Equality Ohio has released their 2026 Candidate Scorecard, examining 30 races across the state including elections for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, secretary of state, the Ohio Supreme Court and some statewide races for the Ohio legislature.
“Ohio’s LGBTQ+ communities are counting on voters to show up for them this election,” Dwayne Steward, CEO and executive director of Equality Ohio and the Equality Ohio Education Fund, said in a statement. “This scorecard is a tool to help people see who is committed to equality and who is standing in the way of it. Every vote is a statement about the kind of Ohio we want to build.”
Candidates were graded on an A-F scale using the criteria of their legislative record (if applicable), career track records, public statements, campaign platforms and other accomplishments.
Seven candidates were designated as a “Champion of Equality,” receiving an A+ rating:
- Mike Baker (Ohio House)
- Jennifer Brunner (Ohio Supreme Court)
- Arienne Childrey (Ohio House)
- Christine Cockley (Ohio House)
- Jeff Givan (Ohio House)
- Greg Landsman (U.S. House)
- Allison Russo (Secretary of State)
- Emilia Sykes (U.S. House)
Candidates receiving an A rating include: Amy Acton (Governor), Stacie Baker (Ohio Senate), Sherrod Brown (U.S. Senate), Rose Lounsbury (Ohio House), Joe Miller (Ohio Senate), Mike Roberto (Ohio Senate), Mark Sigrist (Ohio House), Dan Troy (Ohio House) and Marilyn Zayas (Ohio Supreme Court).
20 candidates were given an F, indicating that they have a “poor record and likely to harm LGBTQ+ civil rights”:
- Gary Click (Ohio House)
- Eric Conroy (U.S. House)
- Denise D’Angelo (Ohio House)
- Steve Demetriou (Ohio Senate)
- Mike Dovila (Ohio House)
- Keith Faber (Ohio Attorney General)
- Haraz Ghanbari (Ohio House)
- Dan Hawkins (Ohio Supreme Court)
- Matt Huffman (Ohio House)
- Jon Husted (U.S. Senate)
- Mike Kahoe (Ohio House)
- Angie King (Ohio House)
- Brian Lorenz (Ohio House)
- Derrick Merrin (U.S. House)
- Colleen O’Donnell (Ohio Supreme Court)
- Vivek Ramaswamy (Governor)
- Michelle Reynolds (Ohio House)
- Robert Sprague (Ohio Secretary of State)
- Jim Thomas (Ohio House)
Some of the candidates receiving a failing grade have been sponsors of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent years.
Click is a Baptist pastor who was coached by the Center for Christian Virtue to champion Ohio’s ban on minors receiving gender-affirming care and is currently the co-sponsor of a bill under consideration to protect parents who reject their trans children.
King is the co-sponsor of a bill to ban drag performances in front of minors and to restrict being trans in spaces like locker rooms. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Check out the Equality Ohio 2026 Election Scorecard by clicking here.
- Check your voting status by clicking here
- Register to vote by clicking here.
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