Auditor of State of Ohio · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Ohio auditor of state race?
Annette Blackwell has the strongest record in the Ohio auditor of state race. Annette Blackwell scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Frank LaRose at 63, as of October 9, 2026. Annette Blackwell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Frank LaRose's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Annette Blackwell
65 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Frank LaRose
63 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 58
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Annette Blackwell
- Credit2026-02-02
The City of Maple Heights was again named among Auditor of State Award recipients for clean audit reports in a Feb. 2, 2026 announcement.
Sources: Ohio Auditor of State, Feb. 2, 2026, Ohio Capital Journal via Yahoo News, Aug. 5, 2026
- Credit2026-06-05
Spoke and took questions at an Akron Press Club luncheon on June 5, 2026, one week after her opponent appeared at the same series.
- Credit2022-10-05
The City of Maple Heights received an Auditor of State Award for a clean audit report, announced Oct. 5, 2022.
- Credit2020-11-18
Maple Heights, in state fiscal emergency since February 2015, was released by the Ohio Auditor of State on Nov. 18, 2020, during her tenure as mayor.
Sources: Ohio Auditor of State, Nov. 18, 2020, Ohio Capital Journal via Yahoo News, Aug. 5, 2026
- Credit2016
Became the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Maple Heights when she took office in 2016.
Source: News 5 Cleveland, March 31, 2023
Frank LaRose
- On the record2026-02
Turned over a copy of Ohio's voter registration database, including partial Social Security and driver's license numbers, to the U.S. Justice Department in February 2026.
- On the record2025-01
The FEC dismissed a July 2023 complaint by Ralph King alleging he filed his 2024 Senate statement of candidacy late, and closed the file.
Sources: FEC, MUR 8148 (Frank LaRose), News 5 Cleveland, July 27, 2023
- On the record2024-09-16
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered two of eight disputed sections of the 2024 Issue 1 ballot description, adopted by the Ballot Board he chairs, rewritten and upheld the other six.
Source: Associated Press via Spectrum News 1, Sept. 17, 2024
- On the record2023-06-12
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Ohio Ballot Board he chairs to rewrite the August 2023 Issue 1 ballot title, finding his wording likely to mislead voters; his office said it would comply.
Source: News 5 Cleveland, June 12, 2023
- On the record2023-07-18
Proposed and campaigned for the August 2023 Issue 1 while overseeing that election; in a May 2023 recording obtained by News 5 he said it was 100% about keeping an abortion amendment out.
Source: WCPO (Scripps), July 18, 2023
- On the record2022-08-17
As a member of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, backed maps the Ohio Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in 2022; the court on Aug. 17, 2022 denied requests to hold commissioners in contempt.
Source: WTVG 13abc, Aug. 17, 2022
- Credit2022-08
An EAC Inspector General audit of about $45 million in federal election grants administered by his office reported no findings and no recommendations in August 2022.
Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission OIG, Ohio HAVA audit, Aug. 2022
- Credit2020-11-27
Certified Ohio's 2020 general election results and said voters could trust them; in November 2020 said Republicans calling the election stolen without evidence was irresponsible.
Sources: Associated Press via TribLive, Nov. 27, 2020, NPR, May 3, 2022
- Credit2016-06
Sponsored Senate Bill 63, Ohio's online voter registration law, which passed overwhelmingly and was signed by Gov. John Kasich in June 2016.
Sources: Electionline / Election Academy, June 14, 2016, Ideastream Public Media, May 24, 2016
- Credit2015-11
Was described by Ohio Public Radio as instrumental in placing the bipartisan 2015 Issue 1 legislative redistricting reform on the ballot and passing it.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Annette Blackwell. No public record found.
Frank LaRose. No Ohio ethics or elections commission finding against him was found. The FEC dismissed a 2023 complaint over the timing of his 2024 Senate candidacy filings and closed the file in 2025.
Source: FEC, MUR 8148 (Frank LaRose)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Annette Blackwell. No public record found.
Frank LaRose. In November 2020, as a Republican secretary of state, said it was irresponsible for Republicans to call the election stolen without evidence and said he believed Joe Biden was the rightful winner.
Sources: NPR, May 3, 2022, CNN via ABC17, May 2, 2022
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Annette Blackwell. Spoke and took questions at an Akron Press Club luncheon on June 5, 2026, sat for a cleveland.com editorial board interview, and was a confirmed candidate for the Sept. 14, 2026 county auditors and treasurers forum. No 2026 debate found.
Sources: WOSU (Ideastream Public Media), June 5, 2026, County Treasurers Association of Ohio, candidates forum listing, cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer via MSN, Oct. 2, 2026
Frank LaRose. Spoke and took questions at an Akron Press Club luncheon on May 29, 2026, and was confirmed for the Sept. 14 county officials forum. Did not respond to the cleveland.com editorial board's invitation; no 2026 debate found.
