Democrat
Allison Russo
Background and Bio
Allison Russo, originally from Mississippi, holds a Doctor of Public Health from George Washington University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She later spent more than 20 years working in health care policy, advising federal agencies, decision-makers, and health systems working on mental health, early childhood, aging, and disability issues. Russo has served in the state legislature since 2019, including as the chamber's Minority Leader. She currently works as a senior director for a small business. Russo founded the mentoring program Girls Who Lead and is active with the United Way of Central Ohio's Women's Leadership Council. She lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, a combat veteran, and their three children.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Election Security: Russo’s campaign has described Ohio’s elections as secure and has also proposed providing additional resources and education for local election officials to continue to promote election integrity. Russo’s campaign released a statement in opposition to federal data sharing after the current Secretary of State released voter registration data to the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Voting Access: Russo has stated opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment to require photo IDs for voting. Her campaign has expressed support for same-day voter registration and declaring Election Day a holiday to increase voter turnout.
- Redistricting: Russo’s campaign materials have called for the office to be "non-political and non-partisan,” and state that her experience as a member of the 2023 Redistricting Committee motivated her to run for Secretary of State. Her campaign materials criticize gerrymandering and call for greater transparency and independence in the redistricting map-making process.
Endorsements
- Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Columbus & Vicinity
- Buckeye Veterans Coalition
- Communication Workers of America District 4
- Dayton Building & Construction Trades Council
- EMILY’s List
- Greater Cincinnati Building & Construction Trades
- Industrial Division of Communication Workers of America
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
- Lima Building & Construction Trades Council
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee
- North Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council
- Ohio AFL-CIO
- Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters
- Ohio Association of Public School Employees
- Ohio Civil Services Employees Association
- Ohio Education Association
- Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
- Ohio Federation of Teachers
- Ohio Nurses Association Board of Directors
- Ohio State Conference of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
- Service Employees International Union District 1199 (SEIU 1199)
- Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council
- United Auto Workers Region 2B
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880
- United Mine Workers Association
- United Steelworkers District 1
- Vote Mama
Background and Bio
Allison Russo, originally from Mississippi, holds a Doctor of Public Health from George Washington University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She later spent more than 20 years working in health care policy, advising federal agencies, decision-makers, and health systems working on mental health, early childhood, aging, and disability issues. Russo has served in the state legislature since 2019, including as the chamber's Minority Leader. She currently works as a senior director for a small business. Russo founded the mentoring program Girls Who Lead and is active with the United Way of Central Ohio's Women's Leadership Council. She lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, a combat veteran, and their three children.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Election Security: Russo’s campaign has described Ohio’s elections as secure and has also proposed providing additional resources and education for local election officials to continue to promote election integrity. Russo’s campaign released a statement in opposition to federal data sharing after the current Secretary of State released voter registration data to the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Voting Access: Russo has stated opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment to require photo IDs for voting. Her campaign has expressed support for same-day voter registration and declaring Election Day a holiday to increase voter turnout.
- Redistricting: Russo’s campaign materials have called for the office to be "non-political and non-partisan,” and state that her experience as a member of the 2023 Redistricting Committee motivated her to run for Secretary of State. Her campaign materials criticize gerrymandering and call for greater transparency and independence in the redistricting map-making process.
Endorsements
- Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Columbus & Vicinity
- Buckeye Veterans Coalition
- Communication Workers of America District 4
- Dayton Building & Construction Trades Council
- EMILY’s List
- Greater Cincinnati Building & Construction Trades
- Industrial Division of Communication Workers of America
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
- Lima Building & Construction Trades Council
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee
- North Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council
- Ohio AFL-CIO
- Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters
- Ohio Association of Public School Employees
- Ohio Civil Services Employees Association
- Ohio Education Association
- Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
- Ohio Federation of Teachers
- Ohio Nurses Association Board of Directors
- Ohio State Conference of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
- Service Employees International Union District 1199 (SEIU 1199)
- Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council
- United Auto Workers Region 2B
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880
- United Mine Workers Association
- United Steelworkers District 1
- Vote Mama
Last Updated:2026-09-24
