Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose captured the Republican nomination for state auditor on Tuesday, running unopposed in the primary election.

As the sole Republican candidate on the ballot, LaRose automatically advances to face Democrat Annette Blackwell in the November general election. Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. across the state, with early and absentee voting having already concluded. Since both major party candidates ran without opposition, the Auditor of State primary drew limited attention compared to higher-profile races like the U.S. Senate and governor.

LaRose, a term-limited Secretary of State since 2019, announced his bid for auditor last year amid a shuffle among Ohio's Republican statewide officeholders. A former Army Green Beret and business owner, LaRose has emphasized fiscal accountability and transparency during his tenure overseeing elections. He previously ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 Republican U.S. Senate primary.

On the Democratic side, Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell also ran unopposed, securing her party's nomination. Blackwell, 63, launched her campaign in January, positioning herself as a champion for working families and government oversight. She serves as mayor of the Cuyahoga County suburb, where she has focused on public safety and economic development.

The race for Ohio Auditor of State, an office responsible for auditing state agencies, local governments, and schools, is open due to term limits on incumbent Republican Keith Faber. Faber, who took office in 2023, is now seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

Ohio's May 5 primary also featured contests for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state, setting the stage for competitive November matchups. Voter turnout remained low, consistent with patterns in uncontested down-ballot races.

LaRose's campaign highlighted his experience combating election fraud and managing state finances. "Ohioans deserve an auditor who will hold government accountable," LaRose stated on his campaign website before the primary.

Blackwell, meanwhile, stressed auditing for affordability and safety. Her platform calls for reviews of state spending to benefit working families.

A Libertarian write-in candidate, Aidan Michael Jeffery, also advanced unopposed in that party's primary.

The general election on November 3 will determine who oversees Ohio's biennial budget exceeding $80 billion and conducts performance audits across thousands of public entities. With Ohio's political landscape leaning Republican in recent statewide races, the auditor contest could test party strengths amid national trends.