“The Republican Party is united heading into the fall. We have a strong record to run on and Ohioans know that the policies coming out of Washington are working — on border security, on the economy, on keeping America safe.
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Ohio and Indiana May Primaries Test Trump's Midterm Influence
May 5, 2026
On May 5, 2026, Ohio and Indiana held primary elections that served as early tests of both Trump's hold on the Republican Party and Democratic enthusiasm heading into the 2026 midterms. In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy — the former biotech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate — won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face Democratic nominee Amy Acton, the former state health director who gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the marquee US Senate primary, former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown secured his party's nomination to challenge Republican Senator Jon Husted in what is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle. Pre-election data showed Democratic primary turnout outpacing Republican turnout by roughly 11%, a potential indicator of elevated Democratic enthusiasm. In Indiana, Trump invested heavily in ousting state Senate Republicans who had voted against his redistricting agenda, and at least five of seven Trump-backed challengers defeated incumbent GOP state senators — a striking demonstration of Trump's continued primary-election dominance within the party. $13.4 million was spent on Indiana state Senate primary advertising, up from $280,000 in 2024.
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“Ohio, you've made your voice heard. Tonight is just the beginning. We're going to run this state like a business, cut the waste, and deliver results for hardworking Ohioans — not for the consultants and the career politicians.
“I've never stopped fighting for Ohio workers and I'm not going to stop now. Ohioans are hurting — from the cost of living to trade policy that ships jobs overseas — and they deserve a senator who actually shows up for them.
“Ohioans deserve a governor who leads with integrity and puts people first. We have real work to do — on health care, on education, on making sure every family in this state can afford to stay here. I'm ready for this fight.