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State Senator, 9th District

Full term commencing 1/1/2027

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator is one of 33 members of the Ohio Senate, which writes and votes on state laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers part of Hamilton County: Cincinnati, Norwood, Arlington Heights, Elmwood Place, Fairfax, Golf Manor, Mariemont and St. Bernard, and parts of Columbia and Springfield townships.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Linda D. Matthews

Republican

Tech entrepreneur; former Cincinnati Public Schools science teacher · Cincinnati

The gist

  • Supports competitive pay and more training for police.
  • Supports school choice for every family.
  • Supports expanding STEM and vocational training.
  • Supports lower taxes and fewer regulations for small businesses.
More about Linda
View sources (1)

  1. Supports competitive pay and more training for police.

    Linda Matthews for Ohio Senate

    Campaign website · Linda Matthews campaign · matthews4ohiosenate.com

    “I'll fight for competitive pay, better training, and the resources they need to keep our communities safe.”

  2. Supports school choice for every family.

    Linda Matthews for Ohio Senate

    Campaign website · Linda Matthews campaign · matthews4ohiosenate.com

    “School choice for every family.”

  3. Supports expanding STEM and vocational training.

    Linda Matthews for Ohio Senate

    Campaign website · Linda Matthews campaign · matthews4ohiosenate.com

    “Expand STEM education, vocational training, and real career pathways in every neighborhood.”

  4. Supports lower taxes and fewer regulations for small businesses.

    Linda Matthews for Ohio Senate

    Campaign website · Linda Matthews campaign · matthews4ohiosenate.com

    “Lower taxes, reduce regulations, and create an environment where small businesses and innovation thrive.”
Photo of Catherine Ingram
Catherine IngramOfficial portrait — Ohio Senate

Catherine Ingram

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator · Cincinnati

The gist

  • Sponsored a computer science and AI graduation requirement.In office
  • Sponsored a bill restoring local authority to regulate firearms.In office
  • Sponsored tougher penalties for not reporting lost or stolen guns.In office
  • Opposes the constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote.In office
  • Sponsored a bill settling delinquent property taxes at sale.In office
  • Supported the veto of longer school-night work hours for teens.In office
  • Supports reviewing homeschool oversight removed by Senate Bill 1.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Catherine
View sources (7)

  1. Sponsored a computer science and AI graduation requirement.

    Ingram Celebrates Passage of Senate Bill 326

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jun 10, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “complete a half unit of instruction in computer science with AI fundamentals to graduate”

  2. Sponsored a bill restoring local authority to regulate firearms.

    Ingram Provides Testimony on S.B. 237

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jun 9, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “which would restore local authority to regulate firearms and knives”

  3. Sponsored tougher penalties for not reporting lost or stolen guns.

    Ingram, Hicks-Hudson Testify on Legislation to Increase Penalty for Failure to Report a Lost or Stolen Firearms

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Feb 11, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “increase the penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm from a fourth-degree to a first-degree misdemeanor”

  4. Opposes the constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote.

    Ingram Condemns Passage of S.J.R. 10

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jun 3, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “This amendment is a solution in search of a problem”

  5. Sponsored a bill settling delinquent property taxes at sale.

    Ingram Provides Sponsor Testimony on Senate Bill 366

    Government record · Ohio Senate · May 13, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “ensuring delinquent property taxes are addressed when ownership changes hands”

  6. Supported the veto of longer school-night work hours for teens.

    Ingram Supports Veto Protecting Minor Labor Laws

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Dec 5, 2025 · ohiosenate.gov

    “I am pleased that Governor DeWine vetoed S.B. 50.”

  7. Supports reviewing homeschool oversight removed by Senate Bill 1.

    Ingram Calls for Review of Gaps in Ohio's Childhood Protection Systems

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jul 13, 2026 · ohiosenate.gov

    “It is our responsibility as a state to close any gaps in oversight”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.