Who is running for Ohio House District 8 in Ohio in 2026?

Kelly Hunter- Kalagidis (R), Anita Somani (D)

When is the Ohio 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ohio › Races › Ohio House District 8

Ohio House District 8 — Ohio 2026

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Ohio Secretary of State list, as of October 29, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

BKelly Hunter- KalagidisRepublican

Candidate for State Representative, District 8 (Republican).

LifeBFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentBLimited gov’tBFiscalB

Non-incumbent Republican; no 2023-26 Ohio General Assembly voting record. iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.

Life: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
Family: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
2nd Amendment: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

FAnita SomaniDemocratic

Incumbent state representative, District 8; Democrat.

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyF2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalF

Incumbent Democrat; 0 of 13 scored 2023-26 roll calls went the conservative way (scored votes on abortion, gender-identity/family, religious liberty, guns, higher-ed/property-tax and the property-tax veto override). Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio; endorsed by Abortion Forward (formerly Pro-Choice Ohio); NRA-PVF grade F; Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: Voted no on HB 347 (SHE WINS Act, abortion informed consent; 2026 House passage) (0 of 1 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way). Not recorded on HB 485 (Baby Olivia Act, fetal-development instruction; 2025 House passage) and HB 324 (Patient Protection Act, limits on prescribing abortion pills; 2025 House passage). Context only (not scored): voted no on SJR 2 (2023 60% voter-approval threshold for constitutional amendments, placed ahead of the Nov. 2023 abortion amendment).
Family: Voted no on HB 68 (ban on gender-transition procedures for minors + Save Women's Sports Act; 2023 House passage and 2024 House veto override), HB 8 (Parents' Bill of Rights; 2023 House passage), SB 104 (Protect All Students Act, single-sex school bathrooms; 2024 House passage) and HB 249 (Indecent Exposure Modernization Act / adult cabaret; 2026 House passage) (0 of 5 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Religious liberty: Voted no on HB 214 (Religious Expression Days Act; 2023 House passage) and HB 21 (Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act; 2025 House passage) (0 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way). Not recorded on HB 486 (Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, Judeo-Christian heritage instruction; 2025 House passage).
2nd Amendment: Voted no on SB 58 (ban on firearm insurance/fee mandates + Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act; 2024 House passage) and HB 272 (concealed carry in buildings containing a courtroom; 2023 House passage) (0 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Limited gov’t: Voted no on SB 1 (Advance Ohio Higher Education Act; 2025 House passage) and HB 335 (inside-millage property-tax limits; 2025 House passage) (0 of 2 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).
Fiscal: Voted no on HB 96 line-item veto Item #66 (property-tax/school-levy reform; 2025 House override vote) (0 of 1 recorded votes on these measures went the conservative way).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ballotpedia

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