Licking County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
13 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 8 Licking County races, led by the Licking County Commissioner contest.
County offices
CommissionerKathy McLeish (D) · Mark A. Van Buren (R)
Kathy McLeish (Democratic) and Mark A. Van Buren (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Licking County Commissioner.
Kathy McLeish Democratic
McLeish is a Newark resident with 20 years of experience in public education, including work as an early childhood education specialist, an administrator at River View Local School District, regional director for the Child Care Resource Network covering 11 counties, and director of the Licking County Children and Families First Council, per local news coverage. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kathy McLeish.
Mark A. Van Buren Republican
- Responsible growth and smart infrastructure investment
- Fiscal responsibility and support for public safety
- Protecting farmland and rural character
Per the campaign site.
About Mark A. Van Buren
Van Buren is a lifelong farmer and small business owner from Hebron who has served as a Harrison Township trustee and briefly held the county commissioner seat in 2008, filling a vacancy, per local news coverage.
Open seat: incumbent Rick Black is retiring after 12 years in office, per local news coverage. Mark A. Van Buren (R), who briefly held the seat in 2008 filling a vacancy, faces Mary "Kathy" McLeish (D), per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Brian Belcher filed as a write-in candidate and does not print as a name on the printed ballot.
Full race pageAuditorMichael L. Smith (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Michael L. Smith (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Licking County Auditor.
Michael L. Smith Republican Incumbent
Smith is the sitting Licking County Auditor, the county's chief fiscal officer, chief assessor, and sealer of weights and measures, per Licking County government website. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Michael L. Smith.
Michael L. Smith runs unopposed, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list.
Full race pageJudges
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General DivisionNonpartisan race · Thomas M. Marcelain
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Thomas M. Marcelain is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division.
Thomas M. Marcelain Nonpartisan Incumbent
Marcelain has served as judge of the Licking County Common Pleas Court, General Division, since 2003, after 13 years as a Licking County Municipal Court judge, per Licking County government website. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Thomas M. Marcelain.
Thomas M. Marcelain runs unopposed, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Ohio judicial candidates print without a party label.
Full race pageJudge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/JuvenileNonpartisan race · Michael Dalsanto · Deborah G. Lang
Michael Dalsanto and Deborah G. Lang are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile.
Michael Dalsanto Nonpartisan
- Says he will protect constitutional rights for everyone without exception
- Believes local decisions about Licking County's courthouse, schools, and affairs should be made by local people
- Wants Juvenile and Probate Court decisions based on the best interests of children and families, with a diversion process to keep low-level offenders out of the formal system
Per the campaign site.
About Michael Dalsanto
Dalsanto is a government teacher at Watkins Memorial High School and a trial attorney with more than a decade practicing in Licking County courts, including Probate and Juvenile Court, per the campaign site. He has served as a court-appointed guardian ad litem for children and as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney, per the campaign site.
Deborah G. Lang Nonpartisan Incumbent
Deborah G. Lang appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Deborah G. Lang.
Incumbent Deborah G. Lang, first elected in 2020, faces Michael Dalsanto, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Ohio judicial candidates print without a party label.
Full race pageJudge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic RelationsNonpartisan race · Robert D. Essex · Richard P. Wright
Robert D. Essex and Richard P. Wright are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations.
Robert D. Essex Nonpartisan
Robert D. Essex appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Robert D. Essex.
Richard P. Wright Nonpartisan Incumbent
Wright is the sitting judge of the Licking County Domestic Relations Court. He has been an attorney since 1987, holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Ohio State University and a J.D. from Capital University Law School, and previously served as a Bowling Green Township trustee and a volunteer firefighter for 22 years, per Licking County government website. No campaign website was found as of September 10, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Richard P. Wright.
Incumbent Richard P. Wright faces Robert D. Essex, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Ohio judicial candidates print without a party label.
Full race pageJudge of the Fifth District Court of Appeals (term commencing 2/9/2027)Nonpartisan race · Matthew George
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Matthew George is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeals (term commencing 2/9/2027).
Matthew George Nonpartisan
- Says courts should uphold the Constitution and apply the law as written
- Says he is committed to defending religious liberty and Second Amendment rights
Per the campaign site.
About Matthew George
George has served as judge of the Licking County Municipal Court since 2020 and previously worked as a magistrate in the Licking County Common Pleas and Domestic Relations Courts, with more than 18 years on the bench, per his campaign site.
Matthew George runs unopposed for an open seat, per the Board of Elections' certified candidate list. The Fifth District covers 15 counties including Licking, with its seat in Canton (Stark County). George is not the incumbent; the district's current judges are King, Popham, Hoffman, Baldwin, Montgomery, and Gormley, per the court's official website. Ohio judicial candidates print without a party label; the party shown is the certified nomination history.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Licking County is split across 2 Ohio House districts.
Find your districts by addressOhio House: 2 districtsDistricts 68, 69
Ohio House District 68Mason Blankenship (D) · Thad Claggett (R)
Mason Blankenship Democratic
- Defending workers' rights and investing in public education
- Government transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility
- Affordable housing
Per the campaign site.
About Mason Blankenship
Mason Blankenship, the Democratic nominee for Ohio House District 68, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and now works as a product manager, per his campaign site.
Thad Claggett Republican Incumbent
Thad Claggett is the Republican incumbent representing Ohio House District 68, per the Ohio House member directory. No further biographical detail was found as of September 11, 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Mason Blankenship (Democratic), Thad Claggett (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 68; Thad Claggett 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 House District 69Amy Rigsby (D) · Kevin D. Miller (R)
Amy Rigsby Democratic
- Providing free school breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students statewide
- Increasing public school funding and early childhood education access
- Universal health coverage, with free care emphasized for children, older adults, veterans and pregnant people
Per the campaign site.
About Amy Rigsby
Amy Rigsby, the Democratic nominee for Ohio House District 69, is a third-grade teacher and mother of four from Amanda, Ohio, per her campaign site.
Kevin D. Miller Republican Incumbent
Kevin D. Miller has served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for more than 20 years as a state trooper, labor relations management advocate, and post commander, per his campaign site. He was appointed to the Ohio House in June 2021 and represents Coshocton, Perry and part of Licking County, per his campaign site.
Amy Rigsby (Democratic), Kevin D. Miller (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 69; Kevin D. Miller 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 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 Licking County, Ohio on November 3, 2026?
Licking County sample ballot 2026: see where the county commissioner, county auditor and ohio house candidates stand on schools and the budget. 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 Licking 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 →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Licking County17 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 25, 2026 from official election sources.