Tuscarawas County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
8 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 4 Tuscarawas County races, led by the Tuscarawas County Commissioner contest.
County offices
CommissionerKristin Zemis (R) · Kent Watson (D)
Kristin Zemis (Republican) and Kent Watson (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Tuscarawas County Commissioner.
Kristin Zemis
Top priorities
- Lists fiscal responsibility and management of taxpayer dollars as a priority for a new term
- Prioritizes economic development and job creation, infrastructure improvements, and pursuing grant opportunities for the county
Per the Tuscarawas County Republican Party candidate page.
About Kristin Zemis
Kristin Zemis is a lawyer who holds a degree from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law, and has practiced law for over 30 years, including as a partner at Black McCuskey before starting her own practice, per her Tuscarawas County Republican Party candidate page. She has also worked as a mediator and Guardian Ad Litem, and has served as Tuscarawas County Commissioner since January 2023, per the same source. She founded the Tuscarawas Free Clinic and has served on the United Way Committee and supported early-childhood literacy programs including Blessings in a Backpack, per her candidate page.
Kent Watson
Kent Watson, of Dover, retired from Marlite after a 20-year career in middle management, where he managed staff, ordered materials, and oversaw manufacturing, shipping and delivery, per WJER Radio. He has served on community boards including the Tuscarawas Philharmonic, Friends of the Homeless, the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce, and the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, per WJER Radio. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kent Watson.
One of three Tuscarawas County commission seats is up in the November 3, 2026 general election. Incumbent Republican Kristin Zemis, in office since January 2023, faces Democrat Kent Watson; both were unopposed in their May 5, 2026 primaries, per WebSearch summaries of Board of Elections candidate-filing data (term for the winner commences 01/01/2027).
Full race pageAuditorLisa Contini (R) · Joe Rinehart (D)
Lisa Contini (Republican) and Joe Rinehart (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Tuscarawas County Auditor.
Lisa Contini
Lisa Contini, of New Philadelphia, has worked as an accountant for more than 25 years and has served as chief deputy auditor in the Tuscarawas County Auditor's office since 2024, per Your Ohio News. She graduated from Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School in 1993 and earned an accounting degree from Walsh University in 1998, and led the county's transition of records from paper to a new digital computer system, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Lisa Contini.
Joe Rinehart
Top priorities
- Supports Ohio Senate Bill 80, which would let county auditors test gasoline quality for water, dirt or octane levels
Per the campaign site.
About Joe Rinehart
Joe Rinehart is running for Tuscarawas County Auditor in Ohio. He served as a Marine in 1975 and later founded an internet services company in Portage County, Ohio in 1994, per his campaign site. He describes more than 30 years of business and technology experience and volunteers as a host at Towpath Trail Peace Park, per his campaign site.
Republican Lisa Contini won a contested May 5, 2026 primary over former state representative Brett Hillyer, 4,171 votes (54.56%) to 3,474 votes (45.44%), per DecisionDeskHQ live results; she faces Democrat Joe Rinehart, who was unopposed in his own primary with 3,853 votes, in November. Incumbent auditor Larry Lindberg, whose term ends December 31, 2026, is not a candidate.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Find your districts by addressOhio Senate District 31Laura Sirot (D) · Al Landis (R)
Laura Sirot
Top priorities
- Building bipartisan consensus and prioritizing community over party division
- Responsive, listening-focused representation
Per the campaign site.
About Laura Sirot
Laura Sirot, a professor of biology and a resident of Wooster, is the Democratic nominee for Ohio Senate District 31, per The Wooster Voice. Her campaign says she wants to move past partisan differences and build consensus around practical solutions for Ohioans, per her campaign site.
Al Landis
Al Landis, the Republican incumbent, has represented Ohio Senate District 31 since January 2023. A native of Dover in Tuscarawas County, he spent 33 years in sales and marketing at Greer Steel Company before serving four terms in the Ohio House and as a Tuscarawas County commissioner, per his official Ohio Senate biography. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Laura Sirot (Democratic), Al Landis (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio Senate District 31; Al Landis is the sitting member, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.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 51Amanda Fontana (D) · Jodi Salvo (R)
Amanda Fontana
Top priorities
- Fully fund Ohio's public schools at the state level to provide permanent property tax relief for residents
- Address the rising cost of living, including grocery prices and utility bills, through property tax reform, affordable housing and job growth
- Lower prescription drug costs, expand mental health services and protect Medicaid for families and seniors
Per the campaign site.
About Amanda Fontana
Amanda Fontana is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Works as a college instructor in the Health and Public Services division at Stark State College and as an independent provider through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, per campaign site. Serves on the New Philadelphia City Schools Board of Education and holds a master's degree in social work, per campaign site.
Jodi Salvo
Jodi Salvo is the Republican candidate for Ohio House District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Jodi Salvo is a sitting member for the district, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Represents the 51st Ohio House District, covering parts of southern Stark County and Tuscarawas County, and is seeking re-election in 2026, per Ohio House of Representatives member directory. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Amanda Fontana (Democratic), Jodi Salvo (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 51; Jodi Salvo 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
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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 Tuscarawas County, Ohio on November 3, 2026?
Tuscarawas County sample ballot 2026: see where the county commissioner, county auditor and ohio senate candidates stand on roads, growth and jobs. 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 Tuscarawas 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 Tuscarawas County17 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.