What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy
President of the United States
What’s At Stake
President Biden has chosen to not seek a second terms, on November 5th, voters across the election will elect a new President to serve a four year term in the White House. Democrat nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump will square off for Ohio’s 17 electoral college votes. Donald Trump has previously won Ohio in both 2016 and 2020, while former President Barack Obama won Ohio in both 2008 and 2012. The voter registration deadline is October 7th and early voting is set to begin on October 8th.
Who’s On Your Ballot
For President
| Kamala Harris Democrat | Donald Trump Republican | |
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| Hometown: | Oakland, California | New York, New York |
| Biography: | Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving as the first woman, the first Black American, and the first person of South Asian descent to hold this office. Born in Oakland, California, Harris has had an extensive career in public service, including serving as California’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2017 and as a U.S. Senator from 2017 to 2021. As Vice President, she has focused on issues such as immigration reform, voting rights, and public health, while also playing a critical role in the administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris’s career has been marked by her commitment to justice and equality, consistently advocating for civil rights and progressive policies. | Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, served from 2017 to 2021 and is known for his unconventional approach to politics and his focus on “America First” policies. Before entering politics, Trump was a real estate developer and television personality, best known for his role as the host of The Apprentice. His presidency was marked by significant tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, and the appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices. Trump also pursued controversial immigration policies, trade wars, and a strong stance on law and order. Despite being impeached twice, he remains an influential figure in the Republican Party, with a dedicated base of supporters and a continued presence in American political discourse. |
| Prior employment/experience: | She began her law career in the office of the district attorney (DA) of Alameda County, before being recruited to the San Francisco DA’s Office and later the city attorney of San Francisco’s office. In 2003, she was elected DA of San Francisco. She was elected attorney general of California in 2010 and reelected in 2014. Harris served as the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. She won the 2016 Senate election to become the second Black woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate. | Donald Trump became president of his family’s real estate business, the Trump Organization, in 1971. He developed and managed various real estate ventures, including hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread recognition as the host of the reality TV show The Apprentice from 2004–2015, which further bolstered his public image and fame. Elected as the 45th president in 2016, Trump served one term in office. After his presidency, Trump founded the Trump Media & Technology Group, which launched the social media platform Truth Social following his account being removed from Twitter, now known as X. |
| On the Issues: Abortion | Harris supports abortion rights As of 2018, Harris had a 100% rating by the abortion rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and a 0% rating by the anti-abortion group National Right to Life Committee. Harris opposes laws that restrict access to abortion services. She has criticized state-level laws that impose strict regulations on abortion providers, which she argues are designed to limit access to abortion rather than protect women’s health. She has been a vocal supporter of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that aims to protect the right to access abortion services by prohibiting states from enacting laws that restrict abortion access. | Trump describes himself as pro-life and generally opposes abortion with some exceptions: rape, incest, and circumstances endangering the health of the mother. As a candidate, he said he believes the issue of abortion “would have been better if it were up to the states.” After Roe v. Wade was overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Trump took credit for the decision but has not stated whether he supports a federal ban or federal restrictions on abortion. |
| On the Issues: Jobs and the Economy | She’s promising to, during her first 100 days in office, send Congress proposed federal limits on price increases for food producers and grocers.The vice president also proposed to make permanent a $3,600 per child tax credit approved through 2025 for eligible families, while offering a new $6,000 tax credit for those with newborn children. She says a Harris administration would work to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut taxes for some frontline workers by up to $1,500 and reduce taxes on healthcare plans offered on the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. | Some of the tax cuts in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Trump signed into law in 2017, were set by the law to expire in 2025. In April 2024, Trump stated at a fundraiser for wealthy donors that, if returned to office, he would seek to extend those provisions. Trump prioritized deregulation, arguing that excessive regulation stifled business growth. He implemented policies aimed at reducing regulations, particularly in industries like energy, finance, and manufacturing. Trump’s “America First” approach led to renegotiating trade deals and imposing tariffs on countries like China. Trump frequently advocated for significant infrastructure investment as a means to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Although he promoted the idea of a major infrastructure bill, during his presidency, no comprehensive infrastructure plan was passed. |
