Ohio
Commitment 2026: Key races, dates ahead of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana elections
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.OhioBig Races to KnowGovernor: 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 KnowApril 6: Deadline to register to vote in Primary ElectionMay 5: Primary ElectionOct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General ElectionOct. 6: Early in-person voting beginsNov. 2: Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarkedNov. 3: Election DayFor more information on Ohio’s election dates to know, click here.KentuckyBig Races to KnowU.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 KnowApril 20: Deadline to register to vote in Primary ElectionMay 19: Primary ElectionOct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General ElectionOct. 29: Early in person voting beginsNov. 3: Election DayFor more information on Kentucky’s election dates to know, click here.IndianaBig Races to KnowU.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 KnowApril 6: Deadline to register to vote in Primary ElectionMay 5: Primary ElectionOct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in General ElectionOct. 24: Early in person voting beginsNov. 3: Election DayFor more information on Indiana’s election dates to know, click here.
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.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Severe thunderstorms rolled through Northeast Ohio on Wednesday night, bringing down trees and knocking out power to thousands.
The heaviest damage seemed to be in Lorain County in the city of Lorain and Amherst. The Amherst Fire Department said there are large trees down on Jackson Street and Cleveland Avenue.
Check FirstEnergy’s, AEP’s, and Cleveland Public Power’s websites for the latest outage numbers.
More storms will work through the area overnight, as another disturbance reaches the area after midnight.
These storms will be ordinary in nature, though they could contain heavy downpours.
These storms should last through the middle of the day tomorrow, before clearing later in the day.
Lightning strike in Brunswick.
West Park neighborhood lightning show in Cleveland.
Submit any photos and videos from storm below.
Check back with the 19 News First Alert Weather team for the latest weather forecast.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Ohio State treated fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Buckeye Stripes this week.
In a video released Wednesday that lasted more than six minutes, Ohio State pulled back the curtain on what it took to create Buckeye Stripes. The answer is more than 18 months of planning and countless hours of work behind the scenes.
Buckeye Stripes became a reality because of several Ohio State staffers whose contributions often go unnoticed, including assistant director of design Joe Gemma, director of creative and branding Ethan Miller, director of football equipment services Kevin Ries, assistant director of football equipment services Kevin Nerl, associate director of creative Danny Kraft, assistant director of creative Bryan Jay and assistant director of creative Domenick Guerrera.
Those staffers appeared throughout the behind-the-scenes feature alongside quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., linebacker Payton Pierce and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr., who modeled the alternate uniform concepts Ohio State could wear during the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes now have five uniform combinations in their arsenal: their core home and away sets plus three alternates — the all-black “Tunnel Visions,” all-white “Sub Zeroes” and all-scarlet “Scarlet Rush.” Ohio State will unveil one of the new looks when it opens the 2026 season against Ball State on Sept. 5 in Ohio Stadium.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)- We could find out as soon as Wednesday whether or not funding will be coming to help repair the Lisbon pool.
Mayor Pete Wilson says he spoke with State Representative Monica Robb Blasdel.
He says their $150,000 request was added into the state capital expenditures bill, which is expected to be voted on Wednesday. The Mayor says he was told the vote is a formality and that the funding will be approved.
He says with this funding, they hope to have the pool open next year.
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