October 4th, 2026 Len’s Political Note #844 Sweep Ohio. Add: Allison Russo, Secretary of State
2026 General Election
Nate Silver says the coming Blue Wave is largely occurring in red states. Ohio qualifies. And Allison Russo is poised to take advantage of that wave if it comes to Ohio. Nate Silver is not entirely clear about the reasons. Two of the important parts seem to be a shift among Hispanic voters who feel the racism that is the core of ICE’s behavior and a shift among the blue-collar workers who began to move toward Republicans with Ronald Reagan and recognize their betrayal by Donald Trump.
Alison Russo, the former minority leader in the Ohio House of Representatives, would fit with the blue-collar wave if it comes. Though, for Ohio, she might be considered a little southern, but not genteel southern.
When Allison Russo’s mom graduated from high school south of Vicksburg, Mississippi, she was already pregnant. She remained single, had another child and patched together not much of a living working in a convenience store, cleaning houses and office buildings. When Allison Russo was in second grade, her mom got a break. In response to calls for greater diversity, the carpenters’ union was accepting women as apprentices. The family was fortunate to have a grandmother willing and able to do child care.
By the time, Allison Russo’s mom became a union member, she was able to command a regular salary, purchase a small house for them to live in, and send her children off to school with a measure of dignity. Allison Russo took every opportunity from that schooling. She graduated as valedictorian from her tiny high school. The only graduate that year to go to a four year college, she went to the University of Mississippi for Women where she made her way academically and socially – getting herself elected as Treasurer of the student government association her senior year.
Allison Russo had majored in microbiology. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham and planned on a health care career. She met a young man training to be an Air Force pilot and they married in 2000. Her health care career was in the Air Force. Her husband, a combat veteran and a former law enforcement officer, decided to go home. He retired from the Air Force to Upper Arlington, Ohio where they raised children.
Allison Russo was interested in a career in health policy, not politics, but 2016 got in the way. She was involved supporting Hillary Clinton and other Democrats. In 2018, her Republican state rep retired after winning election by double digits. Encouraged by friends and family, she ran for the position, won the primary by more than 30 points, and won the general election by 14. She won again in 2020, this time by 15 points. In the legislature, through a combination of her keen intelligence and her political experience from college and in Ohio, she was elected minority leader at a time when the Democrats had fewer than one-third of the Representatives.
Three successes in that role are worth particular note.
- A Democratic legislator was accused of abusive and threatening behavior. Allison Russo organized an impartial inquiry which led to the accused being excluded from the Democratic caucus, an exclusion she was able to make stick. Unlike other states,
- Ohio was scheduled for mid-decade redistricting required by statute. The commission was composed of officials, skewed to be controlled by the majority party. Allison Russo served on that Commission and, despite criticism from within the Party, voted to support the Republican proposal. The proposal result led to a legislature in which Democrats had slightly more than one-third representation in the House.
- Allison Russo, working with a moderate Republican, became part of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that led to the moderate’s election as Speaker.
Allison Russo stepped down as Minority Leader with the beginning of the 2025 session as she prepared for her run for Secretary of State. She will be facing former State Treasurer Robert Sprague as several Republican office holder switch around the seats they are running for to cope with term limits. Allison Russo can help Democrats reverse Ohio’s Republican dominance. Including her, the Democrats have an impressive slate of candidates. Let’s get them elected. DONATE to Allison Rjusso’s campaign.
US Senator. Former Senator Sherrod Brown
Former three-term US Senator Sherrod Brown is running against the incumbent Jon Husted who was appointed to replace JD Vance after he resigned from the Senate to become Vice President. In 2024, Sherrod Brown had lost to now Senator Republican Bernie Moreno and was persuaded to attempt to return to office. In the Financial race, Sherrod Brown reported on June 30,2026 he had $16.2 million compared to the incumbent Jon Husted’s $9.4 million. The Republican PAC has committed up to $79 million to Husted. Other PACs have committed more. The Democratic Senate PAC has committed up to $40 million to Sherrod Brown. There have been five polls in September for this race. Beginning with early in the month, the results have been in favor of Sherrod Brown with a single exception. The exception, by a Republican pollster, had Husted leading 47-42. Sherrod Brown led the rest of the September polls: 48-45, 45 -42, 48-47, with one that was EVEN at 47. The race has been tightening. Sherrod Brown needs a lot of small donors to help him. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #750.
