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Ohio

Van Wert County Votes in 2026 General Election

Voters in Van Wert County cast ballots on a short local ballot featuring one state House race, several unopposed county races, and multiple local levies.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

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Van Wert County voters cast ballots in the November 2026 general election, with one contested local race and a short ballot of local levies. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you vote yes on a local fire and EMS levy in your community?

Van Wert County voters cast ballots in the November 2026 general election, with just one contested local race on the ballot. Nearly 1.1 million Ohio voters cast ballots during early in-person voting statewide.

Why it matters

The county's ballot is light on contested races, so the election turns largely on the 82nd District state House contest and a set of local property tax levies. Statewide, the early turnout signals strong participation across Ohio ahead of Election Day.

Statewide, about 1.1 million voters cast early in-person ballots and nearly 737,000 requested mail ballots, with 632,000 mail ballots returned by noon Monday. In Van Wert County, 4,585 voters cast early in-person ballots and 879 of 1,057 mail ballots had been returned by noon Monday, while final results remain pending.

The players

Roy Klopfenstein

Incumbent Ohio State Representative for the 82nd District, seeking another term in the November 2026 election.

Thad Lichtensteiger

Incumbent Republican Van Wert County Commissioner running unopposed in the 2026 election.

Eva Yarger

Van Wert County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge, appointed in February 2026, running unopposed for the seat.

Jon Husted

Ohio politician appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2025, after previously serving as Ohio's lieutenant governor.

Sherrod Brown

Former U.S. Senator from Ohio who lost his bid for re-election in 2024.

The details

Incumbent State Representative Roy Klopfenstein is seeking another term in the 82nd District, which covers all of Van Wert, Paulding and Putnam counties and the southern half of Defiance County, facing Libertarian Christopher Elder and Democrat Maddux McCray. Several other county and state seats are uncontested, including Thad Lichtensteiger for county commissioner, Eva Yarger for juvenile/probate court judge, Arica Wermer for county auditor and Craig Reidel for the 1st District Ohio Senate seat.

Timeline

  1. May 2026: Yarger and Wermer defeated incumbents in the primary.

  2. February 2026: Eva Yarger was appointed to the probate court judge seat.

  3. January 2025: Jon Husted was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat.

  4. 2024: Sherrod Brown lost his bid for re-election.

  5. November 3, 2026: Election Day for the general election.

Political Context

Ohio's statewide officeholders have shifted since Sherrod Brown lost re-election in 2024 and Jon Husted was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2025. The 2026 general election in Van Wert County continues that turnover, with appointed incumbents like Eva Yarger now seeking their own terms on the ballot.

Van Wert County voters will decide the 82nd District state House race and several local fire and operating levies on the ballot. Uncontested county and state races mean most ballot choices are already settled, so voters' attention will fall on the levies and the single contested legislative seat.

The takeaway

Van Wert County's ballot is short, but its property tax levies and the 82nd District race will shape local funding and representation. Voters who want to follow outcomes should check their county results once Election Day counts are final.

Further reading

For broader context on how the state's contests are organized, see Ohio Elections.

Live Poll

Would you vote yes on a local fire and EMS levy in your community?