What to know ahead of the Ohio primary election

Voters in the US state of Ohio are set to go to the polls in the state’s primaries, where they will pick candidates for several key positions in the upcoming midterm elections in November. The outcomes of several races in the Midwestern state could have important implications for the crucial midterms, widely seen as a referendum on United States President Donald Trump’s second term and as a vote that will decide which party controls Congress for the remainder of his time in office. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list When does voting take place, which races are being watched, and who are some of the main candidates? We answer those questions and more in this brief explainer. When is the Ohio primary? The Ohio primary will take place on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. When do polls open and close? Polls will open on Election Day at 6:30am local time (10:30 GMT) and close at 7:30pm (23:30 GMT). What’s on the ballot? Voters will have the chance to choose candidates in primaries for races for the US Senate, US House, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state supreme court, state senate and state house. Which races are front and centre? The special election for one of Ohio’s two US Senate seats and the race to replace Republican Governor Mike DeWine have attracted the most attention due to their ties to national politics. …