Ohio lawyer Elliot Forhan, a Democratic primary candidate for Ohio Attorney General in 2026. (Photo provided.)
Lawyer and former state Rep. Elliot Forhan became the first Democrat to announce a campaign for Ohio Attorney General in 2026 on Thursday, saying in a release that the law is for everyone and should hold everyone accountable.
“I’m running to apply the law equally to everyone, including the rich and powerful,” Forhan said in his announcement. “That means (1) ending corruption, including catching and prosecuting rich tax cheats, (2) getting money out of politics and (3) fighting illegal actions by the federal government.”
All four of Ohio’s statewide executive offices are up for election in 2026. In addition to Forhan, Democratic candidates announced so far include former Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton running for governor, and oncologist Dr. Bryan Hambley running for Ohio Secretary of State.
For the Republicans, current Ohio Auditor Keith Faber is running for attorney general, current Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague is running for secretary of state, and current Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running for auditor. Running in the Republican primary for governor are current Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and businesswoman Heather Hill.
Forhan was elected to the Ohio House in 2022 and served one two-year term, but came in third place in the 2024 Democratic primary for the seat. In his announcement, Forhan noted that he has an ongoing defamation suit against the Ohio Attorney General, among a variety of other Statehouse officials revolving around various controversies during his time in the General Assembly.
Forhan’s release also noted that he is a graduate of Kenyon College and Yale Law School, and that other members of his law-school class included Ramaswamy, Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance.
“Vivek Ramaswamy’s best friend, Elon Musk, is running riot through the federal government. Musk is damaging and destroying programs — like veterans’ affairs (the ‘V.A.’), cancer research, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — that keep us healthy, secure and free. Ramaswamy plans to do the same here in Ohio,” Forhan said in the release. “As attorney general, I won’t let that happen.”
Forhan lives in the village of Brooklyn Heights in Northeast Ohio.
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