Ohio set for marquee races in the fall. US Senate contest seen as crucial for control of the chamber

Source: Associated Press

Ohio set for marquee races in the fall. US Senate contest seen as crucial for control of the chamber

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
Updated 12:07 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tuesday’s primary in Ohio set up two marquee matchups in November — a U.S. Senate race that will help determine control of the chamber and a governor’s race in which Democrats see their best chance of victory in two decades.

Another stunningly expensive Senate race — the state’s third in four years — is expected as Republicans try to hold their majority during a difficult midterm cycle. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown easily defeated a challenger in the Democratic primary and will now attempt to unseat Republican Sen. Jon Husted. {snip} Brown, who served three Senate terms before losing a bitter reelection bid in 2024, pledged at his victory party to fight for working-class Ohioans.

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In the governor’s race, biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy clinched the Republican nomination over internet personality Casey Putsch to face Dr. Amy Acton, the COVID-era health director, this fall. Acton was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-governor-ramaswamy-acton-brown-husted-1b29bfc5cd8cacd7d71d7b550ac894ee