Topic
Ohio 2026 Treasurer Race
An open race for Treasurer of State — Ohio's chief investment officer — between Republican Jay Edwards (a former Ohio House Finance chair) and Democrat Seth Walsh (a Cincinnati city councilmember). The seat is open because Robert Sprague is term-limited and running for Secretary of State.
Ohio 2026 Treasurer Race
An open race for Treasurer of State — Ohio's chief investment officer — between Republican Jay Edwards (a former Ohio House Finance chair) and Democrat Seth Walsh (a Cincinnati city councilmember). The seat is open because Robert Sprague is term-limited and running for Secretary of State.
The matchup
- Republican: Jay Edwards — former state representative (HD-94, southeast Ohio) who chaired the House Finance Committee; won a contested primary over Sen. Kristina Roegner.
- Democratic: Seth Walsh — Cincinnati City Council member and community-development director; the first Democrat into the race.
- Primary: May 5, 2026. Election: November 3, 2026. No third-party candidate on the ballot.
What the office controls
The Treasurer receives, holds, and invests the state's money, runs the STAR Ohio local-government investment pool, and stewards the General Revenue Fund. The recurring campaign question is safety-and-yield stewardship of public funds. See Economy and Material Stakes (Ohio).
Why it matters
The lowest-profile of the open statewide executive races on the 2026 slate, but a real contrast: Edwards runs as a property-tax-cutting, spending-hawk legislator with national MAGA backing (VP JD Vance and Sen. Bernie Moreno endorsed him); Walsh runs on transparency over the "$250 billion" the state invests. No independent rating has been issued at this level.