Linda Matthews, a Cincinnati Republican, is running for Ohio State Senate District 9 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Democrat Catherine D. Ingram.
Matthews said on her campaign website that she is the first Black woman to hold the Ohio Republican State Central Committee seat in the 9th Senatorial District. She lives in Cincinnati, where she was born and raised.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Cincinnati
- Education: Bachelor of liberal arts, Xavier University
- High school: Hughes High School, Cincinnati
Experience and public service
Matthews is a tech entrepreneur at Millennium Group LLC, according to her Central State University trustee biography. She also served as a science teacher at CPS, according to BallotReady.
Her civic and political roles, as listed on her campaign materials, include:
- Trustee at Central State University
- Board member at Code for Kids
- First vice president of the North Avondale Neighborhood Association
- State central committeewoman for the Ohio Republican Party's 9th Senatorial District
- Precinct executive and ward chair
Matthews said she co-created the 2020 Ohio GOP Platform.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Matthews' responses on her campaign website and through BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own statements.
Economy: Matthews said she wants to make Ohio a tech hub by lowering taxes, reducing regulations and creating an environment where small businesses thrive. Her goal, she said, is good-paying jobs for Ohio families.
Education: Matthews said she supports school choice for every family, competitive pay for teachers, and expanded STEM education, vocational training and career pathways in every neighborhood.
Public safety: Matthews said she supports funding police with competitive pay, better training and more resources.
Community development: Matthews said development should respect neighborhood character and that local residents should guide growth decisions. She said she wants to preserve what makes Ohio communities special while welcoming responsible progress.
Constitutional rights: Matthews said she would defend the Constitution, protect free speech, the right to bear arms and religious liberty.
Endorsements
The following endorsements appear on Matthews' campaign website. The Ohio Republican Party endorsement is listed by BallotReady.
- Jon Husted, United States Senate
- Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State
- Theresa Gavarone, Ohio Senate
- Bill Seitz, Ohio State House of Representatives (retired)
- Melissa Powers, former Hamilton County prosecutor
- Jim Neil, Hamilton County sheriff (past)
- Russel Mock, Hamilton County Republican Party
- Bishop John Coats, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
- Ohio Republican Party
Candidate responses were collected from Matthews' campaign website, BallotReady questionnaire data and public records. The Hyde Park-Oakley Record did not interview the candidate for this profile.
