Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
6.3%
17%
12%
11%
J. Tressel
Republican
Heather Hill
Ohio Republican Governor nominee?
$2.0M
MAY 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSmall business owner
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderFemale
LocationOhio
Show moreShow less
BackgroundSmall business owner
EducationColumbus State Community College (associate degree; field and dates unknown)
Notable personal detailsHeather Hill is an Appalachian Ohio small business owner and political newcomer who ran in the 2026 Republican primary for Governor of Ohio. She previously served on the Morgan Local School District Board of Education and has described herself as a former school board president. Her education has been reported as including attendance at Columbus State Community College and graduation from Ohio University.
SourcesShowHide
heatherhillohio.comwosu.orgivoterguide.comspectrumnews1.comapnews.comasatunews.co.idohiocapitaljournal.comwhio.comtiffinohio.neten.wikipedia.orgtransparencyusa.orgohiochamber.comboe.cuyahogacounty.govbhfs.comvotehamiltoncountyohio.govemaohio.orgcolumbiana.boe.ohio.govwoub.orgtwitter.comheraldstaronline.comfox19.comksat.comtealhq.comhhhcare.orgcareers.uhhospitals.orgheatherhills.comhealth-professions-connections.mailchimpsites.comtheguardian.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgassets.apnews.comstatic.votesmart.orgballotready.orgnga.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcongress.govgovinfo.govhusted.senate.govdemocrats-cha.house.govjec.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports abolishing property taxes, increasing tax incentives/grants for small businesses, and reducing government waste and overspending; has expressed support for using some new revenue sources (e.g., cannabis taxes) to help public schools while favoring policies that incentivize small business growth.
Healthcare
Supports 'medical freedom' (opposition to vaccine and mask mandates and defense of parental control over children's medical decisions), pledges to protect access to IVF and fertility treatments, and emphasizes expanding providers and telehealth in underserved/rural areas and increased mental-health responses. Favors limiting government interference in healthcare and increasing provider choice while proposing targeted expansions (midwives/doulas, telehealth) to improve access.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports stronger enforcement and deportation measures while allowing legal immigration; expresses concern about criminal smuggling and cartel activity at the border and says she will back President Trump’s deportation program as governor.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate personally opposes abortion except in medical-necessity or special cases, supports IVF and certain life-saving procedures, and says she will uphold Ohio voters’ 2023 constitutional amendment protecting abortion access rather than seek to overturn it. She favors incentives and supports for women to carry pregnancies and promotes adoption as an alternative to abortion.
Climate & Energy
The candidate emphasizes revitalizing Ohio industry and manufacturing over investments in data centers and AI, expresses opposition to data-center development citing local environmental harms to water tables, and frames policy priorities in conservative, pro-business terms rather than endorsing aggressive climate regulations or Green New Deal–style measures.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate identifies as pro-Second Amendment and describes herself as a conservative who protects gun rights. Her campaign materials and news coverage emphasize support for gun owners and a law-and-order approach to public safety. No clear support for major new gun restrictions or for specific gun-control measures was found in the sourced materials.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 9, 2026
Heather Hill’s Ohio gubernatorial campaign has been thrown into turmoil after her running mate Stuart Moats resigned, and election officials said votes cast for their ticket in the Republican primary will not count. Hill had already been dealing with a public dispute with Moats, including allegations that prompted her to try to remove him from the ticket. Her campaign was later ruled invalid by election officials, leaving her out of the main race.
heatherhillohio.com+38
Articles
CCCincinnati Cincinnati Enquirer2 months ago
Running mate quits, voiding votes for Ohio governor candidate
Negative
ABAkron Beacon Journal2 months ago
Ohio governor hopeful moves to drop running mate amid dispute
Neutral
Ccleveland.com2 months ago
Ohio GOP governor candidate’s ticket implodes amid racial slur allegations
Negative
WWJLA1 month ago
Vivek Ramaswamy wins Ohio primary, will face Amy Acton for governor
Negative
Polls
Ohio Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising