Voters will also decide on State Issue 1, a major overhaul to how the state draws lines for congressional district.
Check out our online interactive voters guide at SpringfieldNewsSun.com/voterguide to compare the candidates on the issues that matter to you and learn more about the issues on the ballot.
Here’s the top races and issues to watch:
1. Open race for Ohio governor
On the Republican side, Attorney General Mike DeWine is running against Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. The race has dominated the airwaves for weeks as both sides launched millions of dollars in negative ads against the other. Early in the race DeWine was viewed as the most likely to win, but both sides say the race has tightened. A source familiar with DeWine’s internal polling told NBC News it is nearly a 20-point race.
Republicans have controlled the governor’s office for 24 of the last 28 years. This year, Democrats hope to change that. The party’s biggest names in the state and nationally are backing former Attorney General Richard Cordray, who recently worked in the Obama Administration as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He is running against former Congressman and Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich.
The race is getting a lot of attention nationally as Democrats look to regain some of their power in the Midwest after President Donald Trump won easily here in 2016.
Cordray has appeal with the establishment, progressive wing of the party and Kucinich is attracting support from groups associated with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Democratic state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Youngstown is also on the ballot along with former Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill.
2. Republican fight for U.S. Senate
Political experts expected the November election to be a rematch of 2012 between Sen. Sherrod Brown and State Treasurer Josh Mandel. But, Mandel dropped out of the race earlier this year, saying his wife was ill. Congressman Jim Renacci says he was asked by the Trump administration to get out of the race for governor and run for the Senate instead. That move created a battle between two millionaires as Renacci, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, faces Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons. Both Republicans have spent millions on TV ads and the winner will take on Brown in November.
3. Northeastern Local Schools seek bond issue
Northeastern voters will decide whether taxpayers are willing to support $119 million in new schools in the district.
The district is asking voters to approve a 37-year, $79 million bond issue that would build two pre-K-through-12th-grade buildings in the district. One building would be constructed on the Kenton Ridge side of the district, and the other would be built on the Northeastern side.
RELATED: Northeastern going back on the ballot in May for $119M schools
The state will contribute about $40 million to the project if voters pass the bond issue. Passage of the bond would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $295 a year.
4. Clark County Juvenile Judge
The race for juvenile judge in Clark County Common Pleas Court will be decided when voters pick between two Republican candidates.
The Republican primary will pit Katrine Lancaster, a magistrate with the Domestic Division of the Clark County Commons Pleas Court, against incumbent Juvenile Court Judge Robert Vaughn. No Democratic candidates are seeking the seat in the fall, so the primary will decide who will be seated.
Vaughn, of South Charleston, was selected by Gov. John Kasich and was appointed to fill the remainder of Joseph Monnin’s term. Monnin retired after 22 years on the bench.
Lancaster, also of South Charleston, has worked as a magistrate in Clark County since 2000. She also worked for eight years at the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services.
5. State Issue 1 cruising to victory
It’s rare that both sides agree on anything in Ohio, but Republicans and Democrats in large part are backing passage of State Issue 1. The constitutional amendment would change the way the state draws congressional districts with the goal of making them more competitive.
6. Graham Local Schools seek levy
Residents will head to the polls again to decide whether they will support a 1 percent earned income tax increase for Graham Local Schools.
The income tax would last five years and generate about $1.9 million. The district’s current budget is about $19 million, but with rising costs in education, district officials said the money isn’t enough.
If the levy fails, the school is expected to make major cuts.
7. Urbana asks for tax increase
The City of Urbana will ask voters to pass a levy to increase the city’s income tax rate for the first time in 26 years.
The levy, if passed, would raise Urbana’s income tax from 1.4 percent to 2 percent.
The city says the additional funds would go in part to police and fire operations and equipment, and it has noted the increasing number of calls the city has received.
READ MORE: Urbana asks voters for first income tax increase in 26 years
8. Champaign County Commissioner
The Republican primary for Champaign County commissioner will give voters a choice between an incumbent who has served the county for more than two decades and a challenger who said she can bring a fresh perspective to the job.
There is no Democratic challenger in the fall, so the May primary will decide the race.
Bob Corbett, the Republican incumbent, said he has worked closely with other commissioners for years to provide leadership and financial stability.
