What’s on the Ohio ballot this fall?
Election day, Nov. 5, is quickly approaching. While the presidential race has taken over news coverage, there are also many local races and issues on the ballot in Cuyahoga and surrounding counties this fall.
These Ohio races are significant because the state government makes decisions that directly impact Ohio citizens and their daily lives. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that before you cast your ballot, you are informed about all the statewide and local races that you’ll be voting on.
This comprehensive guide will introduce you to a few of the highly contested races and issues that are specific to the Ohio ballot, which will help you make an educated decision this election season. The list only includes races in which the candidate is facing an opponent. Candidates are listed in order of how they will appear on the ballot in Cuyahoga County.
Justice of the State Supreme Court
In Ohio, the justices of the Supreme Court are responsible for interpreting the law in regard to the state constitution through Ohio Supreme Court cases. They also oversee the judicial system in the state, and their decisions set precedents in the state legal system.
In this election, there are three different races for seats as justice of the Supreme Court. They are listed below in order of appearance on the ballot.
Megan Shanahan (R) vs. Michael Donnelly (D) for full six-year term:
As a potential Supreme Court justice, Shanahan’s goal is to create a courtroom that is consistent, unbiased and based fully on the interpretation of the constitution without promoting personal agendas. Shanahan advocates for victims in criminal cases and was a leader in passing Issue 1, a public safety amendment, in 2022.
On the opposing side, Donnelly is seeking reelection this fall. He seeks to win the trust of Ohioans and to uphold the constitution in a fair and equal-treatment courtroom. Key issues Donnelly promotes are the vote on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, ending the First Energy surcharge and combating wrongful convictions.
Melody Stewart (D) vs. Joseph Deters (R) for full six-year term:
Stewart, a CSU law graduate, is running for reelection. She was the first African American woman to be appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2018. Stewart stands for fair representation of political parties in the districts by combatting gerrymandering within the Ohio legislature.
Deters, the opposing Republican candidate, is also seeking reelection. His website describes him as a strict conservative constitutionalist. Deters seeks to uphold the constitution without influencing legislation and holds a strong platform on safety for Ohioans within their communities.
Daniel Hawkins (R) vs. Lisa Forbes (D) for an unexpired term:
The Republican candidate, Hawkins, is described on his website as a strong conservative. He currently serves on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Hawkins wants to create a safe and better community for all Ohioans through implementing new strategies, such as his neighborhood clean-up program.
On the opposing side, Forbes stands for protecting the Ohio democracy and fighting against the political pressure coming from partisanship within the government. She believes that the Supreme Court needs to go back to interpreting and upholding the law without partisanship or bias making its way into the decision.
U.S. Senator (representing Ohio)
The highly advertised race for senator would decide who represents Ohio in the U.S. Senate in Washington for a six-year term. The senator’s job is to represent Ohio in the Capitol and advocate for the needs of Ohio citizens within the Senate. They also help to create and pass national laws in Congress.
