Black Voter Turnout Rises as Annette Blackwell Loses Ohio Race

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation reported an increase in Black voter turnout during the 2026 midterm elections, estimating that the number of non-regular Black voters dropped from over 600,000 to 514,000. This growth was attributed to direct community engagement in northeast Ohio, specifically within Cuyahoga, Summit, and Mahoning counties, supported by efforts from the Count the Block voter engagement movement.

Despite the turnout gains and a general victory for Ohio Democrats in statewide races, Annette Blackwell, the only Black candidate on the statewide ballot, lost her race for Ohio Auditor to Frank LaRose. Blackwell was the only Democrat to lose a statewide race in the 2026 cycle.

Shayla L. Davis, President and CEO of the foundation, identified several factors in the loss, including LaRose's name recognition and potential voter confusion with former Republican Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. However, Davis primarily cited racial inequity and a lack of sufficient support from the Ohio Democratic Party as the key reasons for the defeat. While noting the progress, Davis highlighted that 518,000 people across the state still need to be reached, with Franklin County containing the highest number of missing Black voters at 134,000.