2026 Ohio Governor Voters Guide

Legal. “Every Ohioan deserves the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.” “I will protect reproductive freedom so that every woman can access safe, legal abortion care, contraception, fertility treatments, and miscarriage care.”

Ban. “I’m unapologetically pro-life…. I believe that abortion is a form of murder.” Supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade, said abortion “is a matter for the states,” not the federal government. Would support a ban at “the six-week mark that brainwaves do begin.”

Mostly yes. Wants “an all-of-the-above energy strategy…that incorporates the lowest-cost and cleanest sources of energy.” Says Ohio should reinstate its Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards, which set annual benchmarks for utility companies’ renewable energy production.

No. “The climate agenda is a hoax.” Calls “the anti-carbon agenda” a “wet blanket on our economy.” Wants to “expand natural gas and deploy innovative energy technologies.” “We’re going to drill. We’re going to frack.” “Coal shouldn’t be treated like a four-letter word.”

Would “fully fund the police and public safety.” Calls for “community partnership with law enforcement.” Says crime “is often a symptom of other…societal problems.” Would “support our first responders and invest in addiction treatment, mental health services and community programming across our state.”

Wants “stricter bail and sentencing for repeat violent offenders.” Called for “more cops on the street.” Supports “qualified immunity,” which protects officers against lawsuits. Wants a database to track judges’ sentencing decisions, for accountability. Would “bring back mental health institutions” to “deal with severe psychiatric illnesses” “so officers can focus on fighting crime.”

Tighten. Wants more transparency in how data centers are approved, increased regulations, and fewer financial incentives. “Data centers need to work for Ohioans.” Opposes loosening air and water quality standards for data centers. Would “ensure that Ohio consumers and…ratepayers are not the ones shouldering these added costs.”

Mixed. Calls the “data center boom” in Ohio “good.” Wants data centers to cover their own energy and water costs. “If you’re going to use energy, pay for your own energy.” Calls the move to curtail data centers “a terrible idea.” “We want to prepare ourselves for leadership in the sectors of the future.”

No. Opposes a private school voucher program that “is sending billions…of your tax dollars to fund private schools.” “Decades of privatization schemes and special interest giveaways have led to worse outcomes for our kids.” Would “get control of the opaque private school voucher system with runaway costs.”

Yes. Supports Ohio’s school voucher program. Wants to take school choice “to the next level, because every parent deserves to be able to send their kids to the best possible school.”

Likely tighten. Would “undertake common sense reforms to reduce the scourge of gun violence.”

Likely loosen. “The right to keep and bear arms is not negotiable.” Felons should be able to own guns. “Concealed carry is important.” Background checks are “a legitimate part of the process.”

Increase. Would use public funding to end medical debt for income-qualifying Ohioans. “Every one of us is one healthcare emergency away from losing everything.” Would use Ohio’s “purchasing power” to reduce prescription drug prices. Calls Medicaid a “life-saving program” that should not be cut.

Decrease. “The best way” to address high healthcare costs “is by increasing the wealth…of Ohioans.” Medicaid without work requirements “has harmed the very people that it was created…to help.” Would lower healthcare costs by prosecuting Medicaid fraud and putting “the recovered funds back into citizens’ pockets.”

Called ICE activity in Minneapolis “not…okay.” “We…want violent offenders off the street, but we also have to treat people like human beings.” “Frontline responders” should “be well-trained and be good at what they do.” “Law enforcement should be keeping people safe by going after dangerous criminals, not by terrorizing communities.”

“Militarize the southern border, stop funding sanctuary cities…. I favor ending birthright citizenship for the kids of illegal immigrants.” “If we’ve had the largest influx of illegal immigrants in American history, then…we should have the largest mass deportation of immigrants in American history.”

Easier. “I will always be a steadfast pro-union, pro-worker Governor.” “Will always fight for the rights of our workers” and “crack down on wage theft, worker misclassification, and…other abuses that deprive Ohioans of their hard-earned wages.” “Will…make sure Ohio never becomes a right-to-work state.” Says teachers should “maintain the right to organize.”

Mostly easier. Supports “protecting the ability…to… bargain for themselves” for police, firefighters, and people in the trades. “I’m a strong protector of the ability for people to be able to freely organize.” Opposes teachers unions. “That’s the one area of collective bargaining that I would not rule out eliminating.”

Expand. Called Pride Month “a celebration of courage, community, and the right to live with dignity. To our LGBTQ+ neighbors: you matter, and you are not alone. I stand with you—this month and every month.”

Mostly limit. “Transgenderism” is a “secular cult” and “a mental health disorder.” “Leave our kids alone, don’t try to change our language, our bathrooms, our sports.” Said “a categorical ban” on transgender people in the military isn’t necessary, except for “combat roles.”

Legal. Would “respect the will of the voters” on the use of cannabis products. Called a 2026 legislative ban on hemp-derived beverages an “out-of-touch overreach” by legislators.

Likely legal. Supports federal marijuana legalization. In 2023, voted against an Ohio marijuana legalization initiative: “It’s an abandonment of the rule of law when you have…rules at the federal level but state laws that contradict federal law.”

Yes. Would “raise the minimum wage.” “We’ll build a system where working people can afford to take care of themselves.”

No position found.

Calls for “a refundable state earned income credit” that “would support up to 775,000 working families.” Proposes child tax credits of $500 to $1,000 a year. Would address property taxes, “particularly for people on fixed incomes.”

Would “slash property taxes immediately” and “phase out the state income tax—starting with eliminating capital gains taxes.” “We’re going to make Ohio a zero income tax state where you get to keep what you earn.”

Likely easier. Is concerned over reports that FBI agents raided an Ohio voter registration organization office. “Any attempts by federal law enforcement to intimidate eligible Ohioans from registering to vote are unacceptable.” Would ensure Ohio’s current voter ID law is enforced.

Mostly harder. Would amend the OH constitution to make voter ID permanent. “Now is the time to…enshrine voter ID into our constitution.” Called for raising the voting age to 25 with a few exceptions. Proposed “single-day voting,” paper ballots, and making “Election Day a national holiday.”