| On the Issues: Voting Rights and Fair Elections | In 2017, Harris was one of six senators to introduce the “Secure Elections Act”, legislation authorizing block grants for states that would update outdated voting technology. In May 2019, Harris was a co-sponsor of the Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act, legislation that, if passed, would have granted the United States Department of Homeland Security the authority “to set minimum cybersecurity standards for U.S. voting machines, authorized a one-time $500 million grant program for states to buy ballot-scanning machines to count paper ballots, and required states to conduct risk-limiting audits of all federal elections in order to detect any cyber hacks. | Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that widespread voter fraud occurred in the 2020 election, particularly in states that were key to the electoral outcome. He has suggested that these alleged irregularities cost him the election, a claim that has been widely debunked by election officials and courts. Trump has been critical of mail-in voting, arguing that it is prone to fraud and abuse. Trump supports strict voter ID laws, arguing that they are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of elections. Trump has opposed federal legislation aimed at expanding voting rights, such as the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. These bills sought to protect voting rights, expand access to the ballot, and prevent states from implementing restrictive voting laws. |
| On the Issues: Healthcare | Vice President Kamala Harris is calling for the forgiveness of medical debt for millions of Americans. She also led a White House effort in June to clear medical bills from Americans’ credit reports. Furthermore, Harris wants to speed up a Biden administration effort that has allowed Medicare and other federal programs to negotiate with drugmakers to lower the cost of prescription medications, aiming to cut the price tags of some of the most expensive and most commonly used drugs by roughly 40 percent to 80 percent starting in 2026. She’s also promised to promote competition with steps to increase transparency within pharmaceutical company pricing practices. | Donald Trump’s healthcare position has centered around dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and promoting free-market solutions to healthcare, advocating for reducing government involvement in healthcare. His administration supported the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in 2017, which sought to eliminate the ACA’s individual mandate and reduce Medicaid expansion, although the effort ultimately failed in the Senate. Trump also supported measures like expanding health savings accounts (HSAs) and promoting association health plans, which allow small businesses to band together to purchase insurance. His administration backed policies that enabled states to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients and sought to lower prescription drug costs through policies like drug price transparency and importation of cheaper drugs from other countries. Despite his efforts, Trump was criticized for not providing a clear, comprehensive replacement for the ACA during his term. The repeal efforts were seen as a risk to millions of Americans’ healthcare coverage, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, even though Trump frequently claimed he would protect those individuals. |
| On the Issues: Climate | Kamala Harris is a strong advocate for climate action, focusing on transitioning the U.S. to renewable energy and addressing environmental justice. As a senator, she co-sponsored the Green New Deal, which calls for large-scale investments in clean energy, job creation in green sectors, and reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. Harris has emphasized that climate change disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color, a theme she highlights in her push for climate justice. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris proposed a $10 trillion plan to achieve a 100% clean economy by 2045, including federal investment in clean energy, tightening environmental regulations, and holding corporations accountable for pollution. Her policies also promote a just transition for workers in fossil fuel industries, ensuring they are supported as the nation moves towards greener energy sources. As vice president, she supports President Biden’s climate initiatives, including rejoining the Paris Agreement and promoting the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest U.S. investment in climate action to date. Harris’ position on climate change consistently highlights the intersection of environmental policy and social justice. | Trump rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, repeatedly contending that global warming is a “hoax”. In May 2016, during his presidential campaign, Trump issued an energy plan focused on promoting fossil fuels and weakening environmental regulation. Trump promised to “rescind” in his first 100 days in office a variety of Environmental Protection Agency regulations established during the Obama administration to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, which contribute to a warming global climate. Trump has specifically pledged to revoke the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the United States rule. |
