Don Kissick, a Libertarian from Ottawa, Ohio, is running for governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is certified for the ballot and faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton.

Asked why he is seeking office, Kissick said in our candidate questionnaire: "Ohioans deserve a government that works for them, not political parties, powerful corporations or special interests. … I'm running for Governor to make Ohio more affordable, protect individual liberty and privacy, increase transparency and accountability in government, and give working families and small businesses a stronger voice."

Candidate information

Age: 56

Residence: Ottawa, Ohio

Party: Libertarian

Family: "I am married to my wife, Sarah, and we live in Ottawa, Ohio. Together, we are raising our son, Jeremiah, and my stepdaughter, Cameron."

Education: "I attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, where I studied Technical Communication from 1995 to 1998. I also completed extensive technical training during my service in the United States Navy."

Occupation: "I currently work as a Master Control Operator for a television station in Lima. My career has largely been spent in manufacturing, skilled trades, and technical roles. I worked for nearly a decade at Honda of America Manufacturing and have also worked as an HVAC technician."

Previous elected office: "I have not previously held elected public office," Kissick said. He said he has "served in several leadership positions within the Libertarian Party, including Chair of the Allen County Libertarian Party, a member of the Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee, and as a Central Committee Chair." He added that he has "previously been a candidate for Congress and the U.S. Senate."

Experience and public service

Kissick has not held elected office. Asked about accomplishments that prepared him for the job, he said in our questionnaire: "I would point to my six years in the United States Navy, where I became a Petty Officer Second Class and deployed twice to the Middle East during Desert Shield and Desert Storm."

He has served as county development coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Ohio since 2018, according to BallotReady profile data.

On the issues

Top priority: property-tax reform: Kissick said his top priority is "making Ohio affordable for working families again, beginning with property-tax reform." He said he would "pursue legislation to begin phasing out property taxes on owner-occupied homes and family farms, starting with an approximately 25% reduction." The state would "simultaneously increase its responsibility for school funding and protect essential local services," he said.

Economy and cost of living: On affordability, Kissick said: "I support … eliminating unnecessary corporate subsidies, and reviewing taxes and fees that increase everyday costs." He said large industrial developments "should pay the infrastructure and energy costs they create rather than shifting them onto residents."

Education and school funding: Kissick said he supports "strengthening the Fair School Funding Plan while reducing public schools' dependence on local property taxes." On vouchers, he said: "I have concerns about universal private-school vouchers, particularly taxpayer subsidies for families who already attended and could afford private schools while public districts struggle for resources."

Data centers: Kissick said he would "pause immediate construction of new data centers until affected communities have meaningful input and buy-in." He told cleveland.com: "But we're talking about using the government and the tax code to pick winners and losers, which is one of the worst things government does."

Public safety: Kissick said he would "prioritize resources for local law enforcement, officer training and targeted efforts against violent crime, human trafficking and organized criminal activity." He said public safety "should not become an excuse for warrantless mass surveillance."

Differences from opponents: Kissick said: "The biggest difference is that I'm not a career politician and I'm not beholden to either major political party. I'm a Navy veteran and working-class Ohioan who has spent much of my career in manufacturing and the private sector."

Candidate responses were collected through the Mason-Deerfield Times candidate questionnaire. Additional policy positions were reported by cleveland.com and sourced from BallotReady. Answers have been excerpted for length.