Knox County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
14 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 8 Knox County races, led by the Ohio Senate District 19 contest.
County offices
AuditorSarah Thorne (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Sarah Thorne (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for County Auditor.
Sarah Thorne Republican
Sarah Thorne is a Republican candidate. No specific biographical details or offices held are available in the provided research notes.
CommissionerChrista Ciotola (R) · Bill Pursel (R)
Christa Ciotola (Republican) and Bill Pursel (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for County Commissioner.
Christa Ciotola Republican
- Fiscally responsible approach to addressing future challenges
- Addressing housing
- Managing growth and land use
About Christa Ciotola
Christa L. Ciotola is a Republican candidate running for election to the Knox County Commission in Ohio. A Butler Township resident, she is challenging an incumbent in the Republican primary on May 5, 2026. Ciotola has no prior political experience and shares a vision for a fiscally responsible approach to county challenges.
Bill Pursel Republican
- Frugal management of the county's general fund budget
- Ensuring appropriate funding for elected and appointed officials to perform their statutory duties
- Advocating for county-wide funding for Fire and EMS departments
Per the campaign site.
About Bill Pursel
Bill Pursel is a Republican who serves as a Knox County Commissioner in Ohio. He previously served as a Monroe Township Trustee and has run for re-election to the county commission. Pursel emphasizes his commitment to serving the community and his "Knox County Family."
School board
Board of Education District 4Katherine Bike (D) · Ashley Sartelle (R)
Katherine Bike (Democratic) and Ashley Sartelle (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Knox County Board of Education District 4.
Katherine Bike Democratic
- Advocating for strong public schools and equitable opportunities for all students
- Supporting teachers
- Pushing for intentional partnerships between schools to bridge funding and resource gaps
Per the campaign site.
About Katherine Bike
Katherine Bike is a Democratic member of the Knox County Board of Education in Tennessee, representing District 4. She assumed office on September 1, 2022, and is running for re-election. Bike advocates for strong public schools, supporting teachers, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all students in Knox County.
Ashley Sartelle Republican
- Renewed focus on core academics (reading, writing, and math)
- Recruiting and retaining high-quality educators
Per the campaign site.
About Ashley Sartelle
Ashley Sartelle is a Republican candidate for the Knox County Board of Education District 4. She serves as the Finance Director at Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from the University of Mississippi. Sartelle is committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and be prepared for their future.
Judges
Probate/Juvenile JudgeJay Nixon (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jay Nixon (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Probate/Juvenile Judge.
Jay Nixon Republican
- Maintaining fiscal discipline, balancing the state budget, and reforming tax credits
- Re-instituting strict campaign contribution limits and advocating for campaign finance reform
Per the campaign site.
About Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon is a Democrat who served as Missouri's 55th governor for two terms, from 2008 to 2017. Prior to his governorship, he was elected Attorney General for four terms, serving 16 years, and began his political career in the Missouri Senate in 1986.
Cities and towns
mayorBeau Hawk (D) · Josiah Fernandez (Independent)
Beau Hawk (Democratic) and Josiah Fernandez (Independent) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Knox County mayor.
Beau Hawk Democratic
- Address housing affordability
- Improve government transparency and fiscal responsibility
- Implement proactive infrastructure and transportation planning
Per the campaign site.
About Beau Hawk
Beau Hawk is a Democratic labor leader and community advocate running for Knox County Mayor. He serves as the president of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Central Labor Council and is a business representative for the Knoxville Building and Construction Trades Council. Hawk's campaign focuses on affordability and delivering results for working families in the community.
Josiah Fernandez Independent
Josiah Fernandez is identified in research notes as an independent researcher specializing in cell biology and cancer progression, and as an athlete on the Keiser University wrestling roster. The provided information does not include details about a political candidacy for Josiah Fernandez as an Independent party member, nor any policy positions or campaign-related information.
By address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Knox County is split across 2 Ohio House districts.
Find your districts by addressOhio House: 2 districtsDistricts 61, 98
Ohio House District 61Vince McGrail (D) · Shawn Stevens (R)
Vince McGrail Democratic
- Economic relief from high property taxes and utility costs
- Increased investment in public school funding
- Senior services to help older Ohioans age in their homes
Per the campaign site.
About Vince McGrail
Vince McGrail, the Democratic nominee for the open Ohio House District 61 seat, has served for 12 years as Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio after 17 years in alumni relations and fundraising at Ohio State University, per his campaign site.
Shawn Stevens Republican
- Using the Homestead Exemption to eliminate property taxes for Ohioans over 65
- Strengthened parental rights and school choice
- A top-to-bottom audit of state spending with across-the-board cuts
Per the news coverage.
About Shawn Stevens
Shawn Stevens, the Republican nominee for the open Ohio House District 61 seat, owns a title and escrow company in Westerville and served a decade on the Delaware County Board of Elections, per Knox Pages. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Vince McGrail (Democratic), Shawn Stevens (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 61. Not on the November ballot: Beth Lear, the sitting member per the roster. 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.
Full race pageOhio House District 98Scott Grund (D) · Mark Hiner (R)
Scott Grund Democratic
- Campaign site says Grund is focused on shifting the Legislature's attention from big corporations and wealthy donors toward working for all Ohioans, and on accessible, two-way communication with constituents through open town halls.
Per the campaign site.
About Scott Grund
Grund was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, and has worked as a financial advisor helping individuals and small businesses with financial planning, per the campaign site. He is also a certified paralegal who has assisted people pursuing Veterans Administration and Social Security disability benefits, and has volunteered as a Boy Scouts of America Scoutmaster and with American Red Cross disaster recovery efforts, per the campaign site.
Mark Hiner Republican Incumbent
Mark Hiner is the Republican incumbent for Ohio House District 98, serving his first term representing Coshocton and Holmes counties and eastern Knox County, per the Ohio House of Representatives. He holds a degree in broadcast engineering technology and an MBA and has built several businesses, per the same source.
Scott Grund (Democratic), Mark Hiner (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 98; Mark Hiner 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.
Full race pageOhio Senate District 19Janet Wagner (D) · Ryan Rivers (R)
Janet Wagner Democratic
Janet Wagner is the Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 19 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Ryan Rivers Republican
- Supports lowering energy bills and pursuing property tax reform
- Supports increased local input on jobs and investment decisions
Per the campaign site.
About Ryan Rivers
Ryan Rivers is a Central Ohio business professional running for State Senate from Delaware County, per his campaign site. He describes a career working with employers and entrepreneurs in the private sector, per his campaign site.
Janet Wagner (Democratic), Ryan Rivers (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio Senate District 19. Not on the November ballot: Andrew O. Brenner, the sitting member per the roster. 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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Ohio nominees were set by the May 5 primary; a plurality wins in November, unopposed candidates still print, and judicial candidates appear without party labels, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Knox County, Ohio on November 3, 2026?
Knox County sample ballot 2026: see where the ohio senate and ohio house candidates stand on taxes, jobs and schools. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Ohio?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are listed on the Ohio election hub. Ohio election hub →
How do I see my exact Knox County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Ohio statewide racesEvery Ohio race on this county's ballot.All Ohio ballot measures1 statewide ballot measure