Bryan Hambley (D)
Bryan Hambley grew up on a small family farm, where he learned the power of community when his town fought to save its public school. As a cancer doctor, he’s seen the devastating impact of healthcare costs, insurance denials, and the closure of rural hospitals. Yet Ohio’s government remains unresponsive, prioritizing politicians over the people.
Bryan is running for Secretary of State to fix Ohio’s broken democracy. After organizing against gerrymandering in 2024, he knows that Ohioans deserve better – a government that works for the people. With the support of his wife, Jana, a trauma surgeon, and their two children, Bryan is committed to making Ohio’s democracy fairer and more responsive to everyone.
Robert Sprague (R)
Robert Sprague has aligned himself with election-denial rhetoric and policies that restrict voting access. His endorsement of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, known for promoting conspiracy theories and advocating for the elimination of the state income tax, signals Sprague’s support for a far-right agenda.
Sprague emphasizes “election integrity,” a term repeatedly used by the GOP to justify measures that critics argue suppress voter turnout. This focus mirrors the approach of current Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who has implemented restrictions on ballot drop boxes and pursued investigations into rare instances of noncitizen voting.
In a recent GOP luncheon, Sprague highlighted his commitment to election security, aligning himself with policies that have been criticized for disenfranchising voters, particularly in marginalized communities.
Marcell Strbich (R)
Marcell Strbich’s platform pushes aggressive voter restrictions under the guise of “election security,” aiming to make voting harder for many Ohioans. His insistence on strict citizenship and residency verifications, mandatory voter ID for all – including mail voters – and limiting in-person voting to a single day risks disenfranchising eligible voters.
Strbich’s demand to scrap modern voting technology in favor of only hand-marked paper ballots ignores advancements that improve access and efficiency. His approach prioritizes rigid controls and heavy-handed oversight, raising concerns that it could suppress turnout and undermine trust in fair elections rather than strengthen them.