| On the Issues: Immigration and Border | During her time as San Francisco District Attorney, Harris created the Environmental Justice Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted several industries and individuals for pollution. She also advocated for strong enforcement of environmental protection laws.In September 2018, Harris was one of eight senators to sponsor the Climate Risk Disclosure Act, a bill described by co-sponsor Elizabeth Warren as using “market forces to speed up the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy—reducing the odds of an environmental and financial disaster without spending a dime of taxpayer money.” | Donald Trump’s position on immigration was one of the central themes of his political platform, marked by a strong focus on border security and reducing illegal immigration. He advocated for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal crossings. Trump also implemented strict policies, such as the “zero tolerance” policy, which led to the separation of families at the border, and he sought to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protected young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. Additionally, Trump attempted to impose travel bans on several predominantly Muslim countries, which faced significant legal challenges. |
| Endorsements: | Joe Biden, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, AAPI Victory Fund, Black Voters Matter, Feminist Majority PAC, Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ Victory Fund, National Organization for Women PAC, United We Dream PAC, March for Our Lives, Environmental Defense Fund Action Votes, Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs, Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Alliance for Retired Americans, BlackPAC, GenZ for Change, The Lincoln Project, NextGen America PAC, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, AFL-CIO, National Education Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers, United Farm Workers, more | National Republican Congressional Committee, NRA, Save America, Conservative Political Action Conference, Faith and Freedom Coalition, National Right to Life Committee, Turning Point Action, more |
| Website: | https://kamalaharris.com/ | https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ |
| Social media: | X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok | Truth Social X (Twitter) TikTok Facebook Instagram Youtube |
For Vice President
| Tim Walz Democrat | JD Vance Republican | |
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| Hometown: | West Point, Nebraska | Middletown, Ohio |
| Biography: | Tim Walz is the 41st Governor of Minnesota, serving since January 2019. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Walz previously represented Minnesota’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. Before entering politics, Walz had a 24-year career as a high school teacher and football coach and served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major. As governor, Walz has focused on education, healthcare reform, and infrastructure, and has been a vocal advocate for rural communities. | J.D. Vance is a U.S. Senator from Ohio, elected in 2022. He gained national prominence with his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which detailed his upbringing in a working-class family in Appalachia. Prior to entering politics, Vance worked as a venture capitalist and lawyer. A Republican, he campaigned on issues such as economic revitalization, border security, and reducing government overreach. Vance’s candidacy was strongly endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and he has aligned himself with the populist and conservative wing of the Republican Party. |
| Prior employment/experience: | Walz served 24 years in the Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. Walz worked as a high school geography teacher and coach in Mankato, Minnesota from 1996 to 2006. He represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District as a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. Walz has served as the governor of Minnesota since 2019, focusing on healthcare, education, and economic policy. | Vance served as a Marine from 2003 to 2007, including a tour in Iraq. After his military service, Vance earned a law degree from Yale, then went on to work as a corporate lawyer at the San Francisco law firm Sidley Austin. Vance gained national recognition for his memoir, which highlighted struggles in rural America and became a bestseller in 2016. From 2016 to 2021, Vance worked at Mithril Capital, a venture capital firm, and later started his own fund, Narya Capital, investing in tech startups. Vance was elected as the U.S. Senator from Ohio in 2022. |
