Craig Riedel and Ryan Rivers Obtain Republican Nominations for Ohio Senate in Tight Primaries
17 seats in the Ohio Senate are up this year.
The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in Ohio to select candidates for the November 2026 general election. This post covers the races for 17 seats in the State Senate. Separate posts will be covering the primaries for federal races, statewide executive offices, every seat in the State House of Representatives, and county contests.
The general election for these 17 seats in the Ohio Senate will be held on November 3, 2026.
District 1:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Former State Representative Craig Riedel won the Republican primary with 51.0% (22,165) against State Representative James Hoops with 49.0% (21,309). 43,474 votes counted.
District 3:
Reynoldsburg city councilmember Stacie Baker won the Democratic primary with 55.9% (11,083) against data specialist Natasha Wheatley-Caffrey with 44.1% (8,730). 19,813 votes counted.
Incumbent Michele Reynolds won the Republican primary.
District 5:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
State Representative Phil Plummer won the Republican primary.
District 7:
Physician Cara Jacob won the Democratic primary.
Business executive Zac Haines won the Republican primary with 77.4% (22,290) against business owner Kim Lukens with 22.6% (6,527). 28,817 votes counted.
District 9:
Incumbent Catherine Ingram won the Democratic primary.
No candidate qualified for the Republican primary.
District 11:
Incumbent Paula Hicks-Hudson won the Democratic primary.
Attorney James Nowak won the Republican primary.
District 13:
State Representative Joe Miller won the Democratic primary.
State Representative Gayle Manning won the Republican primary.
District 15:
State Representative Latyna Humphrey won the Democratic primary.
Perennial candidate Joseph Healy won the Republican primary.
District 17:
Coach Brian Deer won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Shane Wilkin won the Republican primary.
District 19:
Nurse Janet Wagner won the Democratic primary.
Businessman Ryan Rivers won the Republican primary with 51.8% (18,266) against State Representative Beth Lear with 48.2% (16,970). 35,236 votes counted.
District 21:
Incumbent Kent Smith won the Democratic primary with 68.2% (30,271) against State Board of Education member Delores Gray Ford with 31.8% (14,129). 44,400 votes counted.
2022 nominee Mikhail Alterman won the Republican primary.
District 23:
State Representative Bride Rose Sweeney won the Democratic primary.
2024 state house nominee Robert Dintaman won the Republican primary.
District 25:
Incumbent William DeMora won the Democratic primary with 56.3% (15,984) against IT professional Jesse Baker with 43.7% (12,421). 28,405 votes counted.
Attorney Don Roberts won the Republican primary.
District 27:
Aurora City Schools Superintendent Mike Roberto won the Democratic primary.
State Representative Steve Demetriou won the Republican primary.
District 29:
Former State Representative Thomas West won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Jane Timken won the Republican primary.
District 31:
Professor Laura Sirot won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Al Landis won the Republican primary.
District 33:
2024 OH-06 U.S. House nominee Michael Kripchak won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Alessandro Cutrona won the Republican primary.