Former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo Runs Ohio Secretary of State 2026

Rep. Allison Russo, former Ohio House minority leader, announced her campaign for Ohio secretary of state in 2026, aiming to restore transparency, integrity, and public trust in the elections process. She criticized current Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose for voter roll purges that she says disproportionately impact liberal-leaning groups and for withdrawing Ohio from a bipartisan voter information database. Russo emphasizes depoliticizing the office to ensure fair access to voting and proper counting of ballots, opposing President Trump's vow to eliminate mail-in ballots for the 2026 general election. She faces a Democratic primary challenge from Dr. Bryan Hambley, who also advocates for less partisanship and fair elections. On the Republican side, State Treasurer Robert Sprague, term limited in his current role, is running for the office. Russo highlights the importance of the secretary of state's office as the key statewide role after governor, tasked with protecting voting rights and election integrity.