| On the Issues: Abortion | Governor Tim Walz is a strong supporter of abortion rights and access to reproductive healthcare. Throughout his career, he has advocated for protecting a woman’s right to choose and ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services. Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act in January 2023, which guarantees the right to an abortion, contraception, and other reproductive healthcare services in Minnesota. This legislation makes Minnesota one of the most abortion-protective states in the U.S. following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Walz has consistently opposed efforts to restrict abortion access and has positioned his administration as a champion of reproductive rights, particularly in the face of increasing abortion restrictions in other states. | J.D. Vance holds a strong anti-abortion stance, advocating for significant restrictions on abortion access. He has expressed support for overturning Roe v. Wade and endorsed the idea that states should have the authority to set their own abortion laws, without federal intervention. In line with this, Vance supported Ohio’s six-week abortion ban, commonly known as the “heartbeat bill,” which restricts abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, often before many women know they are pregnant. During his 2022 Senate campaign, Vance emphasized his pro-life position, stating that abortion was the “greatest moral crisis” of our time. He has framed his stance as protecting both unborn children and the well-being of women, expressing concerns about the long-term emotional and physical effects of abortion on women. His views align with more conservative efforts to further limit abortion access in the U.S. |
| On the Issues: Jobs and the Economy | Walz supports policies aimed at fostering economic growth and creating good-paying jobs. He emphasizes the need for investments in infrastructure, education, and workforce development as key drivers for economic progress. He advocates for small businesses as vital to Minnesota’s economy. His administration has worked on various initiatives to support these businesses, including providing grants and reducing regulatory burdens. Walz believes that investing in infrastructure projects is crucial for both immediate job creation and long-term economic benefits. This includes improvements to roads, bridges, and public transit systems. He supports enhancing workforce training and education programs to better align with current job market needs. This includes expanding access to vocational training and higher education. Walz has supported policies aimed at improving wage standards and labor rights. This includes advocating for higher minimum wages and better working conditions for all workers. He also emphasizes the importance of addressing economic disparities and ensuring that economic growth benefits all communities, including marginalized and underserved populations. | Vance advocates for revitalizing American industries and manufacturing. He believes that bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. is crucial for economic growth and national security. He supports trade policies that prioritize American workers. He is critical of trade agreements that he believes disadvantage U.S. industries and jobs, and he advocates for policies that protect American jobs from foreign competition. He supports tax policies that he argues will stimulate economic growth, including tax cuts for businesses and individuals. Vance believes that reducing taxes will lead to more investment and job creation. Vance is in favor of reducing regulatory burdens on businesses. He argues that less regulation will enable businesses to grow and create jobs more easily. He has also emphasized the importance of vocational training and education to align the workforce with the needs of modern industries. Vance is focused on increasing economic opportunities in economically distressed areas. He advocates for policies that address economic inequality and support community development in regions struggling with economic decline. |
| On the Issues: Voting Rights and Fair Elections | Walz advocates for expanding access to voting. This includes supporting measures to make voting more accessible, such as early voting and absentee voting. He believes in making it easier for all eligible voters to participate in elections. He has also backed efforts to ensure that voting systems are well-protected from interference and that elections are conducted fairly. He supports initiatives to simplify voter registration and ensure that all eligible voters are able to register and vote. This includes automatic voter registration and other reforms aimed at increasing voter participation. Walz is opposed to measures that he believes suppress voter turnout, particularly among marginalized and minority communities. He advocates for policies that protect voters from disenfranchisement. | Vance supports measures aimed at enhancing election integrity. He has been a proponent of reforms to ensure that elections are secure and free from fraud. This includes supporting stricter voter ID laws and other measures designed to verify voter eligibility. However, some argue that such measures can disproportionately affect marginalized and low-income voters who may struggle to obtain the required identification, potentially disenfranchising these groups. Vance has expressed concerns about voter fraud and has supported investigations and measures to address it. He has supported various election reform initiatives, including those aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the electoral process. While Vance emphasizes election integrity, his approach to expanding voting access tends to be more cautious. Vance has shown support for conducting audits and reviews of election processes to ensure their accuracy and integrity. |
