Ohio Democratic Governor nominee?
$46.9K
MAY 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age49 years old (Oct 15, 1976)
GenderFemale
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LocationOhio
BackgroundState representative
EducationMississippi University for Women — B.S. (Microbiology)
Notable personal detailsCatherine Allison Russo is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 7 (portions of Columbus and Upper Arlington). She served as Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives from January 2022 to June 2025. Russo has worked in health policy and consulting, with a focus on healthcare financing and care delivery issues affecting seniors, veterans, military families, and other vulnerable populations.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax credits and progressive tax policy that prioritizes working- and middle-class Ohioans, opposes tax changes (such as a flat tax or large giveaways to wealthy individuals) that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and advocates using revenues to fund public services like education, caregiving, and Medicaid.
Healthcare
Supports expanding affordable, accessible healthcare including protecting and strengthening Medicaid expansion, improving access to primary and mental health care, lowering prescription drug costs, and protecting reproductive health decisions. Emphasizes evidence-based public health policy, addiction treatment expansion, and supports Medicaid as a tool to expand coverage and stabilize rural hospitals. Does not endorse single-payer/Medicare for All in the cited materials.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrant communities and limits on aggressive immigration enforcement by state actors, and has sponsored/announced legislation to restrict state data-sharing about immigration status and to limit enforcement activity in sensitive locations. Emphasizes welcoming immigrant contributions and community solidarity while pursuing reforms to ensure due process and accountability in enforcement actions.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protected access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, backed passage of the Ohio constitutional amendment securing reproductive rights (Issue 1), and opposes near-total and six-week abortion bans. Advocates for removing statutory barriers to evidence-based abortion care and protecting patients and providers.
Climate & Energy
Supports investment in clean energy infrastructure and programs such as electric vehicle charging deployment and clean hydrogen development, and backs policies to remove corrupt utility subsidies and expand energy assistance for low-income households. Emphasizes transitioning to cleaner technologies while advancing job creation and community benefits from federal clean energy funding.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports commonsense gun safety measures including extreme risk protection orders (red flag laws) and expanded background checks, opposes permitless carry and the 'no duty to retreat' (shoot first) law, and promotes gun violence prevention and police accountability while respecting lawful gun ownership.
News
Allison Russo won the Democratic primary for Ohio secretary of state and will face Republican Robert Sprague in the general election. The race is now one of the key Ohio contests to watch, with the winner set to determine the party control of the office after Frank LaRose is term-limited. Ohio’s 2026 primary field has also been finalized, and Russo is part of the broader statewide election lineup.
Russo, Sprague win primaries for Ohio secretary of state, advancing to the general
Who qualified for the 2026 Ohio primary election? See names, key dates
Ramaswamy opponent seeks new running mate after public feud
two primary bill: what Senate Bill 382 would change
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20222022
LatestCycle 2022
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements