State executive race · November 3, 2026
Attorney General
Ohio's chief legal officer, who represents the state in court, enforces consumer protection laws, oversees the state crime lab and police training academy, and reviews summaries of proposed citizen-initiated ballot measures.
4-year term. Open seat: no incumbent is running. Dave Yost (R) resigned effective June 7, 2026; Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Public Safety Director Andy Wilson (R) as interim attorney general. Wilson is not on the November ballot.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Keith Faber
Ohio Auditor of StateKeith Faber, a Republican, has been Ohio Auditor of State since 2019 and previously served in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, including as Senate President. He is campaigning on public safety and support for law enforcement, consumer protection including a proposed program to help Ohioans appeal denied health insurance claims, and his office's record of public-corruption cases.
John Kulewicz
Member, Upper Arlington City CouncilJohn Kulewicz, a Democrat, is an Upper Arlington city council member who retired from a 44-year litigation career at the Columbus law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is campaigning on consumer protection and lowering costs, antitrust enforcement, public corruption, and public safety.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Keith Faber Republican | John Kulewicz Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Describes himself as pro-life; said the 2023 constitutional amendment took abortion issues mostly off the table, and Signal Statewide reported he said the six-week ban 'probably' violates the constitution. | Declined to say whether specific abortion laws violate the constitution because he may have to defend them, and noted Ohio voters approved the 2023 abortion-rights amendment. |
| Consumer Protection | Says he would increase enforcement against fraud, scams and cybercriminals, especially those targeting seniors, and hold businesses accountable for deceptive practices. | Proposes refocusing the office on consumer fraud, scams, monopoly pricing and corporate abuses, with special scrutiny of anti-competitive conduct involving necessities such as groceries and fuel. |
| Criminal Justice | Supports the death penalty. Supports police use of Flock license-plate cameras with safeguards, says misuse should be a felony, and says warrants should be considered for tracking a person's movements. | Says he has no categorical objection to the death penalty but says it requires great caution because it is irrevocable. Supports a warrant requirement for Flock license-plate camera data older than 48 hours. |
| Elections & Democracy | Says the attorney general should be able to ensure ballot-petition summaries are accurate and that the legislature should clarify the office's authority. | Says the attorney general must remain strictly neutral in reviewing ballot-petition summaries and ensure each is a fair and truthful summary. |
| Legal Priorities | Says the attorney general has a constitutional duty to defend laws passed by the General Assembly and should appoint independent counsel if unable to do so in conscience. | Says he would shift resources away from out-of-state 'culture war' litigation toward consumer fraud, waste and theft, and would not defend a law that lacks a good-faith legal basis. |
| Public Safety | Says he would address the drug epidemic through addiction treatment, prosecuting suppliers and supporting recovery, and supports President Trump's border security policies to stop drugs and illegal immigration. | Says he would prioritize protecting communities from violent crime and vindicating the rights of crime victims. |
| Energy & Environment | No public position found yet | Says the attorney general's office should intervene more forcefully in regulatory cases that set electric rates. |
| Health Care | Proposes a division of the attorney general's office staffed with health insurance (ERISA) lawyers to help consumers resolve denied claims. | No public position found yet |