State executive race · November 3, 2026
Treasurer of State
Ohio's chief investment officer, who manages the state's investment and debt portfolios and daily cash flow and runs programs for local governments, farmers, homebuyers, small businesses and Ohioans with disabilities.
4-year term. Open seat: no incumbent is running. Incumbent Robert Sprague (R) is term-limited and is running for Secretary of State.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Jay Edwards
Former State Representative; real estate business ownerJay Edwards, a Republican from Nelsonville, served in the Ohio House from 2017 to 2024, including as chair of the House Finance Committee. He says he will bring a numbers-first approach to the office, shift state deposits toward Ohio community banks and credit unions, and improve the Ohio Checkbook spending-transparency tool.
Seth Walsh
Member, Cincinnati City CouncilSeth Walsh, a Democrat, has served on Cincinnati City Council since December 2022 and previously led community development organizations in Cincinnati. He proposes directing more state investment to Ohio community banks, ending new state investments in foreign countries, raising the credit-quality standard for state investments, and opposing the use of unclaimed funds for sports stadiums.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Jay Edwards Republican | Seth Walsh Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Policy | Says decisions on Israel bonds would be based on safety, liquidity and return, and says he is troubled by divestment from Israel bonds for political reasons. | Proposes ending new state investments in foreign countries, including Israel. |
| Investment Policy | Wants the treasurer's office to shift business from Wall Street banks and investors to Ohio community banks and credit unions. | Wants to direct more state investments toward Ohio community banks to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs and struggling communities. Would review Ohio's holdings of lower-rated investment-grade bonds and seek to reverse the state law allowing investments in BBB-rated bonds. |
| Unclaimed Funds | Says the state budget's plan to use unclaimed funds for sports stadiums would not have happened if he had been Finance chair. | Opposes using unclaimed funds for sports stadiums, says the treasurer's office should join the lawsuit against that plan, and supports returning more unclaimed funds to owners. |
| Housing | No public position found yet | Proposes expanding affordable housing partnerships and strengthening agricultural lending. |
| Pensions | No public position found yet | Proposes appointing independent members to public pension boards. |
| Public Safety | Proposes a linked deposit program that prioritizes state deposits with financial institutions that support first responders. | No public position found yet |
| Technology | Says artificial intelligence should be used for efficiency tasks such as portfolio analysis and fraud detection, with strict human review and data security. | No public position found yet |
| Transparency | Proposes investing in the Ohio Checkbook so any Ohioan can easily see how the state spends money. | No public position found yet |