This Ohio race is being monitored on a national level this fall because its outcome may decide which party gains control of the U.S. Senate. Currently, the Democratic Party controls the Senate 51 to 49, and this close margin can be changed due to Ohio’s decision this fall. The second seat, currently held by Sen. J.D. Vance, would be decided by Governor Mike DeWine if Vance becomes vice president. The candidates are:
Bernie Moreno (R)
Moreno is a businessman from Cleveland, whose name is recognizable in the “Bernie Moreno Center for Sales Excellence” in the Monte Ahuja College of Business at CSU. As a Republican candidate, he is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and current Ohio Senator and Vice President nominee J.D. Vance. Moreno speaks about the “American Dream” and advocates for middle-class American workers and families. His platform consists of the following key issues:
- Anti-abortion, supports a national abortion ban
- Secure America’s borders, supports building a wall between Mexico
- Support for Israel and put a stop to antisemitism
- Reduce inflation and reduce government spending
- Give support to local law enforcement
- Support Second Amendment and gun rights
Sherrod Brown (D)
Brown, originally from Mansfield, is a current U.S. Senator representing Ohio and has held this position since 2006. He is Ohio’s first Senator in 40 years to serve on the Agricultural Committee and aims to support local farms and rural communities which make up a majority of Ohio’s jobs. Brown also makes it a priority to support veterans and public access to education, being endorsed by the Ohio Education Association. His platform consists of the additional key issues:
- Abortion-rights, supports abortion protections and Planned Parenthood
- Strengthen America’s borders, supports the bipartisan border security bill
- Support for Israel, support for the Jewish community in Ohio
- Ensure that American tax dollars support American workers
- FEND Off Fentanyl Act to support law enforcement in the battle against fentanyl
- Favors gun safety regulations
Representative to Congress (7th District)
The Ohio representative to Congress would serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in the capitol, representing the 7th district. This position, as part of Congress, works alongside the Senate to create and pass laws and bring the concerns of Ohioans to the national capitol. This race has three candidates:
Matt Diemer (D)
The Democratic candidate, Diemer, was raised in Cleveland and works with the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. His campaign aims to “Make Congress Great Again” by standing up for the American people in Congress without deeper political agendas. Diemer’s platform consists of the following issues:
- Support for Ohio’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment
- Support for labor unions and the PRO Act
- Fair districts and end gerrymandering
- “For the People Act” to make voting more accessible and fair
Dennis Kucinich (Independent)
Kucinich, former Mayor of Cleveland and Congressman, is running for office as an independent. In his time in Congress, he worked to hold executives accountable and enforce checks and balances within the government. Kucinich has a strong platform on ending U.S. involvement in long foreign wars and protecting national security. Some of his key issues include:
- Ending forever wars and stop financing foreign wars
- Seal the border and put jobs into the hands of legal U.S. citizens
- Support family farms and the American economy
- Reduce taxes and cap credit card interest rates
Max Miller (R)
Miller, a CSU graduate and veteran of the Marine Corps, is running for reelection as he is the current representative for the 7th district. Before his term in Congress, he served as senior advisor to former President Donald Trump. While in office, Miller worked to secure the border, protect the American workforce and advocate for farmers and rural communities in Ohio. His platform consists of the following issues:
- Expand workforce development and education opportunities
- Adapt an American-first foreign policy to protect U.S. interests and security
- Advocacy for farmers and agricultural advancement, one of Ohio’s largest industries
- Secure the southern border and fight against fentanyl
State Representative (16th District)
This race for state representative will decide who will represent the 16th district in the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus. This seat will work alongside the other members of the general assembly in Ohio to create legislation and address the needs of the citizens. The candidates are:
Bride Rose Sweeney (D)
Sweeney, the first and youngest woman elected in the 16th district, is running for reelection this fall. As a member of the general assembly, Sweeney worked to bring a young and fresh voice to Congress and represent the needs of the 16th district. Her platform consists of the following key issues:
- Affordable living for families, seniors and veterans
- Creating jobs and safe communities
- Support school funding by protecting taxpayers
- Support for women’s rights and abortion-rights
Daniel James Harrington (R)
Harrington is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and speaks on his Christian values which influence his campaign. He is committed to creating safe communities in Ohio that will support families and put Americans first. Some of the issues on his platform consist of:
- Reform public education to offer religion as an elective and remove critical race and gender theory
- Address youth mental health issues in schools
- Prohibit Ohio from conducting business with China
- Income-share agreements at state schools, students pay after rather than upfront for education
Issue 1
This issue on the ballot is a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution. If passed, it would change Ohio’s system for how the districts are mapped out by creating a commission of citizens tasked with redistricting the maps in 2025.
The goal of the proposed amendment is to put a stop to gerrymandering by taking the issue entirely out of the hands of the politicians. Gerrymandering is the manipulating of districts on the map to benefit a certain political party.
On the ballot, the issue reads, “To create an appointed redistricting commission not elected by or subject to removal by the voters of the state.”
A yes vote means that the redistricting commission would be formed and new district maps would be drawn in 2025 with the goal of creating more accurate political representations of Ohio communities to combat gerrymandering.
A no vote means that the amendment will not pass and the district maps will not be redrawn. This will keep the issue of districting in the hands of the Ohio legislature and government.