Audra Bean, his challenger, said she is active in several community organizations and could bring new ideas to the board of commissioners.
READ MORE: Meet the candidates for Champaign County commissioner
9. 85th district representative
Incumbent State Rep. Nino Vitale, R-Urbana, joins a crowded field of Republicans who filed, including Justin G. Griffis and Joseph Ratermann, both of Sidney, and Rochiel V. Foulk of Urbana. Democrat Garrett Baldwin of Mechanicsburg also filed for the 85th.
The 85th district includes all of Champaign County and most of Logan County as well as southeastern Shelby County.
RELATED: Urbana lawmaker wants to nullify federal gun laws in Ohio
10. State Treasurer Republican primary
Voters are not likely paying a lot of attention to the Republican primary for state treasurer and that creates some uncertainty.
Findlay state Rep. Robert Sprague is running against former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien.
Sprague is the candidate with the most Republican support, but O’Brien has a strong name on the ballot has has pulled off upsets before. In the 2006 primary she defeated then-Treasurer and former Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley.
Sprague has a big cash advantage and has been running TV spots against O’Brien.
Races for Congress shaping up
The outcomes of the primaries are likely not to be surprises, but local races for Congress will get a lot of attention in November.
Republican Congressman Mike Turner faces two GOP challengers, John Mitchel and John Anderson. On the Democratic side, Theresa Gasper has the edge in the race against Michael Milisits and Rober Klepinger.
The 10th District race is getting more attention than normal after Gasper reported taking in more than $200,000 in the first quarter. Two national groups that rank congressional races also show the seat as moving from being solid Republican to likely Republican.
MORE: Democrats optimistic this is the year to defeat Congressman Turner
MORE: Congressman Turner running for 9th term
Congressman Steve Chabot, who represents Warren County and the Cincinnati area should not have any problem defeating his Republican challenger Samual Ronan, but in the fall that will be a district to watch. Democratic Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Purveval is shaping up to be a strong challenger to Chabot having raised over $600,000 in the first quarter.
MORE: Who is running against Congressman Jim Jordan?
Democrats in the 8th congressional district have a primary to decide who will take on Republican Congressman Warren Davidson this fall.
Congressman Jim Jordan also has a Republican primary challenger in the 4th District. Two Democrats — Janet Garrett and Cody James Slatzer-Rose — are also running.
COMPLETE ELECTION COVERAGE
The Springfield News Sun, News Center 7 and AM1290 and News 95.7 WHIO will have today’s election covered from all sides for you.
Here’s a look at what you can expect:
VOTERS GUIDE
Compare the candidates on the issues and learn more about the tax levies and State Issue 1 on the ballot in our interactive voters guide at SpringfieldNewsSun.com/voterguide. You can share your picks on Facebook and save your ballot to have with you when you vote.
MORE ON THE CANDIDATES AND ISSUES
Go to SpringfieldNewsSun.com to find stories on key races and issues across the region including previews of the primaries for Ohio governor and U.S. Senate.
GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ON AIR
Tune in to Miami Valley’s Morning News today on AM1290 and News 95.7 WHIO for special election reports and live interviews with Ohio’s governor candidates. We had Lt. Gov. Mary Tayor and State Sen. Joe Schiavoni on Monday morning. Here’s when you can hear candidates live today: Mike DeWine at 6:45 a.m., Bill O’Neill at 7:15 a.m., Richard Cordray at 7:45 a.m. and Dennis Kucinich at 8:15 a.m.
LIVE RESULTS
Get election results Tuesday night, starting at 7:30 p.m. at SpringfieldNewsSun.com
INTERACT WITH US ON ELECTION DAY
Get election night updates on our @Ohio_Politics Twitter page and our Ohio Politics Facebook page
LIVE ELECTION RADIO SPECIAL
Join Ron Otto for a live Election Night radio special Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. on AM1290 and News 95.7 WHIO
JIM OTTE IN COLUMBUS
Newscenter 7’s Jim Otte will be in Columbus on Election Night to bring you the latest on the governor’s race. You can follow him on Twitter at @JOtteWHIO and watch his special reports Tuesday night at 11.
SPECIAL E-PAPER FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Newspaper subscribers will get special election coverage in their Wednesday e-paper.
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