Hyde Park and Oakley voters will pick a new state senator on Nov. 3 after term limits opened the Ohio Senate District 7 seat.

Republican Zac Haines of Symmes Township faces Democrat Cara Jacob of Montgomery for the open seat, as reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer. The district covers Warren County and northern Hamilton County, including Hyde Park and Oakley. It has a population of about 366,000 and a 60% Republican lean, according to Dave's Redistricting, a tool that estimates partisan lean from recent election results.

Term limits prevent state Sen. Steve Wilson from running again.

Who's on the ballot

Haines is CEO of DPA Buying Group, a marketing agency in Blue Ash. He also serves as a Miami University trustee and was nominated by President Trump to be a trustee for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. His campaign website calls him a "Dedicated Conservative" focused on low taxes and small-business growth. In a campaign release reported by the Enquirer, Haines said his goal is to make Ohio "the best and most competitive state in the country."

Jacob, a neurologist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, holds a bachelor's degree and a medical degree from Indiana University. On her campaign website, she said concern over "extreme legislation and corruption" at the Statehouse motivated her to run. She has pledged to push for expanded healthcare access and stronger public schools.

Haines grew up in Naples, Florida, and settled in Southwest Ohio after graduating from Miami University. Jacob lives in Montgomery with her husband and two children.

How to vote

Early voting began Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Hamilton County Board of Elections office. A new state law eliminates the previous four-day grace period for mail-in ballots. Regular domestic absentee ballots must reach the voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, WLWT reported.

"We are expecting large numbers, especially at our early vote center," Sherry Poland, director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, told WLWT. "It just seems that early in-person voting is becoming increasingly popular here in Hamilton County."

In-person early voters must bring a photo ID such as an unexpired Ohio driver’s license or Ohio state ID, or an accepted U.S. passport or military ID. Voters can check their registration and find their polling location at voteohio.gov. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.