Candidate for Auditor of State
Frank LaRose
Republican
Frank LaRose, a Republican, has been Ohio Secretary of State since 2019 and served in the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2018; he is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran. He describes the auditor's office as a watchdog for corruption and waste and proposes mandatory performance audits in some cases, consolidation of overlapping local jurisdictions, and a new public spending transparency tool.
- Current or most recent role
- Ohio Secretary of State
- Hometown
- Summit County (raised in Copley Township)
- Campaign website
- franklarose.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says he will bring transparency, efficiency and accountability to state and local government offices and hold them accountable for how they manage tax dollars.[1]
- Cites his tenure as Secretary of State, saying Ohio became a national leader in election administration and economic development.[1]
- Says pursuing fraud, including Medicaid fraud and misconduct by officials, is essential to restoring public trust.[4],[5]
- Says rooting out government waste addresses cost-of-living concerns, including property tax bills.[5]
- Says experience running a large, complex state office matters more than party in this job.[4]
Background
- Secretary of State, State of Ohio · 2019–present[3]
- State Senator (District 27), Ohio Senate · 2011–2018[3]
- Soldier (101st Airborne Division; Special Forces/Green Beret); awarded Bronze Star, U.S. Army · 1998–2007[2],[3]
- Soldier, Ohio National Guard (U.S. Army) · Current[1]
Education
- B.S., Consumer Affairs and Business (2007), The Ohio State University[3]
Where they stand
- Fiscal OversightWants performance audits to be mandatory under certain conditions to identify wasteful spending.[4]
- Public CorruptionSays the office should focus on fraud, including Medicaid fraud and theft by public officials, and that offenders should be held accountable.[4],[5]
- Local GovernmentSays there is room to consolidate overlapping local taxing jurisdictions or share services, and would advocate that the legislature reduce the number of taxing jurisdictions.[4]
- TransparencyProposes that the auditor's office build a more usable public spending tool, which he says would require more uniform local accounting practices and could use artificial intelligence.[4]
- TaxesSays reducing government waste can lower costs for families, including on property tax bills.[5]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| S.B. 5 (129th GA) – Public-employee collective bargaining Limited collective bargaining rights for public employees; repealed by voters through a November 2011 referendum. (Ohio Senate) | Yes[6] | Mar 30, 2011 |
| S.B. 238 (130th GA) – Early voting period Shortened the absentee/early voting period from 35 to 28 days, ending the overlap with the voter registration deadline. LaRose was the primary sponsor. (Ohio Senate) | Yes[7] | Nov 20, 2013 |
| H.J.R. 12 (130th GA) – State legislative redistricting amendment Proposed a constitutional amendment creating the Ohio Redistricting Commission for General Assembly districts; approved by voters in November 2015. (Ohio Senate) | Yes[8] | Dec 11, 2014 |
| S.B. 63 (131st GA) – Online voter registration Created online voter registration in Ohio. LaRose was the primary sponsor. (Ohio Senate) | Yes[9] | Jun 24, 2015 |
| H.B. 64 (131st GA) – State operating budget, FY2016–2017 Two-year state operating budget (final conference report). (Ohio Senate) | Yes[10] | Jun 25, 2015 |
| S.J.R. 5 (132nd GA) – Congressional redistricting amendment Proposed a constitutional amendment changing how congressional districts are drawn; approved by voters in May 2018. (Ohio Senate) | Yes[11] | Feb 5, 2018 |
In their words
“Trust is at an all-time low in all kinds of institutions”
“When government wastes money, it costs families more than they can afford”
“the person matters more than the party.”
Sources
- Frank LaRose (home page), LaRose for Ohio
- Meet Frank LaRose, LaRose for Ohio
- Frank LaRose, Ballotpedia
- Election 2026: Ohio's secretary of state faces Cleveland-area mayor for auditor, Springfield News-Sun (Dayton Daily News staff), October 1, 2026
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose talks state auditor bid and absentee voting in Lima, WLIO (Hometown Stations), October 2, 2026
- Senate Bill 5 Votes | 129th General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
- Senate Bill 238 Votes | 130th General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
- House Joint Resolution 12 Votes | 130th General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
- Senate Bill 63 Votes | 131st General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
- House Bill 64 Votes | 131st General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
- Senate Joint Resolution 5 Votes | 132nd General Assembly, Ohio Legislature
Photo: Photo: LaRose campaign (Campaign photo).
Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for Auditor of State
- Annette Blackwell (Democratic)