Ohio Primary Election: Key Races and Candidates for 2026 Midterms Voters in the U.S. state of Ohio are set to cast their ballots in the state’s primary elections on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The results of these contests will shape the political landscape for the upcoming midterm elections in November, which are widely viewed as a pivotal moment for President Donald Trump’s second term and a critical test of congressional control. The primary will determine candidates for a range of positions, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state supreme court, state senate, and state house races. The most closely watched races are the special election for one of Ohio’s two U.S. Senate seats and the contest to replace Republican Governor Mike DeWine. These races carry significant national implications, as they could influence the balance of power in the Senate and reflect broader trends in the Republican and Democratic parties. The Senate race, in particular, is seen as a key battleground for the Democratic Party’s efforts to reclaim the chamber from Republicans, who currently hold a narrow majority. In the gubernatorial race, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, backed by President Trump, faces off against internet personality Casey Putsch for the Republican nomination. Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur, has the endorsement of the state Republican Party and Trump himself, who praised him as “young, strong, and smart” in a social media post. Putsch, a right-wing political commentator and auto racing engineer, has positioned himself as a more authentic representative of Trump’s “America First” ideology.#mike_dewine #ohio_primary_election #us_senate_race #vivek_ramaswamy #casey_putsch
