Gay rights activist Jim Obergefell is running for a seat in the Ohio House as a Democrat in his hometown of Sandusky. Obergefell will run for the 89th House District seat currently held by Republican D.J. Swearingen of Huron. The 89th District presently includes Ottawa County.

Ohio Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, has announced she will challenge legendary U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo in the 9th District. Kaptur has been in the U.S. Congress for four decades. Two other Republicans, J.R. Majewski of Port Clinton, and Madison Gesiotto Gilbert of Canton, have also filed for the seat. Kaptur first successfully ran for Congress in 1982 to represent Toledo.

Gavarone successfully ran for re-election as Ohio state senator representing District 2, which includes Ottawa County, in November 2020. Her current term ends on Dec. 31, 2024. Gavarone was first elevated to the 2nd Senate District seat when Randy Gardner, a longtime Ohio legislator from Bowling Green, was appointed to be the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.