Ohio voters will choose a new attorney general this November, a race that sits just below the high‑profile Senate and governor contests on the ballot. The two candidates bring very different backgrounds and policy priorities to the race.
Republican candidate: State Auditor Keith Faber
Keith Faber, the current state auditor and longtime fixture in Ohio GOP politics, has served as Senate President and now seeks to become the first attorney general elected since former Republican Attorney General Dave Yost left office in 2025. Faber emphasizes his deep ties to law‑enforcement, noting endorsements from sheriffs in 82 % of Ohio’s counties and backing from police unions, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Buckeye Firearms Association.
He says the next attorney general must earn the trust of those who keep Ohio safe and promises to build a more aggressive consumer‑protection unit within the office. “If health insurers are trying to pad their profits at the expense of consumers, that’s not good business. It weakens confidence in the whole health‑care system,” Faber warned.
On the contentious issue of abortion, Faber identifies as pro‑life. He conceded that Ohio’s 6‑week ban, passed by Republicans in 2019, may run afoul of the state constitution after voters approved a referendum guaranteeing a right to abortion in the first two trimesters. He described the 24‑hour waiting‑period law as “a little closer call,” indicating he would review the totality of circumstances before taking a position.
Democratic candidate: Former Akron councilor John Kulewicz
John Kulewicz, a retired city councilor from Central Ohio, spent 44 years at the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease before entering the race. He traces his roots to the steel mills of eastern Ohio and has represented a range of clients, from the City of Akron to Chesapeake Energy.
Kulewicz’s campaign centers on protecting Ohioans from corporate scams and ensuring fair regulation of essential services. He highlighted his experience arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, where he defended a self‑funded insurance plan for Marietta Memorial Hospital, securing a favorable ruling that allowed the hospital to negotiate lower reimbursement rates with dialysis provider DaVita.
Regarding the new abortion‑rights amendment, Kulewicz declined to predict how the courts might rule, noting that the referendum passed “overwhelmingly.” He has received endorsements from Planned Parenthood and a broad coalition of unions, including the AFL‑CIO, teachers, nurses and food‑service workers.
Endorsements and campaign finances
Faber enjoys strong support from law‑enforcement agencies and trade groups such as the Affiliated Construction Trades union, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Ohio Right to Life PAC. His fundraising advantage is clear: he has raised nearly $2.7 million for the 2025‑2026 cycle and holds more than $3.7 million cash on hand.
Major donors include auto‑dealer groups, packaging heiress Ginni Ragan, the Wyler family of Wyler Auto and Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Susan “Dee” Haslam, who together contributed $30,000. Former Ohio Republican donor Les Wexner gave $15,000, which Faber pledged to donate to charity.
Kulewicz has raised about $1.7 million and has $1.2 million available for the final stretch. His top contributors include energy consultant Robert Korandovic and the California‑based environmental Woka Foundation.
What’s at stake
The attorney general’s office oversees Ohio’s state crime lab, police academy and consumer‑protection enforcement. It also defends state laws in court, acts as a gatekeeper for citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments and represents Ohio in lawsuits against large corporations or the federal government, occasionally appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Both candidates say they will use the office to safeguard Ohio families, uphold constitutional rights and ensure that essential services—from groceries to fuel—remain fair and affordable. Voters will decide which vision aligns best with their values as the race heads into its final month.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