Governor. Former State Health Director Amy Acton
Former State Medical Director Amy Acton has surprised Ohio and her Republican billionaire opponent Vivek Ramaswamy. Respected for her leadership during Covid, Amy Acton grew up as poor as Allison Russo did, even spending a good part of one year homeless with her mother. As a candidate, Amy Acton promises a tax cut for working families, a crack-down on corruption through greater government transparency, and a focus on public education while opposing school privatization plans that have proved to be corrupt. Ramaswamy is less specific about his plans. Instead, he promises to sustain Trump’s America First agenda. Amy Actonhas raised enough campaign money to make the race competitive. She raised $16.5 million for her campaign from more than 150,000 donors. Ramaswamy has raised $50 million, half of which was a personal donation. Elon Musk has contributed some of the rest. Polls from early August through mid-September began with Amy Acton leading 46-44 and ended with her leading 47-46. With your help Ohio will become a two-party state again. If elected, Amy Acton would be Ohio’s first Democratic Governor since 2011 and the second since 1991. Amy Acton would be Ohio’s first elected woman Governor and its first Jewish Governor. DONATE to Amy Acton’s campaign. See Len’s Political Note #724.
Attorney General. Retired Attorney John Kulewicz
John Kulewicz was pressed into service. Faced with a situation where the only Attorney General candidate was the same fellow Allison Russo had to remove from the Democratic Caucus, Democrats persuaded John Kulewicz to come out of retirement. One of the state’s most successful attorneys, he was worked on behalf of the state Democratic party, but had preferred serve in office locally. He may be old enough to retire, but John Kilewicz is certainly fit. His hobby is long distance swimming in the ocean. DONATE to his campaign. See Len’s Political Note #775.
Treasurer Cincinnati City Councilor Seth Walsh
Seth Walsh went south for college from Michigan to Xavier University in Cincinnati. There, he got the politics bug. As a senior, he was elected Student Body President. Characteristically, he explains that as president he accomplished 27 of his platform points including the development of a tracking system for the bus shuttle. He went on to work for City Council Members, for a Community Development Corporation of which he became Director, and then as Chief Executive Officer of the College Hill Community Urban Development Organization. He ran successfully for the city council, where he has served since 2022, focusing his efforts still on economic development as well as cultural development. He was particularly pleased to have attracted the Sundance Film Festival to Cincinnati. Running for State Treasurer, he explains that while the role does not create policy, strategic investment of the state’s funds in Ohio’s farmers, public employees, and small business entrepreneurs can make a difference for the state. His Republican opponent, Jay Edwards, is a Realtor and former state rep. An ally of the disgraced and convicted House Speaker Larry Householder, Jay Edwards gives Seth Walsh something to campaign against. DONATE to Seth Walsh’s campaign. Make this a sweep.
Congressional Candidates
Ohio 01 Incumbent Greg Landsman
The son of a Cincinnati-based private sector executive, as an undergraduate at Ohio University, Greg Landsman volunteered to work with Democratic Governor Ted Strickland. After graduating, he went to Washington to work for Nancy Pelosi. He joined Bill Bradley’s 2000 Presidential campaign. Out of the Presidential race, he taught Spanish before continuing on in 2007 to get a Master’s Degree from Harvard’s Divinity School. He married and returned to working for Governor Ted Strickland as head of a newly created Department of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Eventually Greg Landsman chaired Ohio’s Anti-Poverty Task Force which led in the creation of a state Earned Income Tax Credit, expansion of Medicaid coverage, increased home energy assistance; and the eventual revision of federal poverty guidelines. In 2010, Greg Landsman became Executive Director of the Cincinnati version of the Strive Partnership which was intended to involve corporations in ending poverty. In 2015, shortly before his election to the City Council, he created his own anti-poverty group that led a coalition to ensure children’s access to high quality preschools. In 2022, he was elected to Congress, ousting a Republican incumbent by a five-point margin. An advocate for early childhood education, he also advocated for family access to health care and for funding support for hiring additional city police throughout the country. On June 30, he led his opponent Eric Conroy $3.8 million to $500,000 in cash on hand. An August poll had Greg Landsman leading Republican Eric Conroy, an Air Force veteran of special operations and former CIA case officer, 49-45. Keep Greg Landsman in the lead. DONATE.