| On the Issues: Healthcare | Walz supports the expansion of public healthcare options. He has backed proposals for creating a “MinnesotaCare buy-in” option, which would allow more residents to purchase affordable health insurance through the state’s MinnesotaCare program, which is aimed at expanding coverage for people who don’t qualify for Medicaid or who struggle to afford private insurance. His administration has supported initiatives aimed at controlling the high cost of medications, including measures to allow the state to directly negotiate drug prices and establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Commission. Mental health care has been a key component of Walz’s healthcare strategy, advocating for expanding mental health services, especially in rural areas, and increasing funding for mental health programs in schools, community health centers, and public facilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Walz emphasized the importance of a robust public health response. His administration worked to expand testing, vaccination efforts, and healthcare system support. He also advocated for federal funding to support hospitals and public health infrastructure. | Vance has been critical of the Affordable Care Act, arguing that it led to higher premiums and reduced healthcare choices for many Americans. He favors repealing or significantly reforming the law to reduce government control over healthcare. Vance advocates for market-based reforms to address the rising costs of healthcare. He supports deregulation to allow more innovation and competition in the healthcare market. Vance has voiced concerns about the sustainability of entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Vance has expressed concerns about the high cost of prescription drugs but prefers market-driven solutions rather than government price controls. He supports expanding telemedicine and reducing barriers for healthcare professionals to work in rural regions as a way to increase access to care without expanding government programs. Vance has expressed a strong commitment to addressing addiction and mental health issues. He supports treatment and recovery programs, often focusing on community and faith-based solutions rather than government-led initiatives. Vance is opposed to proposals like Medicare for All or any other government-run, single-payer healthcare system. |
| On the Issues: Climate | As governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz has prioritized clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and positioning Minnesota as a leader in sustainability. He aims to transition the state to 100% clean energy by 2040 and reduce emissions across sectors like energy, transportation, and agriculture. Walz supports expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income communities. He emphasizes job creation in the renewable energy sector, especially in rural areas, and promotes carbon sequestration techniques to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint and improve soil health. | Vance opposes federal climate policies like the Green New Deal, arguing they would disrupt industries reliant on fossil fuels and harm the economy. He supports continued use of coal, oil, and gas, promoting energy independence through expanded domestic production, including fracking. Vance is skeptical of mandates for rapid renewable energy shifts, citing concerns about rising costs, grid instability, and job losses. While acknowledging climate change, he criticizes “alarmist” rhetoric and believes the private sector should lead on cleaner energy, with the government removing regulatory barriers. Vance favors local control over environmental policies instead of federal mandates. |
| On the Issues: Immigration and Border | Tim Walz takes a progressive stance on immigration, focusing on compassion, inclusion, and the economic benefits to Minnesota. He supports comprehensive immigration reform, including pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, such as DACA and TPS recipients. As governor, Walz has made Minnesota welcoming to refugees and asylum seekers, affirming participation in the federal refugee program in 2019. He opposes harsh federal immigration enforcement, especially policies from the Trump era. Walz emphasizes the economic contributions of immigrants, noting their role in addressing labor shortages and supporting Minnesota’s agricultural, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. | J.D. Vance takes a hardline, conservative stance on immigration, focusing on enforcing laws, securing the southern border, and opposing policies he believes incentivize illegal immigration. He supports building a border wall, increasing Border Patrol agents, and using technology to prevent crossings. Vance criticizes the Biden administration’s policies, linking illegal immigration to the drug crisis, and supports Trump-era policies like “Remain in Mexico.” He opposes pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, tighter asylum rules, and “sanctuary city” policies. Vance advocates for a merit-based immigration system prioritizing skilled workers. |
| Endorsements: | Joe Biden, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, AAPI Victory Fund, Black Voters Matter, Feminist Majority PAC, Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ Victory Fund, National Organization for Women PAC, United We Dream PAC, March for Our Lives, Environmental Defense Fund Action Votes, Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs, Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Alliance for Retired Americans, BlackPAC, GenZ for Change, The Lincoln Project, NextGen America PAC, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, AFL-CIO, National Education Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers, United Farm Workers, more | National Republican Congressional Committee, NRA, Save America, Conservative Political Action Conference, Faith and Freedom Coalition, National Right to Life Committee, Turning Point Action, more |
| Website: | https://kamalaharris.com/ | https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ |
| Social media: | X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram YouTube | X (Twitter) YouTube Facebook Instagram |