Ohio becomes midterm battleground after years of Republican wins

Ohio, which has leaned dependably toward Republicans in recent White House contests, is drawing attention again this fall as a contested state in the 2026 midterm elections. The Cook Political Report rates both the governor's race and the U.S. Senate contest as toss-ups, and a handful of U.S. House districts in the state are also competitive, according to PBS NewsHour.

PBS NewsHour correspondent Liz Landers examined how issues dominating national politics are influencing Ohio voters as they prepare to cast ballots. Those voters are weighing such concerns as they decide among candidates for governor, Senate and House seats. The coverage, dated October 19, 2026, frames the state's return to competitiveness as a notable change from its recent presidential-year record.

Landers's regular beat for the network is the Trump White House. She came to PBS from Scripps News, where she held the national security post and also looked into disinformation. Matt Loffman, a deputy senior politics producer at the program, shares credit.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →