2026 is shaping up to be a massive one in the political sphere, particularly in the Bluegrass and the Buckeye states.

Ohio will hold races for a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. House seats and governor, bringing a ton of publicity to the state as midterm elections heat up around the country. Kentucky also has a Senate race that is growing in national prominence, and Indiana will be re-electing their U.S. House representation.

Need a refresher on important races and dates to know for the 2026 elections? Below is what you need to know for all three states.

Ohio

Big Races to Know

Governor: With Republican Gov. Mike DeWine term-limited at the end of 2026, Ohio voters will elect a new leader in November. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton appear destined for a close race down to the end for the governor role, with polls at the end of 2025 showing a close race to succeed DeWine.

U.S. Senate: Less than two years after replacing Vice President JD Vance in the Senate, Republican Jon Husted will look to defend his seat in 2026. The most likely candidate to oppose him looks to be former Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is attempting to make a comeback after losing to Bernie Moreno in 2024. Like in the governor’s race, polls are showing a close race to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House: Ohio’s 15 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be up for election in 2026. It comes after the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a new congressional map that could boost Republican chances in districts currently held by Democratic Reps. Greg Landsman in Cincinnati and Marcy Kaptur near Toledo.

Dates to Know

April 6: Deadline to register to vote in Primary Election

May 5: Primary Election

Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General Election

Oct. 6: Early in-person voting begins

Nov. 2: Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked

Nov. 3: Election Day

For more information on Ohio’s election dates to know, click here.

Kentucky

Big Races to Know

U.S. Senate: With longtime Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell choosing not to run for re-election in 2026, candidates are lining up for a chance to succeed him and represent the Bluegrass State. There are already a handful of candidates who have thrown their name in the mix for the seat, including Andy Barr, Nate Morris and Daniel Cameron on the Republican side. Amy McGrath and Charles Booker are among declared candidates on the Democratic side.

U.S. House: Kentucky has six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which will be up for election in 2026. The state’s fourth congressional district could be one to keep an eye on, as well-known Republican Rep. Thomas Massie faces a challenge from several candidates, including Navy veteran Ed Gallrein, who President Donald Trump has publicly supported.

Dates to Know

April 20: Deadline to register to vote in Primary Election

May 19: Primary Election

Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General Election

Oct. 29: Early in person voting begins

Nov. 3: Election Day

For more information on Kentucky’s election dates to know, click here.

Indiana

Big Races to Know

U.S. House: Indiana has nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which will be up for election in 2026. Those seats are currently held by seven Republicans and two Democrats.

Dates to Know

April 6: Deadline to register to vote in Primary Election

May 5: Primary Election

Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General Election

Oct. 24: Early in person voting begins

Nov. 3: Election Day

For more information on Indiana’s election dates to know, click here.

KINSMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – The Lord has recently called home one of earth’s most precious angels, to join him in eternal rest. Darice Draa-Hall, 51 of Kinsman, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at her home, the very one she grew up in as a child, after a long and courageous ten year battle with cancer.

Darice was born on March 6, 1975, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Roy Draa and Sharon Harvey.

She grew up in Kinsman, Ohio, where she attended Joseph Badger High School and graduated high school in 1994. She later went on to attend college for a short period at Kent State University.

She most recently worked as an operations technician at Luxium Solutions in Hiram, Ohio, where she grew special crystals that were used in the manufacturing of MRI machines and other tools used in gas and oil exploration.

Darice dedicated her entire life to her family, pouring boundless love, kindness, patience, hope, wisdom, and so much more into raising her three boys. She was a masterful gardener, with hands blessed by thumbs greener than grass. She loved canning the treasures from her own backyard. She was an amazing cook; the flavor and love she added to every home-cooked meal was second to none, seasoned with many tips and tricks obtained from generations past that she loved to teach to those around. With a strong passion for sewing, she could create or fix anything you could dream of. She also enjoyed scrolling Facebook, staying connected to the world she knew and loved. But above all, she cherished spending time with her beloved friends and family, continuously planting the seeds of moments and memories for her loved ones to remember forever.

She leaves behind a legacy of love in the hearts of her husband, Dale Hall; her loving children, Joenus Hall, Michael (Marissa) Miller, Jr. and Zachary Williams; her fur-babies, Max and Koda; her sister, Denise (Ken) Moore; her niece, Ally Moore and nephew, Brian Moore and her brother, Jimmy Engle and many more loving friends and family who will carry her spirit forward. She was preceded on her journey by her father, Roy Draa; her mother, Sharon Harvey and her brother, Brock Engle; along with many other cherished loved ones who won’t be forgotten.

Per her wishes, there will be no funeral services or calling hours. A celebration of her remarkable life will be held during the summer months ahead, when the sun is high and the world is in full bloom. Though she has stepped into eternal rest, the seeds of love and wisdom she planted in her sons and family will continue to grow for generations to come. We carry her spirit in our hearts every day, comforted by the boundless love she gave us and the hope that we will one day walk beside her again.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road NE, Warren, Ohio 44483, 330- 394-6200. Dedicated To Serving Your Loved Ones.

Condolences may be sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Darice , please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Tuesday, April 7 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:19 p.m. on WYTV and 6:37 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Related video: Electric atmosphere fills Mississippi’s first Buc-ee’s on opening day

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WTVG) – Buc-ee’s will open its first Ohio location Monday.

The 24/7 travel center chain will open to the public in Huber Heights, just outside of Dayton.

Buc-ee’s is based in Texas and has been expanding across the South and now in the Midwest. The chain is known for its large number of gas pumps and clean bathrooms, and its food options like Beaver Nuggets and brisket.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine plans to attend the grand opening Monday.

Plans are in the works to build the second Ohio location in Mansfield.

Related story: Buc-ee’s sues Milan, Ohio company over trademark infringement

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