Ohio Auditor Keith Faber won the Republican primary for attorney general unopposed on Tuesday. With polls open until 7:30 p.m. EDT, Faber's sole candidacy on the GOP ballot ensures he advances to the November general election.
Faber, 60, brings decades of experience in law and public service to the race for Ohio's top legal officer. A graduate of Oakland University and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, he founded a civil litigation and mediation firm in Celina, where he resides with his wife, Andrea, and their two children. His political career began in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006, followed by service in the Ohio Senate from 2007 to 2016, including as Senate president from 2013 to 2017. He briefly returned to the House in 2017 and 2018 before winning election as state auditor in 2018 and reelection in 2022.
As an auditor, Faber's office secured 129 convictions on 247 criminal charges against corrupt public officials and issued findings for recovery totaling more than $20 million in taxpayer funds. The office also identified nearly $6.9 billion in fraud and overpayments in Ohio's unemployment insurance system. These efforts underscore his focus on accountability and transparency in government.
Faber announced his attorney general candidacy on January 27, 2025, pledging to protect Ohio families, defend the Constitution, prioritize public safety, and support law enforcement. His platform emphasizes combating the drug epidemic, strengthening consumer protections, and stopping human trafficking while promoting safe communities, economic opportunity, and personal freedoms. The Club for Growth endorsed Faber in August 2025, praising his record on restraining spending and advocating for accountable government.
The race fills an open seat left by term-limited Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican serving two terms who launched a gubernatorial bid before withdrawing in May 2025. On the Democratic side, former state representative Elliot Forhan and Columbus-area councilman John Kulewicz competed in Tuesday's primary, with results pending as votes are tallied.
Ohio's attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer, representing state agencies, enforcing consumer protection laws, and overseeing criminal justice matters. The winner will take office in January 2027 for a four-year term.
Faber positions himself as a non-partisan defender of the law, emphasizing his legal background and prosecutorial experience through the auditor's office. Democrats have highlighted the need for an independent voice focused on law enforcement over politics.
With the primary complete on the Republican side, attention shifts to the general election matchup and other statewide contests, including primaries for governor, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor.
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