While primary elections aren’t until May 21 for Kentucky and May 7 for Indiana, they are coming up on March 19 at designated polling locations in Ohio. Primaries tend to have a lower interest – and subsequently lower turnout – for voters, especially during a presidential election year. But, primary elections can have a noteworthy impact on local and state government, particularly for Midwestern swing states.
Many candidates are running unopposed in this round of primaries. For instance, Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) and Orlando Sonza (R-Ohio) will officially face-off for the U.S. House District 1 seat later this year.
Southwest Ohio
U.S. Second Congressional District (includes Clermont County)
U.S. Eighth Congressional District (includes part of Hamilton County, all of Butler County)
Ohio House of Representatives District 56 (includes Lebanon, Mason and parts of Warren County)
The winning Republican will face off against Democrat Cleveland Canova, who has asked voters to stay home on March 19 to send a message to the White House on the situation in Gaza.
Republicans:
Adam Mathews (incumbent)
All photo IDs must have the following:
For those primary races with skin in the game, open primary laws mean voters will have a chance to strategically cast their vote – no matter their political affiliation. Open primary laws in Ohio mean voters do not have to vote along party lines in the primary election. Voters can select the ballot of the party whose primary they wish to vote in at their polling location. This gives voters a chance to weigh in on who their preferred candidate will face come November.
Whether you’re planning ahead or doing last-minute research in line at your polling location, read on for a complete voter’s guide to Greater Cincinnati’s most interesting and competitive Statehouse and congressional primary races.
Southwest Ohio
U.S. Second Congressional District (includes Clermont County)
Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup announced in December that he would retire from Congress after almost 12 years of service. The winning Republican will face Democratic challenger Samantha Meadows, who supports abortion care access and previously took on Wenstrup in 2022 – she lost with 25.5% of the vote.
Republicans:
Niraj Antani
Niraj Antani
- Served in both chambers of Ohio’s General Assembly
- Introduced a bill to prohibit outdoor ballot dropboxes
- Self-described “fiercely pro-Trump”
Kim Georgeton
- Anti-abortion
- Reducing taxes
- No government mandates
Phil Heimlich
- Self-proclaimed “anti-MAGA” Republican
- Supports requiring a balanced federal budget
- Son of the inventor of the Heimlich maneuver
Ron Hood
- Previously represented Ohio House District 78 in Lima
- Sponsored legislation that would require doctors to "reimplant" ectopic pregnancies
- Supports a U.S.-Mexico border wall
Tom Hwang
- Investment manager
- Earned a master’s degree in physics from the University of Maryland
- Anti-abortion
Larry Kidd
- Chairman of OneOhio Recovery Foundation
- Believes guns are a God-given right
- Owns a staffing agency
Derek Myers
- Founded the news website Scioto Valley Guardian
- Supports homeless veterans
- Wants a U.S.-Mexico border wall
Tim O'Hara
- Former Marine drill instructor
- LaRosa’s franchise owner
- Supports use of military force at U.S.-Mexico border
Charles Tassell
- In favor of congressional term limits
- Former director of Government Affairs for the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association
- Endorsed by Right to Life Action Coalition for Ohio
Shane Wilkin
- A+ rating from National Rifle Association
- Promotes faith-based values
- Endorsed by Ohio Right to Life
David Taylor
- Former Clermont County prosecutor
- Anti-abortion
- Would reduce regulations on cryptocurrency
U.S. Eighth Congressional District (includes part of Hamilton County, all of Butler County)
Democrats:
Vanessa Enoch
Vanessa Enoch
- Expanding abortion care access
- Eliminating gerrymandering
- Closing the wealth gap
David Gelb
- Expanding social security
- Reproductive rights
- Common sense gun control
Nathaniel Hawkins
- Climate change advocacy and environmental justice
- Promoting universal healthcare
- Strengthening gun regulation
Republicans:
Warren Davidson (incumbent)
Warren Davidson (incumbent)
- Member of the House Freedom Caucus
- Voted against TikTok ban
- Objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results
Kay Rogers
- Former Butler County auditor and federal prisoner
- Restricting immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border
- Balancing the federal budget
Ohio House of Representatives District 24 (includes much of Cincinnati)
The Democratic primary winner will face unopposed Republican John Sess in November.
Democrats:
Dani Isaacsohn (incumbent)
Dani Isaacsohn (incumbent)
- Solving K-12 chronic student absenteeism
- Universal childcare and pre-K
- Free community college and apprenticeships
Stephan Pryor
- Improving extracurriculars for inner-city youth
- Increasing affordable housing
- Expanding senior citizen living accommodations
Ohio House of Representatives District 29 (includes western part of Hamilton County)
The Republican primary winner will face unopposed Democrat Joe Salvato and Independent Liz Anderson in November.
Republicans:
Cindy Abrams (incumbent)
Cindy Abrams (incumbent)
- Former Cincinnati police officer
- Serves as the Chairwoman of the House Criminal Justice Committee
- Securing tax cuts
George Brunemann
- Founded Southwest Ohio Tea Party
- Computer engineer
- Second Amendment advocate
Ohio House of Representatives District 30 (includes much of Cincinnati’s west side and Cleves)
The winning Democrat will face off against unopposed Republican Mike Odioso in November.
Democrats:
Stefanie Hawk
Stefanie Hawk
- Promoting business grants for small economic development
- Lowering prescription costs
- Universal background checks for gun owners
Andrew Voynovich
- No information available
Ohio House of Representatives District 56 (includes Lebanon, Mason and parts of Warren County)
The winning Republican will face off against Democrat Cleveland Canova, who has asked voters to stay home on March 19 to send a message to the White House on the situation in Gaza.
Republicans:
Adam Mathews (incumbent)
- Co-sponsored anti-abortion ordinance while on Lebanon City Council
- Voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of the anti-transgender House Bill 68
- Endorsed by Ohio Right to Life
Kathy Grossmann
- Former mayor and councilmember in Mason
- Introduced an abortion-ban ordinance in Mason
- Runs a real estate business
Heather Salyer
- “Pro-Trump” Republican
- Opposed COVID mask mandates
- Former Sunday school teacher
How to vote
Early voting in Hamilton County takes place at the Hamilton County Board of Elections office at 4700 Smith Road in Norwood. These are the dates and times you can vote early in Hamilton County:- March 13-15: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- March 16: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- March 17: 1-5 p.m.
Election Day for primary voting in Ohio is March 19 at designated polling locations. View your sample ballot and find your polling location on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
What to bring
A controversial new law requires voters to present a valid ID to vote in person in Hamilton County. Acceptable forms of ID include:- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have the following:
- An expiration date that has not passed
- A photograph of the voter
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book
