Ohio Votes 2026: The Midterms and What’s at Stake

With Election Day just days away, join these experts on Ohio politics and elections for a timely conversation about the 2026 midterms.
About this Event

With Election Day just days away, join a panel of experts for a timely, nonpartisan look at Ohio's 2026 midterms. The panel will examine Ohio's closely watched races for governor and U.S. Senate, the issues shaping the campaigns, and what voters should be watching as Election Day approaches.

The conversation brings together three distinct vantage points on Ohio politics: longtime Statehouse reporter Karen Kasler, who has covered Ohio campaigns and elections firsthand since 2004; political scientist Dr. J. Cherie Strachan, whose research examines civic engagement and how polarization shapes political behavior; and law professor John T. Plecnik, who brings direct experience in local government and public policy. Together they'll unpack what's shaping this year's races and what to watch for as results come in.

The discussion is moderated by Edward M. Horowitz, Associate Professor in Cleveland State University's School of Communication, and co-sponsored by the Center for Civics, Culture, and Society and the School of Communication in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education at Cleveland State University.

Since you're already building out bios for the three panelists, here's a matching one for Horowitz in case the program wants it too; his research happens to line up well with this panel's topic:

Ed Horowitz is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at Cleveland State University. His research examines political socialization, specifically how young adults develop their political understanding through family, schools, peers, and media.