Sources: Akron Beacon Journal via Yahoo News, May 30, 2026, County Treasurers Association of Ohio, candidates forum listing, cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer via MSN, Oct. 2, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Annette Blackwell. Mayor of Maple Heights since 2016 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Frank LaRose. State senator 2011 to 2019 and secretary of state since 2019 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found. In 2022 the Ohio Supreme Court denied requests to hold the redistricting commission, on which he sits, in contempt.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Frank LaRose, WTVG 13abc, Aug. 17, 2022
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Annette Blackwell. Has held the sworn office of mayor of Maple Heights since 2016 with no misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: WFMJ, Oct. 2, 2026
Frank LaRose. Certified Ohio's 2020 results and said Ohioans could trust them. The Ohio Supreme Court ordered ballot language he chaired the board on rewritten in 2023 and 2024; he followed the orders. No misuse-of-office finding.
Sources: Associated Press via TribLive, Nov. 27, 2020, News 5 Cleveland, June 12, 2023
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Annette Blackwell. Mayor of Maple Heights since 2016, in her third term; earlier worked at KeyBank and University Hospitals and 16 years in property tax at Deloitte and Ryan.
Source: WFMJ, Oct. 2, 2026
Frank LaRose. Ohio secretary of state since January 2019, two terms, and state senator for District 27 from 2011 to 2019. U.S. Army 1998 to 2007, sergeant first class.
Source: Ballotpedia, Frank LaRose
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Annette Blackwell. Proposes using audit exit interviews to flag troubling spending trends, stronger training for local fiscal officers, and early follow-up on fraud warning signs, drawing on her Maple Heights recovery plan.
Sources: cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer via MSN, Oct. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Annette Blackwell (campaign website text)
Frank LaRose. Proposes mandatory performance audits of public entities using a per capita cost analysis, with advisory results, and a data-driven focus on Medicaid fraud.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Annette Blackwell. Two channels documented: public forums (Akron Press Club) and a published campaign statement of priorities. Did not respond to the League of Women Voters primary questionnaire or Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: WOSU (Ideastream Public Media), June 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Annette Blackwell, League of Women Voters of Kent and Northern Portage County voters guide, May 5, 2026 primary
Frank LaRose. Three channels documented: answered the League of Women Voters (VOTE411) primary questionnaire, spoke at Akron Press Club forums with audience questions, and publishes campaign positions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: League of Women Voters of Kent and Northern Portage County voters guide, May 5, 2026 primary, WOSU (Ideastream Public Media), May 29, 2026, Ballotpedia, Frank LaRose
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Annette Blackwell. A Clevelander since childhood and mayor of the Cuyahoga County suburb of Maple Heights since 2016.
Frank LaRose. A native of the Akron area who represented the 27th Senate District there for two terms; lives in Copley Township.
Sources: WOSU (Ideastream Public Media), May 29, 2026, Akron Beacon Journal via Yahoo News, May 30, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Annette Blackwell. Mayor and safety director of Maple Heights, a Cuyahoga County city of 22,278 people, since 2016.
Sources: Ohio Auditor of State, Nov. 18, 2020, Ballotpedia, Annette Blackwell (campaign website text)
Frank LaRose. Has run the Ohio Secretary of State's office since 2019, overseeing elections administered by 88 county boards of elections. No FEC administrative fine or Ohio finding against his campaigns found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Annette Blackwell. Maple Heights, in fiscal emergency since February 2015, was released by the Auditor of State on Nov. 18, 2020, during her tenure, after meeting its recovery plan goals.
Frank LaRose. Center for Effective Lawmaking rated him Above expectations in the Ohio Senate for 2017 to 2018 (first in the chamber) and Meets in his other three terms; nine sponsored bills became law, including 2016 online voter registration.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, Electionline / Election Academy, June 14, 2016
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Annette Blackwell. No public record found.
Frank LaRose. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Annette Blackwell. No public record found.
Frank LaRose. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Annette Blackwell. No public record found.
Frank LaRose. Helped pass the bipartisan 2015 Issue 1 legislative redistricting reform; his online registration bill passed overwhelmingly in 2016. No cross-party endorsement found.
Sources: WVXU (Ohio Public Radio), Dec. 22, 2015, Ideastream Public Media, May 24, 2016
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Annette Blackwell. Maple Heights left fiscal emergency in 2020 and received Auditor of State Awards for clean audit reports announced in October 2022 and February 2026.
Sources: Ohio Auditor of State, Oct. 5, 2022, Ohio Auditor of State, Feb. 2, 2026, Ohio Auditor of State, Nov. 18, 2020
Frank LaRose. An EAC Inspector General audit released Aug. 2022 of about $45 million in federal election grants run by his office found no findings and made no recommendations. No Ohio Auditor of State report on his office was found.
Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission OIG, Ohio HAVA audit, Aug. 2022
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Ohio auditor of state race?
Annette Blackwell has the strongest record in the Ohio auditor of state race. Annette Blackwell scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Frank LaRose at 63, as of October 9, 2026. Annette Blackwell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Frank LaRose's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Ohio auditor of state race in 2026?
Annette Blackwell (Democratic), Frank LaRose (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Annette Blackwell a good candidate for Auditor of State?
Annette Blackwell scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Frank LaRose a good candidate for Auditor of State?
Frank LaRose scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 58 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Ohio race scored, and the Ohio 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.