Candidates

Keith Faber (born January 19, 1966) currently serves as the Ohio Auditor of State, an office he assumed on January 11, 2019, and for which his current term ends in 2027. He is also running for Attorney General of Ohio in 2026. Prior to his current role, Faber served multiple terms in the Ohio State Legislature, including in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and 2016 to 2018, and in the Ohio State Senate from 2007 to 2016, where he was president from 2013 to 2017. Professionally, Faber is an attorney and founded Faber and Associates, a civil litigation and mediation law firm in Celina, Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration and policy from Oakland University in 1988 and a law degree from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law in 1991.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican Party candidate for Governor of Ohio in 2026, is an entrepreneur, political commentator, and author. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Indian immigrant parents, he earned a Bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard College in 2007 and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 2013. Prior to his political campaigns, Ramaswamy worked at QVT Financial, founded the biotech holding company Roivant Sciences in 2014, and established the investment firm Strive Asset Management in 2022. He became prominent for his 2021 book "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam," advocating against stakeholder theory in corporations. Ramaswamy previously ran in the 2024 Republican presidential primary and was briefly tapped by Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency.

Frank LaRose is the current Ohio Secretary of State, having assumed office on January 12, 2019, with his term ending on January 11, 2027. Prior to this role, he served in the Ohio State Senate representing District 27 from 2011 to 2019. LaRose is a Republican and is currently running for election for Ohio Auditor of State in the 2026 primary. Before his political career, he worked as a business manager and project lead for a consulting firm. He also proudly served in the United States Army from 1998 to 2007, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class, and earned a B.S. in consumer affairs and business from The Ohio State University in 2007.

Melissa Hillman is running for Republican State Central Committee for District 11. Melissa is an Ohio native who grew up in Morrow County, in Central Ohio. She moved to the Toledo area over 25 years ago to attend the University of Toledo. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Toledo. She then continued her education and earned her Occupational Therapy Doctorate from University of Toledo Medical Center. Melissa has worked in physical medicine and rehabilitation since that time with the patient and their well being, centered in what she does daily. She has worked in a skilled care setting since 2007. She has also worked in the field of organ, eye and tissue donation for over 20 years. Her passion lies in promoting each patient to their full potential by enhancing their independence and promoting tools to prompt change and enhance growth. Melissa had followed politics for years and was tired of feeling like she was powerless and had no voice. In 2023, she decided to run for Lucas County Central Committee in her precinct in Springfield, and she was victorious. She wanted to be involved to help implement change and enable improvements for our region, state and country. In 2025, Melissa joined the Lucas County Republican Party Executive Committee. She has enjoyed getting to know and work with the other concerned citizens in her precinct and ward by encouraging others to get more involved. In addition to work and civic obligations, Melissa has volunteered to serve on local fundraising committees to raise money and hold the body fiscally accountable to ensure the best use of the money and responsible allocation of those donations. Melissa looks forward to upholding the principles of the Republican Party in herself and her fellow elected officials and she asks for your vote for Republican State Central Committee, District 11 in the May primary.

Sally Perz is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served in the Ohio House of Representatives. She represented the 52nd district from January 3, 1993, until September 14, 1999. During her tenure, she succeeded Don Czarcinski and was later succeeded by Jim Mettler. Beyond her legislative service, Perz has been involved in local political structures in Ohio. Records indicate her participation in party committee activities, contributing to the Republican political landscape in the Toledo area.

Laura Brown is a member of the Republican Party currently seeking election to the Lucas County Commission in Ohio. She has declared her candidacy as a write-in for the Republican primary, which is scheduled for May 5, 2026. Her campaign strategy involves securing a spot on the primary ballot to potentially advance to the general election on November 3, 2026. As a write-in candidate, she is competing for a seat that may feature an incumbent from the Democratic Party, such as Lisa Sobecki.

