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.

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.