(This story was updated to correct an error.)
Races in Franklin County for the Ohio Statehouse are unlikely to make waves in 2026 thanks to largely uncompetitive districts and a lack of opposition candidates.
In Franklin County’s local races, Democrat incumbents have the offices mostly locked down as Republicans only fielded one candidate.
Here who’s filed to run locally in the May primary in Franklin County by the deadline on Feb. 4. The Franklin County Board of Elections will check if candidates turned in enough signatures and certify candidacies by Feb. 17.
Who’s running for the Ohio Senate in Franklin County?
Franklin County has three State Senators with two seats held by Democrats and one seat held by a Republican.
In Ohio Senate District 3, incumbent State Sen. Michelle Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, will get a pass to the general election in November.
Reynolds’ seat could be competitive in 2026. Reynolds flipped the seat in 2022 from a Democrat. Two Democrats have filed to run in a primary for the district: Stacie Baker and Natasha Wheatley-Caffrey.
The district includes part of southern Columbus and stretches south to Circleville and west to London.
In Ohio Senate District 15, Latyna Humphrey, the current sate rep for Ohio House District 2, is the only Democrat who filed to replace term-limited State Sen. Hearcel Craig. Craig endorsed Humphrey, clearing the field of any Democrats considering a run for the seat.
Joseph Healy has filed as a Republican to run for the Ohio Senate District 15 seat.
In Ohio Senate District 25, incumbent Sen. Bill Demora, D-Columbus, could face a primary race against Jesse Bruce Baker and Raisheda Angus, who also filed.
Don Roberts is the sole Republican who filed in Ohio Senate District 25.
Who’s running for the Ohio House in Franklin County?
All of Franklin County’s Ohio House districts are held by Democrats. Several incumbents representing Franklin County in the Ohio House are facing no competition for their seat in the primary or general election.
Ohio House District 1: Incumbent Rep. Dontavius Jarrells could face a challenge from fellow Democrat Christopher Robbins, who has also filed. Republican Joel Greff has also filed to run.
Ohio House District 2: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Latyna Humphrey is vacating the seat to run for State Senate. Three Democrats have filed to replace her: Elizabeth Richards, Charity Martin King and Michael Cole, a former Columbus City Schools Board president.
Ohio House District 3: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Ismail Mohamed could face Libertarian Elijah Joshua Williams, who has filed.
Ohio House District 4: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio faces no challenger.
Ohio House District 5: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe faces no challenger.
Ohio House District 6: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Christine Cockley could face a primary challenge from Eric Diaz Revilla, who has filed. Republican Matthew Jackson has also filed for the seat.
Ohio House District 7: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Allison Russo is vacating the seat to run for Ohio Secretary of State. Three Democrats have filed to replace her: Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Michaela Burriss and Zach Rossfeld. Republican William Mercier has also filed for the seat.
Ohio House District 8: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Antina Somani faces no challenger.
Ohio House District 9: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Munira Yasin Abdullahi faces no primary challenger. Republican Bruce Euans also filed to run for the seat.
Ohio House District 10: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Mark Sigrist faces no primary challenger. Republican Denise D’Angelo has filed to run for the seat.
Ohio House District 11: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Crystal Lett faces no primary challenger. Republican Shawn Kaeser has filed to run for the seat.
Who’s running for Franklin County office?
Democratic dominance of Franklin County offices remains absolute in 2026 with no Republicans running for any of the county offices or judgeships up for election.
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano, a Democrat, will face no challenger for his office in 2026.
Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley could face a challenge in the general election from Democrat Davide Cugini, a local attorney.
Five Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judges, all Democrats, up for reelection will run unopposed. Those judges are General Division Judges Carl Aveni, Andy Miller, David Young and Chris Brown; and Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division Judge Lasheyl Stroud.
Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division Judges George Leach could face a challenge from fellow Democrat Kelley Boller, who has also filed.
Probate Court Judge Jeffrey Mackey is limited from running again because he is now 70. Democrats Kelly Green and Mathias Manner have filed to run for his seat on the bench.
Judges Michael Mentel and Terri Jamison, two judges for the 10th District Court of Appeals, which handles appeals from Franklin County Common Pleas Court and lawsuits against the state of Ohio, are up for reelection and face no challengers. All eight judges on the court are Democrats.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: See who’s running for Ohio Statehouse, local office in Franklin County
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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