Ohio 07. City Councilman Brian Poindexter
Brian Poindexter is not a creature of the Democratic establishment. He and fellow Brook Park City Councilman Thomas DuFour began the campaign in a garage. Brian Poindexter’s avowed independence from the Democratic Party and his role in union leadership helped him win the May 5 Democratic primary. Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna endorsed Brian Poindexter, reflecting their belief in repairing the Democratic party’s relationship with union members. Brian Poindexter’s campaign become more than a nuisance to the Republicans, when the information became publica about thje incumbent Max Miller’s controversial divorce from US Senator Bernie Morena’s daughter. He had been accused of physical abuse among a variety of complaints, In that context, Brian Poindexter became obliged to acknowledge his youthful legal troubles. He could say, however, his union apprenticeship saved him and moved him to local politics. He became a union ironworker and a union figure. He taught apprentices and was elected to the Brook Park City Council. Now he is running for Congress. Behind in the financial race, Max Miller III had $1.4 million available on June 30. Brian Poindexter had $300,000. In August, Brian Poindexter led in the polls: Among Likely Voters, he led in a Republican poll 47-33. Later in the month, He led in a neutral poll 54-46 and in a Democratic funded poll 43-35. This is a Republican-oriented district and Max Miller III’s money will be potent. DONATE TO Brian Poindexter. A win by the Democrat is not what was expected, but is now possible. See Len’s Political Note #838.
Ohio 09 Incumbent Marcy Kaptur
Marcy Kaptur began her political life with the Catholic left decades ago; She is 80 years old and has evolved to become a moderate Democrat. Since 2020, Ohio Republicans have redistricted and redistricted again to oust her from Congress. They could not do it in 2022 or 2024. Can they do it with former State Rep Derek Merrin? He is the kind of guy who attempted to water down protections for renters against lead paint? There are no recent polls. She is well ahead in the financial race, having raised $4.3 million and begun July 1 with $3.5 million available. Merrin raised only $1.5 million and had only $500,000 on July 1. You can still help out. DONATE to her campaign. See Len’s Political Note #718.
Ohio 10. AF Veteran Kristina Knickerbocker
Kristina Knickerbocker is a graduate of Azusa Pacific Christian University – the #1 Christian University in California and not far from Los Angeles. She wound up in Ohio because that was where she was assigned by the Air Force. Close to Dayton, but close enough to Columbus, she transformed her nursing degree and became a nurse practitioner and; a Major in the Air Force. Married and settled in Yellow Springs, she has an interest in health policy and a concern about the number of understaffed hospitals. It is out of that concern with the American health system, she took aim at incumbent Republican Mike Turner. Turner has had his troubles. He lost his powerful position as Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, perhaps because he was not enough of a Trumper. Less likely, it is because, in 2008 and 20109, a citizens organization named identified him as one of the most corrupt Members of Congress. Furthermore, he may be just a bit complacent. On June 30, he had $600,000 in hand. Of course, Kristina Knickerbocker, something of an amateur at this, had only $30,000. In July Democrats commissioned a slew of polls. Three of them gave Turner leads of 5 or 7 points. One had Kristina Knickerbocker up by a single point. We don’t know where things stand now, but it is worth an investment. DONATE to Kristine Knickerbocker’s campaign. See Len’s Political Note #812
Ohio 13. Incumbent Emilia Sykes
Emilia Sykes’ parents were Akron’s premiere African American politicians. Initially, she tried to escape the role for which she was destined. She tried ballet. She tried gymnastics. After getting her BA from Kent State, she left for Florida to get a JD and a Master’s in Public Health. Public Health was a field she could work in. But her parents lured her back. Emilia Sykes replaced her term-limited father and was elected as a state rep. For the 2019-2021 term before Allison Russo became Minority Leader, Emilia Sykes had the role. In 2022, she ran for Congress and defeated the Republican by 5 points. She won again in 2024; this time by a 51-49 margin. She seems a little less endangered after the mid-decade redistricting. In Congress, she has been a bring home the bacon rep. She helped get Akron designated as one of seven regional tech hubs. As Vice Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she urged state officials to create an Akron/Canton stop on the Ohio rail plan. Her Republican opponent is radio host and conservative activist Carey Coleman. She has a healthy financial lead — $1.9 million on hand on June 30 to $80,000. There are no polls. DONATE to be sure. Keep her in the lead.
