2 candidates are tracked for Ohio House District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jeffrey R. Givan and Matt Huffman. Candidate information follows official Allen County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Jeffrey R. Givan (Democratic), Matt Huffman (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 78; Matt Huffman is the sitting member, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Nominees were chosen at the May 5, 2026 primary or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list; Ohio prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Matt Huffman, is on the ballot.
Ohio › Allen County › Ohio House District 78
Democratic
Jeffrey R. Givan is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 78. A first-time candidate, Givan has lived in the Elida area of Allen County since 2012, per LimaOhio.com, and co-founded the Lima Pride Alliance, per Hometown Stations. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Republican Incumbent
Matt Huffman is the Republican incumbent for Ohio House District 78 and Speaker of the Ohio House, having previously served as Ohio Senate President, per the Ohio House of Representatives. Born and raised in Lima, he has practiced law for 40 years at his family's law firm and served on Lima City Council from 1992 to 2006, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Who is running for Ohio House District 78 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Ohio House District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jeffrey R. Givan and Matt Huffman. Candidate information follows official Allen County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Ohio House District 78 election in Ohio?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are on the Ohio election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Allen County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Allen County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Ohio election office, or see the full Allen County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
1 tracked race in Allen County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.