Ohio's Four Open Statewide Offices: AG, Secretary of State, More

Every Hocking County ballot this fall lists five statewide executive races. The governor's race gets most of the attention. The other four, sometimes called the "row offices" because they appear in a row beneath the governor, have real power over daily life in Ohio. Candidate names below come from the Hocking County Board of Elections notice for Nov. 3, 2026, listed alphabetically.

At a glance

Three of the candidates currently hold a different statewide office: Keith Faber is the sitting auditor, Frank LaRose is the sitting secretary of state, and Robert Sprague is the sitting treasurer. Each is term-limited in his current job. Allison Russo is a former leader of the Ohio House Democratic caucus. For the other candidates' backgrounds, see their campaign materials and the research tips below.

Attorney General

The attorney general is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio. The office:

• Represents state agencies, boards and officials in court and gives them legal advice.
• Runs the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), which helps local police and sheriffs, including in rural counties like Hocking, with crime labs, investigations and background checks.
• Enforces consumer protection laws and takes complaints about scams and unfair business practices.
• Reviews the summary language for proposed citizen-initiated constitutional amendments and laws before petitions can circulate.
• Oversees charitable organizations and helps crime victims through compensation programs.

Ohio's current attorney general, Dave Yost, is term-limited.

Secretary of State

For voters, this is the most directly relevant row office. The secretary of state is Ohio's chief elections officer. The office:

• Supervises the 88 county boards of elections, including Hocking's, and issues directives that boards must follow. (The canvass rules for this election, for example, come from Directive 2026-48.)
• Breaks tie votes on county boards of elections, which have two Republican and two Democratic members.
• Chairs the Ohio Ballot Board, which writes the ballot language for statewide issues such as Issue 3.
• Certifies statewide election results and maintains the statewide voter registration database.
• Serves on the Ohio Redistricting Commission.
• Handles business registrations and filings, and keeps campaign finance records for statewide candidates.

Auditor of State

The auditor checks how public money is spent. The office:

• Audits state agencies and local governments, including counties, cities, villages, townships, school districts and libraries. Hocking County, the City of Logan, and the county's villages and townships are all subject to these audits.
• Investigates possible fraud or misuse of public funds, often working with prosecutors.
• Conducts performance audits that look at whether government programs are run efficiently.
• Serves on the Ohio Redistricting Commission.

Treasurer of State

The treasurer is often described as the state's banker. The office:

• Manages and invests state funds and keeps the state's accounts.
• Offers investment programs that local governments can use for their own funds.
• Administers savings programs for Ohioans with disabilities (STABLE accounts).

Why these races are on the ballot together

Ohio elects all five statewide executive officers in the same year, the midterm cycle, to four-year terms. Under the Ohio Constitution, none can serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. That rule is why officeholders often run for a different statewide office when their limit is reached, as several candidates are doing this year.

How to research these candidates

• Campaign finance reports for statewide candidates are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State.
• Office websites describe what each office does: Attorney General, Auditor of State and Treasurer of State.
• Candidate forums and news coverage from statewide public media and regional outlets.
• Party resources for all parties are linked equally on our homepage.

Before you vote

These four races appear right after governor on every Hocking County ballot. Preview yours with the sample ballot lookup, see the full race overview, and browse our voter guides for how and when to vote. Early voting at the board office in Logan runs through Nov. 1, and polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 (Ohio SOS schedule).

Frequently asked questions

HockingElectionInfo.org is an independent, nonpartisan voter resource. We do not endorse candidates, parties or ballot issues. Rules and schedules can change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the Hocking County Board of Elections at (740) 380-8683. Spot an error? Tell us.