Mark D. Wagoner, Jr. is an American politician and attorney who served as a Republican member of the Ohio General Assembly. He represented the 46th district in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008, after which he was appointed to the Ohio Senate. He served in the Ohio Senate representing the 2nd district from 2008 until 2012. During his tenure in the Ohio Senate, Wagoner succeeded Randy Gardner and was eventually succeeded by Gardner as well. His legislative career followed his service in the Ohio House, where he had succeeded Lynn Olman and was followed by Barbara Sears. Wagoner was born on September 18, 1971.

Jill Stinebaugh is a retired healthcare professional and political leader who serves as the Chairman of the Ottawa County Republican Party in Ohio, a position she has held since May 30, 2018. Her political career began following her retirement from nursing, leading to her election to the Ottawa County Republican Central Committee for Harris 3 in 2014. She previously served as Vice President (2013–2014) and President (2015–2018) of the Ottawa County Republican Women’s Club and is a 2016 graduate of the Joanne Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute. Prior to her involvement in politics, Stinebaugh had a 45-year career in nursing. She earned her R.N. Diploma from the Flower Hospital School of Nursing in 1969 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bowling Green State University in 1991. Her professional experience ranged from critical care nursing to serving as a nurse paralegal. Additionally, she dedicated two decades of service to the Ottawa County Board of Health, serving as a member from 1998 to 2018.

Beth A. Deck is a political candidate from Ohio and a member of the Republican Party. She gained recognition for her bid to represent Ohio's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 2022 election cycle. Although she competed in the Republican primary on May 3, 2022, she was ultimately unsuccessful in securing the nomination. Beyond her congressional run, Deck has been involved in local political matters in Ohio. In 2024, she was notably tied to a legal effort by the campaign of Jean Anderson, which petitioned the Ohio Supreme Court to place Deck on the ballot for the Vermilion mayoral race as a replacement candidate. Her active presence in Ohio politics is also reflected through her personal website, where she engages with regional political issues and communicates with her supporters.

Timothy Brentlinger is a United States Army veteran and political figure active in Lucas County, Ohio. Raised in Wood County, Brentlinger served three tours with the United States Army South (USARSO) stationed at Ft. Kobbe, Panama. Following his initial service, he attended the University of Toledo but was recalled to federal service shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Professionally, he is the president of the Sylvania Area Republican Club and is a recently ordained minister. Brentlinger's political activity began in earnest around 2015 when he first ran for the County Central Committee. He has since served as a precinct committeeman for Sylvania and currently serves as the Chairman of the Lucas County Republican Central Committee. His political platform emphasizes constitutional conservatism, traditional party values, and opposition to the early endorsement of candidates by state committees before primary elections. He is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and resides in Lucas County with his wife and five children.

John Adams is a retired senior pastor who served in ministry for 38 years. In addition to his pastoral work, he has been a strong advocate for emotional wellness in law enforcement. He serves as a chaplain for four local agencies and is a member of the Multicounty Critical Incident Stress Management Team. John regularly teaches emotional survival courses for law enforcement officers and their spouses, helping them recognize and manage the effects of trauma before it becomes overwhelming. John is also an active member of his community. He serves on the Erie County Republican Executive Committee and the Erie County Board of Elections. In addition, he serves as a special deputy with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, where he is the commander of the Crisis Negotiation Team and an FBI-certified hostage negotiator. Outside of his public service, John is a competitive triathlete and an avid outdoorsman. He and his wife Diane have been married for more than 40 years and are the proud parents of three grown sons and five grandchildren. Throughout his career, John has received numerous awards recognizing his commitment to faith, community, and public service. He brings passion, generosity, and determination to everything he does, grounded in a foundation of faith, family, and common sense.

Robert McMahon was a write-in candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives during the 2020 general election. He ran for office at a time when Republicans held a supermajority in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate. The 2020 election cycle in Ohio was characterized by record-breaking early voter turnout and significant focus on redistricting and the composition of the state legislature. While McMahon participated as a write-in candidate, the overall election results saw the Republican party increase its majority in the House to 64 seats.