Russo Names Transition Team for Ohio Secretary of State
Allison Russo, who won the Ohio secretary of state race, has named Alex Linser and Rachel Rossi to lead her transition team.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
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Allison Russo has named a transition team to prepare for her swearing-in as Ohio secretary of state on January 11, 2027. Alex Linser will serve as transition director and Rachel Rossi as deputy transition director.
Why it matters
The transition sets up the handoff of the secretary of state's office across Ohio, including the policies and procedures that govern elections and business filings. A smooth transfer determines how quickly the new administration can take over operations.
Russo received 50.3% of the vote in the November 3, 2026 election. Her swearing-in is scheduled for January 11, 2027, and the full scope of the transition's appointments has not yet been announced.
The players
Allison Russo
Allison Russo is the Democrat who won the Ohio secretary of state election in November 2026 and is set to take office in January 2027.
Frank LaRose
Frank LaRose is the term-limited Ohio secretary of state who won the state auditor's race and is handing his office's policies to Russo's team.
Alex Linser
Alex Linser is the chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and a former Hamilton County deputy director of elections who now leads Russo's transition as director.
Rachel Rossi
Rachel Rossi is the co-founder of the political consulting firm Redfern & Ross and Russo's senior advisor of seven years, now serving as deputy transition director.
The details
Russo announced the transition team on November 9, 2026. LaRose's office has codified every policy and procedure in each division and will hand them over to Russo's team in the coming weeks, and a transition website lets Ohioans learn about openings and submit résumés.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Voters elected Russo as secretary of state.
November 9, 2026: Russo announced her transition team.
January 11, 2027: Russo is scheduled to be sworn in.
Political Context
Election transitions for Ohio's secretary of state office typically begin after the vote is certified and run through the swearing-in period in January. This handoff carries the codified procedures of the outgoing office into the new administration.
Ohioans interested in working in the secretary of state's office can submit résumés through the transition team's website. The handoff of policies and procedures will determine how election and business services run during the early months of the new administration.
The takeaway
Watch the January 11, 2027 swearing-in for the first signals of how the new secretary of state will run the office's election and business services.
What happens next
Russo is scheduled to be sworn in as Ohio secretary of state on January 11, 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on how state offices change hands, see Elections coverage across Ohio.
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