
Since then, he's continued to own and operate that business, and he's used it as a way to give back to the community that raised him. Each year, they donate nearly 15,000 free meals to elementary students across Hancock County... Read more
Martin Heberling, US Congressional Candidate - 5th District
Martin Heberling grew up on West 26th Street in the City of Lorain in a union middle-class family. As a child, he remembered his father riding his ten-speed bike from their home to U.S. Steel. Martin’s dad was proud to be a union worker, and Martin is honored to currently be a union leader with the Lorain Education Association and the Lorain County AFL-CIO.
Martin is married to his beautiful wife, Kyle, and is raising his family in Amherst, Ohio. Martin served as Councilman at Large for seven years for the City of Amherst. for the city of Amherst. Martin is a proud public school teacher at THE Lorain City Schools. Martin also created a non-profit organization that educates our youth about local environmental concerns. The organization’s philosophy is to inspire our youth to learn how to be proactive in addressing those issues, while creating pride for their community. Read more
Brian Shaver, US Congressional Candidate - 5th District
Brian Shaver is a candidate for Ohio's 5th Congressional District and dedicated to people-centric governance, focusing on practical solutions that transcend partisan politics for a better, more united America.
A lifelong Northwest Ohioan, born and raised in Fostoria, where he still lives on a small family farm with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Genevieve. Brian is the current President of the Fostoria City Council and teaches social studies at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School.
If elected to Congress, Brian seeks to restore the meaning of “We the People” in our federal government. He advocates for reforms such as campaign finance limits, term limits, stronger checks and balances, transparency in legislation, and clear guardrails to prevent elected officials from profiting... Read more
Scott E. Tabor, US Congressional Candidate - 5th District
Scott E. Tabor understands what it means to balance real responsibility. While working full-time as a union sheet metal worker, Scott E. Tabor and his wife owned and operated a restaurant nightclub on the west side of Cleveland—an area many considered one of the toughest in the city—all while raising a young family. Through discipline, long hours, and unwavering commitment, Scott E. Tabor successfully managed the demands of a career, a business, and family life at the same time.
Rather than accept the challenges of the neighborhood, Scott E. Tabor worked to improve it. By promoting local bands, creating opportunities for community engagement, and hosting Halloween events for neighborhood children—covered by Channel 3 News—Scott E. Tabor helped build a safer, more connected environment where people took pride in their surroundings. At the same time, Scott E. Tabor worked closely with the Cleveland Police Department’s Second District... Read more
Colton Stidam, State Congressional Candidate - 76th District
Bio coming soon!