Election 2022: Cincinnati’s Guide to the Major Local and State Races

Editor’s note: This story is featured in the Nov. 2 print edition of CityBeat.

Midterm elections in the United States are vital to shaping the city, region, state and country, but they typically don’t involve tons of drama.

That has changed for the 2022 general election, though. In the wake of 2020’s political throwdown and baseless election fraud accusations, the current crop of politicians is doubling down on contention. Will their efforts spur more voters to go to the polls? Traditional midterm turnout says no, but this year looks a lot different for a variety of reasons.

In the Nov. 8 general election, Ohioans will vote under the state’s new district maps, which the Ohio Supreme Court has repeatedly deemed unconstitutional due to their unfairly favoring Republicans over Democrats. A series of actions have led to the state being forced to use the maps anyway, and that directly affects a district’s candidates, issues, voter resources and political power.

The election under the new maps will feature major races like those for state governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, state supreme court justices, U.S. senators, state senators and state district representatives. Local races for county commissioner, auditor, clerk of courts and judges also are in contention (contact the board of elections in your county for a full list).

Below, CityBeat has highlighted a few of the major races and issues that local voters will be considering. But Ohio voters don’t have to wait for election day on Nov. 8 to make their voices heard — early voting options are available now.

CityBeat’s election guide:

• How to Cast Your Vote in Ohio’s 2022 General Election

• If Passed, Cincinnati’s Issue 11 Could Rein in Mayoral Power

• Homecoming Elegy: What the People of Middletown Really Think of J.D. Vance

• Ohio’s District 56 Voters Unsure About Statehouse Candidates

• In Their Own Words: Ohio Candidates for Governor, Mike DeWine and Nan Whaley

• In Their Own Words: Candidates for Ohio’s U.S. Senate Seat, J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan

• In Their Own Words: 1st Congressional District Candidates, Steve Chabot and Greg Landsman

• In Their Own Words: Joy Bennett and Adam Mathews, Candidates for Ohio’s 56th Congressional District

• In Their Own Words: Ohio’s 89th Congressional District Candidates, D.J. Swearingen and Jim Obergefell

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This article appears in Election 2022.