Frank LaRose seeks Ohio auditor seat in 2026

Frank LaRose, Ohio's secretary of state, is running for state auditor as a Republican in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Annette M. Blackwell, according to BallotReady election data.

LaRose announced his candidacy on Feb. 6, 2025, seeking to succeed term-limited Auditor Keith Faber, Spectrum News reported. He is certified for the ballot.

LaRose said on his campaign website that he would help state and local government offices "more openly and efficiently manage our tax dollars and hold them accountable when they don't."

LaRose had not responded to The Courier's candidate questionnaire as of publication.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Office sought: Ohio Auditor
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Born: April 18, 1979, at Akron City Hospital; grew up in Copley Township, Summit County
Education: High school diploma, Copley High School (1997); bachelor's degree in business family and consumer sciences, The Ohio State University (2007)
Residence: Central Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Lauren, and their three daughters, according to the secretary of state's office biography
Affiliations: Eagle Scout; board member, Green Beret Foundation; member, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Experience and public service

LaRose has served as Ohio secretary of state since 2019. He represented District 27 in the Ohio State Senate from 2011 to 2019, according to BallotReady.

LaRose served in the U.S. Army and the Ohio National Guard, earning the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, according to the secretary of state's office biography. He also worked as a business manager and project lead at a consulting firm, according to Wikipedia.

On the issues

Government accountability and spending: LaRose's campaign for auditor centers on applying principles of transparency, efficiency and accountability to local government offices across the state, according to Spectrum News reporting on his candidacy announcement. On his campaign website, LaRose said he would help state and local offices manage tax dollars more openly and hold them accountable.

No other policy positions were available.