A top Democratic lawmaker will run for secretary of state in 2026.
Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, announced her campaign Aug. 21, weeks after she stepped down from her position as House minority leader. Ohio's current secretary of state, Republican Frank LaRose, is term limited next year and running for state auditor.
Russo told the statehouse bureau that she wants to restore public trust in elections and depoliticize the secretary of state's office.
"I think there's a lot of justified distrust in many of these offices, especially the secretary of state, because time and time again this office has tried to manipulate voters," Russo said. "It starts there with taking the partisanship out of it, not putting thumbs on the scale."
Russo is the second Democrat to announce a bid for secretary of state, setting up a primary if both candidates remain in the race. Cincinnati doctor Bryan Hambley launched his campaign in January and has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, according to his website.
Hambley welcomed Russo to the race, saying democracy thrives on a “competition of ideas.”
“My fellow Ohioans have told me, loud and clear, that Ohio needs new voices in state government and a less partisan secretary of state,” he said in a statement. “This is why I am running: to make our elections fair and ensure Ohioans can hold politicians accountable.”
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, who is term limited in his current role, is running on the Republican side.
"They are playing musical chairs because they’ve been blocked out of running for governor, which is what most of them wanted to do," Russo said of Ohio's GOP officials. "Regardless of who my opponent is, I’m in this to restore transparency and integrity back to the secretary of state’s office."
Russo was first elected to the Ohio House in 2018 − flipping what used to be a Republican seat − and served as minority leader for more than three years. She worked in health care policy before launching her career in public office.
What does Ohio secretary of state do?
The secretary of state wears multiple hats, chief among them being the role of Ohio's top election official. That person also sits on the Ohio Redistricting Commission and chairs the Ohio Ballot Board, which approves the ballot language for statewide issues.
Russo credited LaRose for his focus on cybersecurity, but she contends he mismanaged the office in other ways. During his tenure, LaRose has faced criticism for voter purges and approving ballot language that differed substantially from the proposed amendments.
LaRose is also a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, who recently floated plans to crack down on mail-in voting and voting machines, Reuters reported. LaRose repeatedly says Ohio elections, which allow absentee voting by mail, are effective and secure.
"Many of the actions that we see coming from the president of the United States have been to prevent people from voting, period, and to rig elections," Russo said. "I think Ohioans have seen the damage that gets done when elections are rigged."
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at [email protected] or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Allison Russo launches campaign for Ohio secretary of state in 2026
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