Posted by R Murray
The 2026 midterm elections are a busy time for Ohio. Not only are there key federal elections, like a costly U.S. Senate special election, but also a high-profile governor’s race. Then there’s the open battle for attorney general.
Down-ballot races could be tricky, especially with a Republican president in office and Democrats potentially winning the Senate or governor’s race. But Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, the Republican candidate, is “feel[ing] good,” telling the Daily Signal, “I think we’ve run a competitive campaign” and “executed on what we’ve needed to execute.” He’s also outspent his Democratic opponent, John Kulewicz.
This is all while he acknowledged “in the end, this is an interesting election year. I think we’re getting headwinds, and it’s making it more difficult for the down ticket races.”
Topping the ticket is the governor’s race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, with Acton seen as having the edge according to forecasters, polls, and prediction markets.
Faber stressed that the outcome Tuesday will depend on turnout. “If the normal Republican voters show up, the whole ticket’s going to be successful,” he predicted. Faber also later pointed out he believes this speaks to how Ohio “is generally a red state or certainly a reddish state.”
In 2018, arguably a blue-wave year—though not in Ohio statewide races—Faber noted that he and other Republican statewide candidates had been down in the polls but went on to win. He’s leading in the polls now, and also favored even if other Ohio Republicans might not be at this point.