Ohio 15. College Professor Don Leonard
For the most part, Don Leonard has been an academic. He has been a Clinical Professor of City and Regional Planning at Ohio State for nearly ten years. Before that, he was a Research Fellow at Tulane, where he met his wife, and a post doc at Princeton. His BA and Master’s are from UMass-Lowell. His doctorate is from Cornell. He did a stint in the Peace Corps volunteering in economic development. Don Leonard’sdecision to run for Congress has two parts. One part is the chaos ‘Donald Trump has created: Issues related to freedom of speech to tariffs to threats to the economy to ICE abductions. The other part is the hope that it is possible to change the direction of the country and its economy. His target is incumbent Mike Carey, a former coal lobbyist Carey’s highest priority, though not expressed, is protection of American fossil fuel industries. He expressed his commitment to bring home the bacon services, to Trump’s working- class tax gimmicks (no taxes on tips or overtime or social security) while protecting huge tax cuts for the wealthy, Don Leonard has a large financial disadvantage. On June 30, Mike Carey had $2.1 million on hand while the Democrat had $250,000, There was a single, Democratic funded, poll in August. Mike Carey led 41-37. Not only is that a relatively close poll for Don Leonard, it suggests that Ohio 15 had quite a few undecided voters less than two months ago. DONATE to Don Leonard. Give him a chance to reach those undecideds.
Supreme Court Justices. See Len’s Political Note #788
In 2021 a new law went into effect. State Supreme Court Justices would be elected on a partisan basis. Under the old law, Justices who were considered to be Democrats, gained enough so that Court was only 4-3 Republican. Democrats lost seats under the new law. The last remaining Democrat is Jennifer Brunner.
Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner
A staffer for Sherrod Brown when he was Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner is herself a former elected Secretary of State. During her tenure she expanded registration of voters and stopped local election officials from storing voting machines at their homes. She was elected to a six-year term on the Supreme Court in 2020, just before the new election rules went into effect. DONATE to Jennifer Brunner’s campaign.
Appeals Court Judge Marilyn Zayas
Marilyn Zayas graduated from Brooklyn Tech and City University. She came to Cincinnati to work for Procter & Gamble. She stayed to go to law school, to practice law specializing in immigration and naturalization, and to be elected to the District Appeals Court. Marilyn Zayas lost a race for the Supreme Court in 2022 and is running against Republican Associate Justice Dan Hawkins — a former prosecutor who insists he is a strict constitutionalist. DONATE to Marilyn Zayas’ campaign. Make the court 5 Republicans to 2 Democrats.
Ohio State Legislature
The Ohio House of Representatives has 99 seats. Right now, there are 65 Republicans and 34 Democrats. It would be great to flip sixteen seats in the House. For now I can recommend four. Similarly, the Ohio State Senate has 33 seats. 24 are Republicans; 9 are Democrats. It would be great to flip 3 seats so that more than one-third of the Senate are Democrats. I have three Democrats to recommend. Donate via the links below or through the OATH website from which I identified the candidates to flip Republican seats.
State House of Representatives
OHHD 56. Rose Lounsbury is a former school teacher and current stay at home mom. Her first priority is funding education. DONATE to her campaign to flip this seat.
OHHD 31. Noah Spinner is an attorney. His first priority is ensuring that everyone has access to health care. DONATE to his campaign to flip this seat.
OHHD 35. Samantha Salemon is a victims’ rights attorney. Working part of the time from Dubai, she describes her goal as creating affordable and livable communities in Ohio. DONATE to her campaign to flip this seat.
OHHD49. Shelby Kimball is a Marine Corps and Army National Guard veteran. He first priority is ensuring affordable and accessible health care for everyone. DONATE to her campaign to flip this seat.
State Senate
OHSD 27. Mike Roberto has been a school superintendent for the past five years. His first priority is bringing housing costs down both through relief from high property taxes and by increasing available housing. DONATE to his campaign to flip this seat.
OHSD 13. Joe Miller is currently a state rep. He has been a teacher and an associate director of planning at a design build firm. His first priority is creating more jobs in the Senate District. DONATE to his campaign to flip this seat.
OH SD 3. Stacie Baker is the President Pro-Tem of the Reynoldsburg City Council. His first priority is to raise wages so that people can keep up with the cost of living. DONATE to his campaign to flip this seat.
