Allison Russo, a Democratic state representative from Upper Arlington, is running for Ohio secretary of state in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Asked why she is running, Russo said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm running because no office is more critical to protecting Ohioans' power to hold their government accountable than Secretary of State … As Secretary of State, I'll be relentlessly pro-voter. I'll ensure every eligible voter has the information and tools they need to make their voice heard."

She faces Republican Robert Sprague and Libertarian Tom Pruss.

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Residence: Upper Arlington, Ohio

Education: "I hold a Doctor of Public Health in Health Policy from the George Washington University and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham."

Family: "I have been married to my husband Brian, a US Air Force veteran, for 26 years. We have three children and live in Upper Arlington."

Endorsements (per BallotReady): Delaware County Democrats, AFL-CIO

Experience and public service

Russo represents Ohio House District 7, which includes Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and portions of Columbus. She said in our questionnaire: "I was elected by my colleagues to serve as the Ohio House Minority Leader, where I led the House Democratic Caucus for nearly four years before stepping back to run for Secretary of State."

She also served on the Ohio Redistricting Commission and ran as the Democratic candidate in the 2021 special election for Ohio's 15th Congressional District.

Before entering the legislature, Russo said she "spent more than 20 years working on issues related to public health policy, advising federal agencies, health systems, and policymakers on how to improve systems and access to care among our most vulnerable populations."

On the issues

Differences with opponents: Contrasting herself with Sprague, Russo said in our questionnaire: "The contrast with my opponent is clear. He has embraced fringe claims about election fraud, called for eliminating ballot drop boxes, and backed making it harder for eligible Ohioans to vote by mail. He has also said he would continue sharing private voter information with the federal government and expand access to voter data for banks and credit bureaus."

Ballot language and redistricting: "The Secretary of State should be a fair, impartial arbiter of Ohio's increasingly partisan election processes. Ballot language should be accurate, clear, and as unbiased as possible … The Secretary of State also serves on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which will not reconvene until 2031."

Drop boxes: "Ohioans deserve convenient, secure access to the ballot, and ballot drop boxes are a safe, proven way to make voting more accessible … Drop boxes must be monitored by video surveillance around the clock, with footage available as a public record. They can only be opened when both members of a bipartisan Board of Elections team are present."

Issue 3 and voter rolls: "Issue 3 is a political stunt—not a solution to a problem Ohio voters face. Ohio already has photo ID requirements and some of the strictest ID rules in the country … The key question is whether election rules should be constitutionalized or remain flexible enough to adapt as technology and identification systems change."

Qualifications: Russo cited her service on the Ohio Redistricting Commission and the House General Government Committee. She said in our questionnaire: "I know how to work across the aisle to find common ground and get things done, but I also know when Ohioans need someone willing to stand up, speak out, and fight for them."