Cuyahoga County

Ronayne is the only name on the ballot. Christopher Michael Litwinowicz is a certified write-in candidate.

Toss-up: both candidates come out compromised, so we pick the one closer to center-left.

An open seat; Council member Sunny Simon is running for Domestic Relations judge.

District 3 (Martin J. Sweeney), District 7 (Yvonne M. Conwell) and District 9 (Meredith M. Turner), all Democrats.

8th District Court of Appeals (party labels on the ballot): Anita Laster Mays (D) vs. Anthony Alto (R); unopposed: Jeffrey A. Crossman, Michael John Ryan, Emanuella D. Groves and Ashley Kilbane (unexpired term), all Democrats. Court of Common Pleas, General Division (no party labels in November): Kira Krivosh vs. Jacob Westfall; Morgan Raye Caruso vs. Daryl T. Dennie; Timothy W. Clary vs. William Vodrey; Antonio S. Nicholson vs. Fallon Marie Radigan; unopposed: Jennifer O'Donnell, Brendan J. Sheehan, Andrew J. Santoli, Diane P. Russell and Shannon M. Gallagher. Domestic Relations: Pamela A. Hawkins vs. Sunny Simon; Colleen Ann Reali unopposed. Probate: Nicholas J. Celebrezze and Laura J. Gallagher, both unopposed. The two Ohio Supreme Court races are covered with the statewide races. We haven't profiled judges yet.

Fills the rest of JD Vance's term, through January 2029. Husted was appointed to the seat in January 2025. Stephen Faris, Anthony Holliman and Timothy Telymonde are registered write-in candidates.

Open seat: Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited. Governor and lieutenant governor are elected together as a ticket. Four write-in tickets are also registered: Timothy Grady / Andrea Neutzling, Renea Turner / Jalen Turner, Ron Ula / Michael C. Lehnerd, and Heather Hill / Patrick Manley.

Open seat. Dave Yost resigned in June 2026, and Gov. DeWine appointed Andy Wilson to serve out the term; Wilson is not on the ballot.

Open seat: Frank LaRose is term-limited and running for auditor. The secretary of state runs Ohio elections.

Open seat: Keith Faber is running for attorney general.

Open seat: Robert Sprague is running for secretary of state. Both candidates carry a question mark; we lean toward Walsh.

Since 2022 Ohio prints a party label next to Supreme Court candidates and nominates them in party primaries. Republicans wrote that law to help their candidates, and Republican nominees run on it, so we count the Republican label against a justice. We don't hold the label against Democrats, who opposed the change and have to run under it.

Same rule as the race above: we count the Republican party label against a justice, not the Democratic one. Brunner sued to overturn the party-label law.

We describe what the issue does and don't make recommendations. It is Ohio's only statewide issue this year, put on the ballot by the Republican-led legislature.

• Issue 3, photo ID to vote: Writes Ohio's existing photo ID requirement for voting into the state constitution. In-person voters would need an unexpired Ohio driver's license or state ID, a U.S. passport, or a military or VA ID. Mail voters could use a photo ID or, where state law allows, a signature plus another identifier. It changes nothing right away, but repealing or loosening the rule would then take another statewide vote. A yes vote adds it to the constitution; a no vote leaves photo ID as an ordinary state law.

Forecasters moved this race to toss-up after Miller's ex-wife accused him of abuse in July; he denies it and stayed on the ballot past the replacement deadline. Thahbia Asad and Andrey Joseph Martinichin are certified write-in candidates.

A rematch of 2022, when Smith won 83% to 17%.

An open seat; Sen. Nickie Antonio is term-limited.

A rematch of 2024, when Brennan won 58% to 42%.

An open seat; Bride Rose Sweeney is running for state Senate. DiMauro's police union endorsements make him compromised, but Tjotjos has given us nothing to judge, so we pick DiMauro.

One of the seats Democrats are targeting to break the Republican supermajority.

An open seat; Rep. Juanita Brent is term-limited.

Troy won about 53% to 47% in 2024. His FOP endorsement makes him compromised, but Belich has given us nothing to judge, so we pick Troy.

District 20 (Eugene Miller; the Republican nominee withdrew) and District 22 (Darnell T. Brewer), both Democrats.

Renews 4.7 mills and adds 2.5 mills, for 7.2 mills over ten years, to supplement the county's spending on health, human and social services. The fiscal officer estimates it raises $261.5 million a year, about $111 million more than now, and costs $196 a year per $100,000 of home value. Council voted unanimously to put it on the ballot. Every voter in the county sees it. Ballot language; Signal Cleveland.

A new 2.25-mill tax for ten years for the county Board of Developmental Disabilities' programs and facilities. Estimated at $99.7 million a year and $79 per $100,000 of home value. Countywide. Ballot language.

Issue 12 would require County Council to confirm when the county executive removes members of county boards and commissions. Issue 13 spells out what the county's law director handles (labor talks, contracts, public records and legal advice) while leaving lawsuits to the county prosecutor unless the prosecutor hands them off. Issue 14 changes how the nine-member Charter Review Commission is appointed: four by the executive, four by council and one by the executive with council's approval. Countywide. Ballot language.

New taxes for day-to-day operating costs with no end date: 6.5 mills in Cleveland Heights-University Heights (Issue 4; $11.1 million a year, $228 per $100,000), 6.75 mills in Euclid (Issue 5; $6.9 million, $236) and 5 mills in Orange (Issue 8; $7.8 million, $175). Ballot language.

A new 6.7-mill tax for operating costs for five years. Estimated at $15.4 million a year and $235 per $100,000 of home value. Strongsville voters also see Issue 103, a new 1-mill city fire and EMS levy with no end date ($2.3 million a year, $35 per $100,000). Ballot language.

Raises East Cleveland's income tax from 2% to 2.5% starting January 1, 2027, for city operations, equipment and capital improvements. Ballot language.

School levy renewals in Garfield Heights (Issue 6) and Independence (Issue 7); city tax renewals in Berea, Broadview Heights, Olmsted Falls and Warrensville Heights; charter amendments in Bedford Heights, Berea, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, Brooklyn Heights, Garfield Heights (four-year council terms), Gates Mills, Independence, Lakewood (including public interviews before filling council vacancies), Maple Heights, Oakwood, Olmsted Falls, Orange, Rocky River and Solon; a petition rezoning of a Parkland Boulevard property in Mayfield Heights (Issue 107); and single-precinct liquor questions in parts of Bay Village, Cleveland, Maple Heights, Parma Heights, Shaker Heights and South Euclid. Check your sample ballot. Full list and ballot language.