Ohio and Indiana hold their primaries on Tuesday, May 5, the first multi-state contest day of the 2026 cycle and the first with a marquee governor's race on the ballot. Ohio's governorship is open because Republican Mike DeWine is term-limited, and both parties' fields were locked months ago: the Republican primary has drawn national attention, with Trump-endorsed candidate Vivek Ramaswamy the best-known name in a field including Casey Putsch, while Democrat Amy Acton, the state's former health director, has run essentially unopposed for her party's nomination, per candidate filings with the Ohio Secretary of State and race coverage.
What is on the two states' ballots?
Ohio votes for governor, other executive offices, all 15 U.S. House seats and legislative posts; Indiana votes for its statewide offices, nine congressional seats and the legislature. Indiana's ballot features contested Republican primaries where Trump-backed challengers ran against incumbent legislators — the single most-watched pattern of the night, per previews of the state's notable races.
How the mechanics run
- Polls close: 6:30 p.m. ET in most of Ohio, 6 p.m. local time in Indiana's two zones.
- Counting: both states process absentee ballots with different pre-canvass rules; margins in low-turnout primaries can take days to resolve.
- Runoffs: neither state uses primary runoffs — plurality winners are nominees.
What the Ohio race means for November
The open seat starts the general election cycle rated Lean Republican by national handicappers, though Ohio's recent statewide results have compressed: statewide margins over the last three cycles have ranged from single digits both ways. If Acton wins in November, Ohio would elect its first woman governor; if the Republican nominee wins, the party holds an open seat it has controlled since 2011.
The procedural stakes
May 5 also begins the period when federal primary winners trigger the 45-day military-and-overseas ballot clock for November 3 — which means the nominees chosen Tuesday set the general-election ballot in both states within weeks. Watchers should also note what May 5 does not decide: Ohio's U.S. Senate race and other states' contests wait for later primaries, with the heaviest calendar still ahead in May and June.
FAQ
Why is Ohio's governor's seat open?
Term limits: Mike DeWine, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, cannot seek a third consecutive term.
Do Ohio or Indiana use runoffs?
No — both nominate by plurality, so multi-candidate fields can produce nominees well short of a majority.
When do the nominees face voters?
November 3, 2026, the national general-election date.
For more context, read June's Two Primary Waves Set the Fall's Biggest Fields.
For more context, read illinois primary march 17 2026.
For more context, read Three States Voted May 19 — and Counted Three Different Ways.