Niraj Antani launches campaign for Ohio Secretary of State

Former State Senator Niraj Antani has announced his candidacy for Ohio Secretary of State in the 2026 election. Antani, a self-described 'pro-Trump conservative warrior,' aims to succeed Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is term-limited. His campaign emphasizes protecting voting rights, drawing on his family's history under British rule in India. Antani, who has previously introduced bills to ban ballot drop boxes and require citizenship verification for voter registration, vows to continue his fight against the political establishment. He positions himself as an advocate for election security and a staunch conservative, having previously supported anti-abortion legislation and measures against sanctuary cities. Antani, the first Indian-American and Hindu elected to the Ohio House, seeks to be the first Asian American elected to a statewide office in Ohio.